Posted on June 15, 2010 …

USDA Crop Disaster Programs : Lessons Learned Can Improve Implementation of New Crop Assistance Program

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/pdfs/GAO-10-548?source=ra The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides programs to help farmers recover financially from natural disasters. Congress has historically supplemented these programs with ad hoc programs that pay farmers who experienced crop losses. The 2008 farm bill established a program through 2011 to pay farmers who lose … Continue reading »

Economic Benefits of Open Space Preservation

State of New York. Office of the Comptroller http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/environmental/openspacepreserv10.pdf A review of studies of the costs and benefits of open space protection conducted by the Office of the State Comptroller finds that: • Open space supports industries that generate billions of dollars in economic activity annually; • Open space protection can be financially beneficial to … Continue reading »

Reenergizing America’s Defense : How the Armed Forces Are Stepping Forward to Combat Climate Change and Improve the U.S. Energy Posture

Pew Charitable Trusts http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_report_detail.aspx?id=58542&category=919 Climate change, national security and energy dependence are interrelated global challenges. U.S. dependence on foreign sources of energy constitutes a serious threat—militarily, diplomatically and economically. And climate change is expected to act as a “threat multiplier,” stoking instability in some of the most volatile regions of the world and, in turn, … Continue reading »

An Options Based Bioeconomic Model for Biological and Chemical Control of Invasive Species

US EPA. National Center for Environmental Economics / by Alex L. Marten and Christopher C. Moore http://yosemite.epa.gov/EE/epa/eed.nsf/WPNumber/2010-06 [Abstract] The management of non-native invasive species is a complex but crucial task given the potential for economic and environmental damages. For many invasions the development of socially optimal control strategies requires more than is offered by the … Continue reading »

America Lacks Flood Awareness and Preparedness : Nation Sounds Off On Personal, Regional and National Flood Management Risks and Responsibilities

HNTB http://www.hntb.com/sites/default/files/issues/AmericaThinks_LeveeFacts_510.pdf The latest America THINKS survey from HNTB Corporation indicates a misplaced confidence in flood management and preparedness. According to the research, Americans are largely unaware of the risk that floods pose across the nation. And homeowners report not taking proactive steps to reduce their risk, with just 22 percent currently holding flood insurance.

Gaining Ground – Wetlands, Hurricanes and the Economy : the Value of Restoring the Mississippi River Delta

Environmental Defense Fund / by David Batker, Isabel de la Torre, Robert Costanza, Paula Swedeen, John Day, Roelof Boumans and Kenneth Bagstad http://tinyurl.com/23y6klv [From Press Release] The BP oil disaster, hurricanes and wetlands loss threaten a net value of $330 billion to $1.3 trillion in natural system goods and services, according to the first study … Continue reading »

Short‐Term Energy Outlook Supplement: : 2010 Outlook for Hurricane-Related Production Outages in the Gulf of Mexico

US DOE. Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/special/pdf/2010_sp_03.pdf EIA’s simulation results indicate a 17‐ to 20‐percent probability of offshore crude oil or natural gas production experiencing outages during this season that are equal to or larger than the production shut in during the 2008 season when Hurricanes Gustav and Ike struck the Gulf Coast (about 65 million … Continue reading »

Liability and Financial Responsibility for Oil Spills Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and Related Statutes

Brookings Institution / testimony of Michael Greenstone before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee http://tinyurl.com/29xz3pr In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Michael Greenstone looks at existing legislation that regulates drilling and urges the removal, or substantial increase, of the liability cap on economic damages. Testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, … Continue reading »