Earth Day brings moisture to north, wildfires south

So, why should Canada get all the flood water from the pending Red River event?

The US Environmental Protection Agency is calling the State Department review of the ill-fated Keystone XL pipeline "insufficient" according to Zack Colman reporting in The Hill:

In a comment on the State Department’s draft environmental impact statement for the project, EPA said Foggy Bottom failed to fully consider alternative routes for the Canada-to-Texas pipeline.

EPA is also proposing amendments to effluent guidelines for Steam Electric Power Generating plants. EPA's climate change page here.

With the help of the US Department of Agriculture, two generations of Glad Valley landowners are practicing conservation and protecting wildlife habitat:

Conservation has long been a key element on Dan and Sharon Anderson’s ranch. In 1959, Dan’s father, James, purchased the ranch, which had seven pastures. With help from USDA’s Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service), the elder Anderson started cross-fencing the larger areas to give his livestock better forage options and nutrition. “We want to make the environment the best we can, yet maintain profitability,” says Dan, which is exactly what NRCS helps them do.--Ryan Beer and Seth Skogen, NRCS South Dakota, USDA blog.

Happy Earth Day from the US State Department!

Much needed moisture in the upper Missouri basin is causing some grumbling among those hoping for sunshine while the southwest is beginning wildfire season. Parts of Colorado are under winter storm warnings as red flag conditions rake other counties. New Mexico's wettest areas are at 57% of average.

Areas of Nebraska punished by drought are enjoying some relief and some watersheds in the Black Hills are nearing normal levels of runoff even as water wars escalate. Wyoming's snowpack is normal.

Pursuit of happiness intersects with carbon taxes: Environmental Defense Fund. California and Quebec announce cap and trade merger according to Marc Lifsher writing in the Los Angeles Times:

On April 8, Gov. Jerry Brown certified the two cap-and-trade systems as compatible. As a result, Quebec's permits that let polluters emit carbon dioxide can be purchased and used by California oil refineries, food processors, cement plants and other facilities. And California-issued pollution permits will be valid in Quebec.

Anyone believing that Republicans will protect the environment or the poor is delusional.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has posted transcripts of conference calls on its Tribal Consultation Resource Page. FEMA interacts with tribes on equal footing with states.

On Bill Janklow's idea of public radio Jim Kent tells the story of one Pine Ridge family practicing self-reliance by building a rain harvesting system.

Democrats: safe water, safe food, safe shelter, safe sex. Republicans: what's a condom?.

Rewild the West.

Democracy Now! hosted an exclusive interview with activist Tim DeChristopher: