jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2009-06-24 00:00:00

Carbon Neutral Government Act of 2009 - Authorizes federal agencies and legislative branch offices to purchase qualified tradeable: (1) greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets; and (2) renewable energy credits. Requires the Secretary of Energy to promulgate rules regarding approved open market transactions involving such offsets and credits. Requires such rules to accommodate forward purchasing and crediting of offsets and credits on an estimated basis from small scale offset and renewable energy generators and other open market transactions that help enable short-term purchases of offsets and credits to contribute to the implementation of such generators. Defines "greenhouse gas offsets" to mean a reduction in GHG emissions that results from actions that would not have occurred in the absence of the opportunity to sell an offset for the resulting reduction.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-12-08 00:00:00

Clean Air and Water Investment Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include air and water pollution control facilities among the projects for which tax-exempt facility bonds may be issued. Defines such facilities as any property: (1) to be used to abate or control water or atmospheric pollution or contamination by removing, altering, disposing, or storing pollutants, contaminants, wastes, or heat; (2) which is either land or of a character subject to the allowance for depreciation; and (3) that a federal, state, or local agency has certified is designed for abating or controlling atmospheric or water pollution or for meeting local requirements for controlling such pollution. Provides that a water pollution control facility includes the necessary intercepting sewers, pumping, power, and other equipment, and their appurtenances. Makes this Act applicable to bonds issued after December 31, 2008.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2009-12-16 00:00:00

Save Our Energy Jobs Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) Congress did not intend the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs); (2) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should not have the authority to promulgate rules to regulate GHG emissions without explicit authority from Congress; (3) rules that regulate GHG emissions will have a significant impact on the U.S. economy and should not be left to administrative rulemaking in the absence of congressional action; and (4) comprehensive regulations to address global climate change must only be enacted at the direction of Congress. Amends the Clean Air Act to amend the definition of "air pollutant" to exclude carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, or sulfur hexafluoride.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2010-02-02 00:00:00

Amends the Clean Air Act to exclude from the definition of "air pollutant" any of the following solely on the basis of its effect on global climate change: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing activities relating to the inclusion of international indirect land use change in the implementation of the renewable fuel program. Excludes indirect emissions from international land use changes from the definition of lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Requires the Administrator and the Secretary of Agriculture (currently, the Administrator) to determine the aggregate quantity of GHG emissions in liefecycyle GHG emissions related to the full fuel lifecycle. Amends the Clean Air Act to redefine "renewable biomass" as: (1) materials, pre-commercial thinnings, or invasive species from certain National Forest System land and public lands that are byproducts of preventive treatments that are removed to reduce hazardous fuels, reduce or contain disease or insect infestation, or restore ecosystem health, that would not otherwise be used for higher-value products, and that are harvested in accordance with specified requirements for old-growth forests and large tree retention; or (2) any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis from nonfederal land or land belonging to an Indian or Indian tribe that is held in trust by the United States or subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States, including specified renewable plant material and waste material.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2010-03-04 00:00:00

Stationary Source Regulations Delay Act - Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during the two-year period beginning after this Act's enactment, from taking any action under the Clean Air Act (CAA) with respect to any stationary source permitting requirement or requirement concerning standards of performance for new stationary sources relating to carbon dioxide or methane. Exempts from such prohibition: (1) any action under the CAA relating to the vehicle emissions standards contained in Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0171 or Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0472; (2) any action relating to the preparation of a report or the enforcement of a reporting requirement; or (3) any action relating to the provision of technical support at a state's request. Provides that no action taken by the Administrator before the end of such period shall be considered to make carbon dioxide or methane a pollutant subject to regulation under the CAA for any source other than a new motor vehicle or new motor vehicle engine.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2010-04-22 00:00:00

Flint Hills Preservation Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to require states and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in determining whether an exceedance or violation of a national ambient air quality standard has occurred with respect to a specific air pollutant, to exclude data from a particular air quality monitoring location if emissions from prescribed fires in the Flint Hills Region cause a concentration of the air pollutant at the location to be in excess of the standard. Prohibits, if such emission data is excluded: (1) the Administrator from finding that a state has failed to enforce, or that a person has violated, a state implementation plan (SIP) for national primary or secondary ambient air quality standards as a result of such emissions; or (2) a state from finding that a person has violated, or from bringing an enforcement action for violation of, a SIP for such standards as a result of such emissions. Prohibits: (1) the Administrator from requiring, or a state from adopting, a smoke management plan under such Act in connection with any prescribed fire in such region; and (2) a building, structure, facility, or installation from being treated as a stationary source under new stationary source performance standards as a result of such prescribed fires. Provides that no person shall be required to obtain or modify an operating permit under Title V of the Clean Air Act in connection with such a prescribed fire.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2010-05-13 00:00:00

Limit Executive Actions Suspending Energy Act of 2010 or the LEASE Act of 2010 - Prohibits the head of any federal agency from taking any administrative action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions (including by issuing orders, promulgating regulations, or otherwise regulating, monitoring, mitigating, predicting, or documenting such emissions) for purposes of addressing climate change unless a federal statute expressly and specifically authorizes such action.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2010-05-13 00:00:00

Air and Health Quality Empowerment Zone Designation Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate areas nominated by local air pollution control districts as air and health quality empowerment zones, which shall be eligible for grants for replacing or retrofitting polluting vehicles and/or engines to improve the health of the population living in the zones. Sets forth area eligibility requirements, including: (1) being in extreme nonattainment of the 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard and in nonattainment of the national ambient air quality standard for PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter that does not exceed 2.5 micrometers) promulgated by the Administrator under the Clean Air Act; (2) having specified emission levels of oxides of nitrogen from farm equipment or of volatile organic compounds from farming operations; (3) meeting or exceeding national averages for asthma; (4) exceeding national averages for unemployment; and (5) being eligible for state or local matching funds. Prohibits an area from being designated unless the relevant district provides satisfactory assurances that the strategic plan (to be contained in its application) will be implemented. Authorizes the Administrator to revoke the designation if the relevant district: (1) has been designated as being in attainment with the air quality standards; or (2) is failing to comply with, or make progress in achieving the goals of, its strategic plan.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2010-05-19 00:00:00

Provides that compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) does not require consideration of: (1) the climate change effects or greenhouse gas emissions of a proposed action and alternative actions; or (2) the relationship of climate change effects or greenhouse gas emissions to a proposed action or alternatives, including the relationship to proposal design, environmental impacts, mitigation, and adaptation measures. Prohibits the provisions of a draft, proposed, or final results of any analysis, study, mitigation measure, adaptation measure, environmental impact statement or similar analysis, design proposal, action, or alternative developed pursuant to NEPA (including regulations) relating to climate change effects or greenhouse gas emissions from being the basis for any enforceable measure or action under any other provision of law. Declares that this Act does not preempt or interfere with: (1) any authority to consider the climate change effects or greenhouse gas emissions effects of proposed legislation or regulations specifically addressing greenhouse gas emissions; or (2) requirements to consider the potential climate change effects or greenhouse gas emission effects of proposals for agency action during planning or design processes under provisions of law other than NEPA.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2010-05-27 00:00:00

Municipal Fleet Modernization Act of 2010 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update and publish annually in the Federal Register a list of vehicles that satisfy requirements for certification as low emission and energy-efficient vehicles and so may be allowed by states to use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane highways.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2010-09-15 00:00:00

Heat Island and Smog Reduction Act of 2010 - Requires each federal agency, by April 1, 2011, to develop a heat island reduction plan for all federal property and facilities under its possession or control that are located in an area designated under the Clean Air Act as being in nonattainment with national ambient air quality standards for ozone. Requires each plan to include measures to: (1) maximize tree cover on federal property; and (2) increase solar reflectivity through techniques such as using roofs with high solar reflectivity (cool roofs), vegetated roofs, and paving materials with higher solar reflectivity. Requires the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) to submit annual reports to specified congressional committees assessing agency progress in developing and implementing such plans.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2010-12-02 00:00:00

TIFIA Expansion Act of 2010 - Revises Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program requirements to make eligible for TIFIA funding any projects that: (1) are for the design, acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of one or more transportation projects that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases or have a positive impact on traffic congestion; and (2) receive not more than 30% of their funding for capital costs from federal public transportation grant funds. Defines "master credit agreement" as one entered into between the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) and an obligor for such projects that: (1) makes contingent commitments of one or more secured loans or other federal credit instruments at future dates; (2) establishes the amounts and general terms and conditions of such loans or other instruments as well as identifies dedicated revenue sources that will secure their repayment; and (3) provides for the obligation of funds for the loans or other instruments after certain federal requirements have been met. Requires such projects to meet certain planning and programming requirements (as under current law) at the time that loan proceeds are disbursed or other credit assistance is provided pursuant to the master credit agreement. Makes projects with eligible costs reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed $1 billion (mega transportation projects) eligible for federal transportation infrastructure funding. Revises terms of secured loans and lines of credit used to finance certain transportation infrastructure projects to increase the maximum loan amount for such projects from the lesser of 33% to the lesser of 49% of the reasonably anticipated eligible project costs or (as under current law), if the loan does not receive an investment grade rating, the amount of the senior project obligations. Authorizes appropriations for FY2011-FY2015 for such projects.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2010-09-29 00:00:00

Global Forest Restoration Investment Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a business-related tax credit for investment in a carbon sequestration project approved under the International Carbon Conservation Act; and (2) extend through 2011 the taxpayer election to deduct dividends received from a controlled foreign corporation.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2009-03-05 00:00:00

Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit the issuance of permits under such Act for any carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor, or methane emissions resulting from biological processes associated with livestock production.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2009-03-11 00:00:00

Clean, Low-Emission, Affordable, New Transportation Efficiency Act - Establishes the Low Greenhouse Gas Transportation Fund. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for each of calendar 2012-2050, to auction 10% of emission allowances established under any EPA program providing for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the auctioning of emission allowances. Requires deposit of auction proceeds into the Fund to implement state and metropolitan planning organization (MPO) greenhouse gas emission reduction plans, and provide funding to transit projects that help reduce such emissions. Requires states and MPOs representing populations of more than 200,000 people to: (1) establish goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector for the next 10 years; and (2) develop transportation greenhouse gas emission reduction plans, including supporting lists of prioritized transit projects, that are integrated into state and MPO long-range transportation and transportation improvement plans. Directs the Secretary of Transportation and the EPA Administrator to contract with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to study and report recommendations for improving research tools and federal data sources necessary to assess the effect of state and local transportation, land use, and environmental plans on motor vehicle use rates and transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2009-03-18 00:00:00

Amends the Clean Air Act to redefine "renewable biomass" as: (1) materials, pre-commercial thinnings, or invasive species from certain National Forest System land and public lands that are byproducts of preventive treatments that are removed to reduce hazardous fuels, reduce or contain disease or insect infestation, or restore ecosystem health, that would not otherwise be used for higher-value products, and that are harvested in accordance with specified requirements for old-growth forests and large tree retention; or (2) any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis from nonfederal land or land belonging to an Indian or Indian tribe that is held in trust by the United States or subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States, including specified renewable plant material and waste material.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Energy
Date: 2009-04-20 00:00:00

Open Fuel Standard Act of 2009 or the OFS Act - Requires each light-duty automobile manufacturer's annual covered inventory to comprise at least: (1) 50% fuel choice-enabling automobiles in years 2012-2014; and (2) 80% fuel choice-enabling automobiles in 2015, and in each subsequent year. Defines "fuel choice-enabling automobile" as: (1) a flexible fuel automobile capable of operating on gasoline, E85, and M85; or (2) an automobile capable of operating on biodiesel fuel. Authorizes a manufacturer to request an exemption from such requirement from the Secretary of Transportation. Extends limited liability protection to the use of fuel containing ethanol or renewable fuel in the operation of internal combustion engines by declaring that such fuel shall not be deemed to be a defective product or subject to a failure to warn due to such ethanol or renewable fuel content, unless it violates a control or prohibition imposed under the Clean Air Act.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2009-04-22 00:00:00

Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a study of black carbon emissions, which shall include: (1) phase I to establish for the scientific community standard definitions of the terms black carbon and organic carbon; (2) phase II to summarize the available scientific and technical information concerning an identification of the major sources of black carbon emissions in the United States and throughout the world, an estimate of the quantity of current and projected emissions and the net climate effects of the emissions from those sources, the most effective control strategies for additional domestic and international reductions in black carbon emissions, and the health benefits associated with additional reductions; (3) phase III to summarize the amount, type, and direction of all actual and potential financial, technical, and related assistance provided by the United States to foreign countries to reduce, mitigate, or otherwise abate black carbon emissions and any health, environmental, and economic impacts associated with those emissions and to identify opportunities to achieve significant black carbon emission reductions in foreign countries through the provision of technical assistance or other approaches; and (4) phase IV to provide recommendations regarding areas of focus for additional research for cost-effective technologies, operations, and strategies with the highest potential to reduce black carbon emissions and protect public health and regarding government actions to encourage or require additional black carbon emission reduction. Sets forth reporting deadlines for each phase. Authorizes appropriations.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2009-04-30 00:00:00

Amends the Clean Air Act to revise the definition of "lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions" to: (1) exclude significant indirect emissions; (2) provide that emissions are to be determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator based on the most recent observable data and on consideration of regional differences of renewable fuel production; and (3) require the Administrator to make the model used in measuring emissions publicly available before publishing any administrative action on such emissions. Authorizes the Administrator to waive, or a renewable fuel manufacturer to petition the Administrator to waive, the lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements for renewable fuel production if the requirements: (1) are the primary or contributing factor of a failure to achieve the applicable renewable fuels standard for biomass-based diesel, conventional biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, or advanced biofuel; (2) are causing economic harm within the biofuels industry; or (3) are increasing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Authorizes a renewable fuel manufacturer to petition the Administrator to certify an innovative production method that may result in lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to the baseline lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of a renewable fuel. Considers a petition to be approved if the Administrator does not approve or deny it within 90 days of its receipt. Requires states that implement a low-carbon fuel standard or similar policy that requires a reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for renewable fuels to apply a similar lifecycle greenhouse gas emission baseline to the baseline used for the federal renewable fuel standard. Requires measurements taken under a state standard to be based on observable data relating to the direct lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the renewable fuel.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2009-05-20 00:00:00

EnergySmart Transport Corridors Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to: (1) establish an EnergySmart Transport Corridor program; and (2) coordinate the planning and deployment of measures, as well as designate EnergySmart transport corridors, to increase the energy efficiency of the Interstate System and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and other environmental pollutants. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to states to assist in the development of corridors. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to authorize appropriations through FY2015 for the Idle Reduction and Energy Conservation Deployment Program.