Brazil

Policy

Chamber of Commerce hosts U.S.-Brazil partnership conference

Washington, April 9, 2012, 8:30 am

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Brazil-U.S. Business Council hosts the Brazil-U.S.: Partnership for the 21st Century Conference. DOE Deputy Sec. Dan Poneman to speak on morning energy panel. Secretary of State Clinton, Brazil President Dilma Rousseff among other speakers.

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Oil

Brazil launches second $11 billion suit over offshore leak

Source:

Reuters

TransCanada and Chevron were named in a $11 billion suit by a Brazilian prosecutor for an offshore oil leak, following a suit of the same amount for a November leak, Reuters reports.

Oil

Brazil prosecutors seek ban against Chevron again

Source:

Bloomberg

Prosecutors in Brazil are again seeking to ban Chevron and Transocean from operating in the country until they stop environmental damage from a November spill, Bloomberg reports.

Environment

Economic growth measures fail to count environmental negatives

Source:

Reuters

Scientists and economists tell an environmental conference that traditional measures showing strong economic growth as a positive development in Brazil and India over nearly two decades fail to account for the negative impact from depletion of their natural resources, Reuters reports

Policy

Brazil: Pollution may mar upcoming UN Earth Summit

By The Associated Press on March 26, 2012

A local newspaper is reporting that Rio de Janeiro state's iconic Guanabara Bay is heavily polluted as Brazil prepares to host the "Rio plus 20" Earth Summit in June.

Rio plus 20 is scheduled for June, two decades after the first U.N. Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro.

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Oil

Chevron says it's a scapegoat in Brazil

Source:

Dow Jones Newswires

Chevron Corp., reacting to criminal charges filed against it and its executives in Brazil, says the company is a "scapegoat" in a broader dispute over how to distribute the country's oil wealth, Dow Jones Newswires reports.

Oil

Charges filed against Chevron in Brazil

By The Associated Press on March 21, 2012

SAO PAULO (AP) — Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against 17 oil company executives on Wednesday for an oil leak in the Atlantic, legal action that has prompted debate about whether it could slow Brazil's effort to develop its massive offshore finds.

At least 110,000 gallons (416,000 liters) of oil seeped through cracks on the ocean floor near a Chevron Corp. appraisal well off the Rio de Janeiro coast in November. The well drilled by Transocean Ltd. has since been sealed, but a small amount of seepage reappeared in recent days, raising concern the damage is not yet over.

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Oil

Chevron, Transocean executives face criminal charges in Brazil spill

By Stan Lehman on March 21, 2012

SAO PAULO (AP) — Seventeen oil company executives face criminal charges Wednesday for an oil leak in the Atlantic, a legal action that has prompted debate about whether it could slow Brazil's effort to develop its massive offshore finds.

At least 110,000 gallons (416,000 liters) of oil seeped through cracks on the ocean floor near a Chevron Corp. appraisal well off the Rio de Janeiro coast in November. The well drilled by Transocean Ltd. has since been sealed, but a small amount of seepage reappeared in recent days, raising concern the damage is not yet over.

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Oil

Court documents show extent of Chevron leak damage

Source:

Reuters

Court documents obtained by Reuters show that Brazilian prosecutors will claim that Chevron should not have drilled an offshore well that subsequently leaked, and also outline the extent of the damage and why prosecutors are seeking criminal charges against Chevron executives.

Oil

Brazil's planned criminal charges against Chevron cast pall over development

Source:

The Wall Street Journal

The criminal charges that Brazil plans to file Wednesday against Chevron executives for an offshore oil leak are threatening to stall foreign companies' oil drilling interest in the South American nation, The Wall Street Journal reports.

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News from Around the World

Policy

CBO: Carbon tax would cut emissions, slow economy

Source:

The Hill

A new report from the Congressional Budget Office said a carbon tax could bring in significant revenues and help reverse climate change at the cost of higher prices and lower incomes, The Hill reports.

Policy

Committee proposes 18-percent cut for Interior, EPA accounts

Source:

E&E News

The House Appropriations Committee proposed giving $24.3 billion to the subcommittee that finances the Interior Department, EPA and similar agencies, an 18-percent cut from fiscal 2013 levels, E&E News reports.

Policy

Moniz: Time to end debate on climate science

Source:

The Hill

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz told department employees that he won't debate the validity of climate change science, The Hill reports.

Environment

Wyden, Murkowski press Forest Service to pay rural communities

Source:

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, called on the Forest Service to drop its plans to withhold funds from rural timber communities.

Oil

Coffeyville refinery to pay $300K EPA settlement

Source:

Wichita Eagle

Coffeyville Resources Refining and Marketing agreed to pay a $300,000 settlement with the EPA over allegations that its Coffeyville refinery violated the Clean Air Act, the Wichita Eagle reports.

Nuclear

NRC admits to leasing too much space for headquarters

Source:

The Washington Post

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission admitted to leasing more space than necessary for its Rockville headquarters at a hearing before a House subcommittee, The Washington Post reports.

Environment

Interior awards $20.8M in water conservation grants

Source:

Bloomberg

The Interior Department awarded a total $20.8 million to 44 water conservation projects in 11 states, Bloomberg reports.

Oil

Kaine, Warner introduce offshore development bill

Source:

Virginia Business

Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Virginia Democrats, introduced a bill that would expand offshore energy development and offer a revenue sharing plan, Virginia Business reports.

Oil

Subcommittee weighs repeal bill for Obama NPR-A plan

Source:

FuelFix

A House Natural Resources subcommittee held a hearing on a bill that would overturn the Obama administration management plan for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, FuelFix reports.

Policy

Biden: climate change, oil traffic pose challenges for Coast Guard

Source:

The Hill

Speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy commencement, Vice President Joe Biden said the branch will face future challenges from climate change and oil transportation risks, The Hill reports.