This summer the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the public policy research arm of Congress, published a number of environmental related research reports on such hot topics as genetically modified crops, wildfires, bio-power, food labeling, chemical regulation and more:
Administrative Law
The Federal Rulemaking Process: An Overview, June 17, 2013
Agriculture Law
The 2013 Farm Bill: A Comparison of the Senate Agriculture Committee-Reported Bill (S. 954) with Current Law, June 14, 2013
Agriculture and Related Agencies: FY2014 Appropriations, June 18, 2013
Agricultural Export Programs: Background and Issues, June 18, 2013
Budget Issues Shaping a Farm Bill in 2013, June 3, 2013
Expiration and Extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, July 31, 2013
Farm Safety Net Provisions in a 2013 Farm Bill: S. 954 and H.R. 1947, July 24, 2013
Hemp as an Agricultural Commodity, July 24, 2013
U.S. Farm Income, August 30, 2013
What Is the Farm Bill?, June 21, 2013
Animal Law
Bee Health: Background and Issues for Congress, August 27, 2013
International Illegal Trade in Wildlife: Threats and U.S. Policy, July 23, 2013
Arctic/Antarctic Law
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress, August 8, 2013
Clean Air Act
Clean Air Issues in the 113th Congress: An Overview, July 15, 2013
EPA Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Power Plants: Many Questions, Some Answers, June 26, 2013
Clean Water Act
Controversies over Redefining “Fill Material” Under the Clean Water Act, August 21, 2013
Climate Change Law
Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS): A Primer, July 16, 2013
Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Research, Development, and Demonstration at the U.S. Department of Energy, June 10, 2013
Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future, August 28, 2013
The Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI): Budget Authority and Request, FY2010-FY2014, May 28, 2013
President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, June 26, 2013
Chemical Regulation
Federal Regulation of Chemicals in Commerce: An Overview of Issues for the 113th Congress, May 30, 2013
Cultural Heritage/Historic Preservation Law
Heritage Areas: Background, Proposals, and Current Issues, June 4, 2013
Disaster Law
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Natural Resource Damage Assessment Under the Oil Pollution Act, July 24, 2013
Agricultural Disaster Assistance, August 29, 2013
Earthquake Risk and U.S. Highway Infrastructure: Frequently Asked Questions, June 5, 2013
Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research, July 18, 2013
Financing Natural Catastrophe Exposure: Issues and Options for Improving Risk Transfer Markets, August 15, 2013
Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes in the United States, May 22, 2013
Wildfire Management: Federal Funding and Related Statistics, August 30, 2013
Wildfire Management: Hotshot Crews, July 1, 2013
Energy Law
Analysis of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), July 22, 2013
Energy Policy: 113th Congress Issues, July 25, 2013
Energy Tax Policy: Issues in the 113th Congress, September 4, 2013
Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?, July 19, 2013
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: Lessons Learned and Issues for Policymakers, May 21, 2013
EPA & Enforcement
EPA Regulations: Too Much, Too Little, or On Track?, July 16, 2013
Federal Pollution Control Laws: How Are They Enforced?, June 18, 2013
Science and Technology Issues in the 113th Congress, June 20, 2013
Food Law
Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling, July 22, 2013
Deregulating Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Sugar Beets: Legal and Administrative Responses, May 22, 2013
International Food Aid Programs: Background and Issues, May 20, 2013
Unapproved Genetically Modified Wheat Discovered in Oregon: Status and Implications, June 7, 2013
International Law
International Climate Change Financing: The Climate Investment Funds (CIFs), June 3, 2013
International Environmental Financing: The Global Environment Facility (GEF), June 3, 2013
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology: A Policy Primer, June 24, 2013
The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues, August 29, 2013
Ocean Law
Ocean Acidification, July 30, 2013
Oil & Gas Law
An Overview of Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas: Resources and Federal Actions, July 15, 2013
Hydraulic Fracturing: Selected Legal Issues, July 16, 2013
Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues, May 7, 2013
Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal Framework, June 25, 2013
Water Law
Klamath Basin Settlement Agreements: Issues in Brief, June 18, 2013