WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The British Columbia Lumber Trade Council (BCLTC), representing major Canadian lumber producers, has formally challenged the basis of a U.S. national security investigation into timber and lumber imports, arguing that Canadian softwood lumber poses no threat and is, in fact, necessary for the U.S. market. In a detailed submission dated April 1, 2025, to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, the BCLTC responded to the ongoing Section 232 investig more ST

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Lumber industry associations from Ontario and Quebec have argued that the U.S. Department of Commerce's national security investigation into timber and lumber imports is fundamentally flawed, asserting that the probe misapplies U.S. trade law. The comments, submitted April 1, 2025, by the law firm Baker & Hostetler LLP on behalf of the Ontario Forest Industries Association and the Conseil de l'industrie forestiere du Quebec (collectively "Central Canada"), contend that Secti more ST

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer advocacy group, has submitted sharp criticism of the Food and Drug Administration's proposed framework for assessing the safety of chemicals in the food supply after they are already on the market. In comments filed January 21, 2025, regarding FDA Docket FDA-2024-N-3609, CSPI labeled the agency's plan a step forward but ultimately "critically deficient." The submission follows an FDA public meeting held in Sep more ST

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- A coalition of environmental groups, including Earthjustice, Sierra Club, and the Center for Biological Diversity, has called on federal agencies to deny the license for the proposed Blue Marlin Offshore Port, citing severe environmental risks and a legally deficient environmental review. The groups submitted detailed comments on April 7, 2025, to the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) fo more ST

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the leading trade group for the U.S. ethanol industry, is pressing the Treasury Department and IRS for rapid finalization and significant adjustments to the rules governing the new Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, set to take effect in 2025. In comments filed April 10, 2025, responding to Treasury's Notice 2025-11, RFA emphasized that while the credit holds great promise, current regulatory uncertainty and specific proposed pro more ST

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) has submitted critical comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), arguing that the agency's updated mitigation proposal for the herbicide atrazine is based on flawed science and imposes impractical requirements on Florida growers. In the April 3, 2025, filing, FFVA, representing producers of most of Florida's fruit, vegetable, and specialty crops, urged the EPA to reconsider aspects of its plan affecting fre more ST

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) has voiced strong opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) updated mitigation proposal for atrazine, a widely used herbicide. In a letter to the EPA's Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, FFBF President Jeb S. Smith expressed concerns about the potential impact of the proposal on Florida's agricultural community. The letter highlights the importance of atrazine for sugarcane and sweetcorn production in Florida, citing  more ST

WASHINGTON, May 6 -- The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association has submitted comments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding the implementation of the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, emphasizing the need for fair, flexible, and practical regulations. Representing nine ethanol facilities in Minnesota, the association highlighted the significant opportunity the credit presents for the state's biofuel producers and rural economy. Brian Werner, Executive Director of the Minnesota Bio-F more ST