EPA has finalized the science report, Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters. The report concludes that streams, wetlands, and other open waters influence the health of downstream waters. EPA, along with other federal agencies and states, can use this scientific report to inform policy and regulatory decisions, including the Clean Water Act Rule being developed by EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Find the report here. http://go.usa.gov/uYNV

Read a blog post by Ken Kopocis, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, on how the latest science will inform the finalized Clean Water Act Rule here. http://go.usa.gov/uYN5

As President Obama noted in his 2015 State of the Union address, 2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century. EPA is committed to taking action on climate change. 

Read a blog post by Administrator McCarthy, on how taking action on climate change can strengthen the economy and middle class security here. http://go.usa.gov/JNV3

Watch EPA's Climate Change Basics video and what actions you can take here. http://youtu.be/ScX29WBJI3w

EPA recently launched the Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center to help communities across the country improve their wastewater, drinking water and stormwater systems, particularly through innovative financing. Improving these systems helps to build resilience to climate change. The center was announced as Vice President Biden and EPA Administrator McCarthy toured the construction site for a tunnel designed to reduce sewer overflows into the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. by 98 percent. The center is part of the White House Build America Investment Initiative – a government-wide effort to increase infrastructure investment and promote economic growth. Learn more about the new center here. http://go.usa.gov/JXSY

EPA is holding three public hearings on the proposed updates to the national air quality standards for ground-level ozone, also known as smog. EPA has proposed to strengthen the standards to a level within a range of 65 to 70 parts per billion (ppb) to better protect Americans’ health and the environment, while taking comment on a level as low as 60 ppb. Hearings will be held in Arlington, Texas and Washington, D.C. on January 29, 2015 and in Sacramento, California on February 2, 2015. Learn how to attend the hearings here. http://go.usa.gov/J5BT

Learn more about the proposed smog standard and how to comment here. http://epa.gov/glo/