The Big Story 

President Biden on Wednesday approved an emergency declaration for the state of Louisiana after Gulf of Mexico saltwater entered the drinking water supply. 

© Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP

Normally, the flow of the Mississippi River keeps saltwater out of the water supply. However, the last year has also seen severe drought conditions and record heat in both Louisiana and Mississippi, with the water nearing all-time lows.

Biden made the declaration in response to a request from Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) issued Monday. It authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to mobilize resources in Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.

“Efforts to mitigate the impact of the saltwater intrusion are currently underway and other projects are being considered based on the projections being received from the United States Army Corps of Engineers,” Edwards said in a statement Wednesday. “This 90-day approval of our Emergency Declaration will help our state and local partners with the costs of any mitigation efforts and protective measures.” 

Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin & Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

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As the U.S. prepares for the energy transition, a renewed focus has been placed on workforce diversity in the energy industry. Join The Hill as we look to answer questions about what companies in the sector can do and what role communities and government may play. The event will feature Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C), House Assistant Democratic Leader.

In Other News 

Branch out with a different read on The Hill:

Biden axes GOP-led effort to undo endangered species protections for bat, chicken

President Biden on Tuesday vetoed a Republican-led attempt to ax endangered species protections for the long-eared bat and the lesser prairie-chicken. 

On Our Radar 

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

• The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing about countering China on mining.
  
  

• The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on beverage container waste.
  
  

• The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee‘s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment will hold a hearing on clean water infrastructure financing.

   

• The House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing titled “Energy Independence: How Burdensome Regulations are Crushing Small Offshore Energy Producers.”

What We’re Reading 

News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

• Shell CEO comes under pressure from within on renewables shift (Reuters)
  
  

• GOP lawmakers threaten to call Ford CEO before Congress over Chinese battery tech (The Detroit News)

   

• Six young people take 32 countries to court in unprecedented climate case (CNN)

What Others are Reading 

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

McCarthy told conference he won’t allow vote on Senate stopgap: GOP lawmakers

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told members of the House GOP conference Wednesday morning that he will not bring the Senate’s bipartisan continuing resolution to the floor for a vote. Read more

Jim Jordan fires back at Fani Willis’s ‘hostile response’ to House probe

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Wednesday fired back at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) for her “hostile response” to his request to turn over documents related to her prosecution of former President Trump. Read more