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ENERGY POLICY
On February 7, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber delivered a speech on energy and salmon issues in the Northwest. Kitzhaber called for cost plus price caps to control California's high wholesale energy prices, aggressive energy conservation in the Pacific Northwest, and federal action allowing the Bonneville Power Administration to temporarily delay its payments of the U.S. Treasury so that it could run the Columbia/Snake River hydrosystem in a manner that would produce slightly less energy but would improve conditions for endangered and threatened salmon runs. To view Gov. Kitzhaber's speech, visit: http://www.governor.state.or.us/governor/speeches/s01027.htm.
On February 14, Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) announced that Democrats are considering fighting the GOP energy package with an energy package of their own. The Senate minority leader indicated that Democrats may counter a collection of bills due for release after the Presidents' Day recess with a separate package addressing high energy prices and low domestic production of oil and natural gas. While the Democrats have not committed to offering their own energy package, Daschle has requested a meeting with President Bush to discuss high energy prices.
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AIR/WATER POLLUTION
On February 14, Representatives Greg Ganske (R-IA) and John Shimkus (R-IL) reintroduced legislation meant to increase the demand for renewable ethanol fuel by banning the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in three years. H.R. 608, The Clean Air and Water Preservation Act, has 27 cosponsors from 12 states. Ganske and Shimkus introduced an identical bill last March, but the legislation did not make it out of the Health and Environment Subcommittee. Ganske said that he would push the bill in the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee during the debate on the National Energy Policy Act. Several bills regarding MTBE have already been introduced in this Congress. Representative James Greenwood (R-PA) has introduced a similar MTBE bill that allows the governor of any state to petition the head of the EPA for removal of the gasoline additive provisions written in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. When added to gasoline, MTBE helps reduce carbon monoxide and ozone pollution, but leaks from gasoline storage tanks and gasoline spills have led to MTBE contamination of drinking water, groundwater, and soil in some parts of the country. Ingesting MTBE in drinking water may have adverse health effects and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies it as a possible human carcinogen. For more information on MTBE, see http://www.epa.gov/mtbe/.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Bob Smith (R- NH) confirmed on Thursday that he is working on legislation to amend the Clean Air Act to establish a cap and trade approach to regulating utilities' emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, sulphur oxides and mercury. Smith expects to have a bill ready to be marked up in time for a floor vote before the end of the year. The bill is intended to provide momentum for CO2 emission caps in the industrial sector and in broad economic sectors like transportation. House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) plans to introduce legislation reauthorizing the U.S. Global Change Research Program's (USGCRP) 10-year strategic plan. The USGCRP coordinates federal climate change research done by the numerous domestic and international agencies including the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, Agriculture Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
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STATUS ON MAJOR LEGISLATION
Oil and Gas:
Pipeline Safety
Latest Action: Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced S. 235, legislation meant to improve the natural gas pipeline inspection process. On February 8, the Senate passed the measure 98-0. The bill, originally floated as S. 141 but recently changed to expedite consideration, requires pipeline companies to conduct regular pipeline safety assessments and authorizes states to use greater control in pipeline oversight. The bill responds to several fatal gas pipeline explosions in the West.
House: John Dingell (D-MI) and James Oberstar (D-MN) responded by introducing a similar bill regarding pipeline safety. The bill, H.R. 144, goes a step further than the Senate bill and authorizes inspections from the Transportation Department's Office of Pipeline Safety. The Department of Transportation does not currently necessitate direct federal testing of gas pipelines.
Land Preservation:
The Conservation and Reinvestment Act
Latest Action: On February 14, Representative Don Young (R-AK) and nine cosponsors introduced H.R. 701, a bill similar to the CARA bill that passed in the House last year. H.R. 701 would direct $3.1 billion per year of outer continental shelf (OCS) oil and gas receipts to a variety of conservation programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, state wildlife programs, coastal restoration, historical areas, Indian lands, urban parks, and endangered species. This is an increase from last year's $2.8 billion per year. Environmental groups that supported the CARA bill last year are pleased that Young reintroduced the bill again this year. The nine cosponsors of H.R. 701 are Representatives John Dingell (D-MI), Billy Tauzin (R-LA), George Miller (D-CA), Resources Committee Chairman Jim Hansen (R-UT), Chris John (D-LA), Dale Kildee (D-MI), John Cooksey (R-LA) and Jim Saxton (R-NJ), and committee ranking member Nick Rahall (D-WV).
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UPCOMING EVENTS
The House and Senate have been in recess since February 16. Congress is scheduled to reconvene on February 26.
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JOBS
American Rivers currently has a number of job openings. See our employment page for the following opportunities:
* Online Community Manager
* Government Affairs Director
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QUESTIONS?
Contact Jamie Mierau, Assistant to the Vice President for Conservation, at 202-347-7550.
Information taken from sources including: Congressional Green Sheets, Greenwire, and Environment and Energy Daily.
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