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Senator Murkoswki introduces energy package
On Monday, February 26, Senate Energy Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) introduced an energy package called the National Energy Security Act of 2001. This troublesome bill aims to increase domestic energy production and cut crude oil imports in half by 2010 by opening the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other federal lands to oil exploration and production. The bill also calls for increasing funding for alternatives to fossil fuels. Some of the energy sources the bill defines as "renewable," such as solar, wind, and biomass energy could provide ecologically friendly energy, but others, including hydropower and nuclear power, pose serious environmental problems. The national energy bill also incorporates language from a bill Sen. Larry Craig has been pushing for several years that would roll back environmental protections at hydropower dams regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This part of the bill would undermine the ability of federal resource agencies to require those projects to meet modern environmental standards. The National Energy Security Act is an expanded version of S. 2557, introduced by Murkowski and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) in the last Congress. Murkowski held a news conference on the bill on Monday, February 26.
House holds hearing on natural gas prices
On Wednesday, February 28, the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee will examine the recent rise in natural gas prices during the first of a series of hearings on natural gas issues. FERC chairman Curt Hebert, Jr. will testify at the hearing.
The House Energy and Air Quality hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28 at 1 p.m. in Rayburn House Office Building 2123.
House Hearing on Renewables and Energy Efficiency
This week the House Science Committee will hold a hearing to determine the role of renewable energy and energy efficiency in national energy policy. The focus of the hearing will be to determine what programs and policies are needed to ensure renewable energy and energy efficiency reach its highest potential, whether renewable energy and energy efficiency programs have performed as expected, and the current and projected contributions of renewable energy and energy efficiency to the nation's energy needs. Several energy efficiency bills already have been introduced this Congress. Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced H.R. 683, which aims to increase energy and water conservation and renewable energy sources, as well as provide assistance to low-income energy consumers. The bill also requires agencies to review their energy and water conservation programs and renewable energy use and achieve at least 50 percent of the potential efficiency and renewable savings identified in the review within 180 days of completing the review. In addition, Representative Bob Filner (D-CA) introduced H.R. 269, which promotes wind energy development.
The House Science Committee hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28 at 10 a.m. in Rayburn House Office Building 3218.
This week the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee will hear testimony from state officials on issues related to the Clean Water Act. The EPA's total maximum daily load (TMDL) rule, allowing states to designate allowable pollution levels, is expected to dominate the discussion. Governors John Hoeven (R-ND) and John Kitzhaber (D-OR) will testify at the hearing. Governor Hoeven, speaking on behalf of the National Governors Association, supports reexamining the TMDL rule and wants the EPA to loosen regulation of concentrated animal feeding operations, brownfields, and Superfund cleanup sites. Governor Kitzhaber, speaking for Oregon and the Western Governors' Association, will discuss how Oregon officials have integrated watersheds and federally protected salmon runs in its TMDL implementation.
The House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28 at 10 a.m. in Rayburn House Office Building 2167.
On Tuesday, February 27, the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Energy and Water Development will hold a hearing to question the Army Corps of Engineers about allegations of manipulating studies to justify a $1 billion project to expand locks on the Upper Mississippi River. Last December, the Corps' inspector general and a Corps economist publicly concluded the Corps manipulated data to justify an expensive Mississippi River locks expansion project. This will begin what promises to be a thorough investigation into Corps policies and practices. Also this year, a coalition of environmental and taxpayer organizations, including American Rivers, will step up a Corps reform movement. The key witness at Tuesday's hearing will be the Corps' Chief of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers. The Corps' budget increased by $4.1 million in 2000 and by $4.5 million in 2001. Most of the increased funding went to the Corps' construction budget.
The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27 at 11 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 138.
This Wednesday, President Bush is expected to release to Congress a general 100-page budget priorities outline. The House Budget Committee is scheduled to begin working on the Bush administration's proposal in a hearing on Thursday. The committee expects to receive general numbers from the administration, such as proposed funding increases for education, Medicare, and defense. Although budget details are not yet available, many observers expect funding cuts for departments such as Interior, Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Administration will release its agency-by-agency breakdown in late April.
House:
Transportation and Infrastructure:
Hearing on State Clean Water Act Issues
Wednesday, February 28 at 10 a.m. in Rayburn House Office Building
2167
Science:
Hearing on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Wednesday, February 28 at 10 a.m. in Rayburn House Office Building
2318
Energy and Commerce:
Energy Bills Markup
Wednesday, February 28 at 10 a.m. in Rayburn House Office Building
2123
Energy and Commerce:
Hearing on National Energy Policy
Wednesday, February 28 at 1 p.m. in Rayburn House Office Building
2123
Budget:
Hearing on President Bush's FY'02 Budget
Thursday, March 1 at 10 a.m. in Cannon House Office Building 210
Budget:
Hearing on President Bush's FY'02 Budget
Thursday, March 1 at 3 p.m. in Cannon House Office Building 210
Senate:
Appropriations:
Hearing on Army Corps of Engineers
Tuesday, February 27 at 11 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 138
Environment and Public Works:
Hearing on Brownfields Legislation
Tuesday, February 27 at 10:15 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building
406
Agriculture:
Hearing on Agriculture Conservation
Wednesday, February 28 at 9 a.m. in Russell Senate Office Building
328A
Environment and Public Works:
Hearing on EPW Organization
Wednesday, February 28 at 10:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office
Building 406
Agriculture:
Hearing on Agricultural Conservation (continued)
Thursday, March 1 at 9 a.m. in Hart Senate Office Building 216
Energy and Natural Resources:
Hearing on California Power Bills
Thursday, March 1 at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 106
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Legislative information taken from sources including: Environment and
Energy Daily and Congressional Green Sheets.
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