To read the River Policy Update online, visit American Rivers' Online Newsroom at www.americanrivers.org/policyupdates/default.htm and click on "River Policy Update." Week of June 25, 2001 IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE: * Appropriations * Energy policy * Water policy * Bush administration environmental nominees * Congressional calendar * Take action APPROPRIATIONS Supplemental appropriations bill Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) said he wants to pass the fiscal 2001 supplemental appropriations bill before the Independence Day break, even if it means delaying recess. A potential stumbling block to a timely recess could be the issue of whether to grant aid to drought-stricken farmers in the Klamath Basin of Oregon and Northern California. Some of the region's lawmakers protested after the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill without such aid. The Bush administration has requested $20 million in aid to the farmers cut off from irrigation supplied by the Bureau of Reclamation. More than 200,000 acres of farmland in Oregon and California are typically irrigated from the Klamath Project. This year, irrigation has been curtailed during the drought in order to protect fish (including the Endangered Species Act listed coho salmon, Lost River sucker and shortnosed sucker) and a wintering population of over 1,000 bald eagles - the largest in the contiguous 48 states. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) claimed she would pursue all available options including a floor amendment in order to ensure emergency relief to farmers. Energy and water development appropriations The House Appropriations Committee was to markup the Energy and Water Development Act Monday, and the bill will be taken up on the House floor later this week. On June 19th, the energy and water development subcommittee approved $23.7 billion for the energy and water bill, a $1.2 billion increase over President Bush's request. Both the US Army Corps of Engineers civil works programs and Department of Energy renewable energy and environmental clean-up programs received increases over the administration request. Amendments dealing with California and Western State energy problems are expected to be introduced by Committee Democrats. A controversial provision of the bill providing for a new study of the Auburn Dam on the American River in California will likely be addressed during House floor consideration. The subcommittee had also approved an amendment offered by Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA) that would prevent the US Army Corps of Engineers from making revising Missouri and Mississippi river operations to benefit wildlife. Conservationists adamantly oppose this rider. They argue that allowing a more natural seasonal rise and fall of water levels would not prevent traditional uses of the rivers or their floodplains, but that it is critical to the survival of several endangered species, including the pallid sturgeon, piping plover, and least tern. To encourage the Army Corps to revise its operation of Missouri River dams, American Rivers listed the Missouri as its number one Most Endangered River this year. Markup: 3:30 PM, Monday, June 25th, in 2359 Rayburn ENERGY POLICY Hydroelectric relicensing and nuclear energy This Wednesday the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on energy and air quality will hold a hearing to examine hydropower relicensing legislation and reports by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the General Accounting Office on the relicensing process. In addition, the hearing will focus on nuclear energy by examining what legal changes would be necessary to facilitate the construction of new nuclear plants. Industry advocates who oppose the current FERC relicensing process are expected to advocate for reducing the input of resource agencies, such as the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, in the hydro relicensing process. Conservationists assert the input of such agencies is vital to protecting healthy river ecosystems and the species that rely on them. Hearing: 10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 27, in 2123 Rayburn WATER POLICY California water issues The House Resources Water and Power Subcommittee will continue to hold field hearings this weekend and during next week's recess to investigate water quality and supply issues in California. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) has recently introduced the Western Water Enhancement Act, a bill that would reauthorize and redirect the federal-state effort to better manage the use of water flowing into the Sacramento- San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. Three million dollars in federal spending would be allocated to water supply, water quality, and flood control infrastructure improvements. Conservationists and other opponents maintain the bill would undermine both water rights and commitments to environmental goals. In San Jose, the majority of the witnesses will be representing Bay Area businesses and urban water users, while the Modesto hearing will focus on the concerns of the agricultural community. Hearing: Saturday, June 30, in Modesto Hearing: Monday, July 2, in San Jose Water science report This Thursday the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on water resources and the environment will examine a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report that claims a more science- based approach is need to improve the EPA's total maximum daily load (TMDL) program. The EPA's TMDL program was created in an effort to reduce non-point source water pollution from sources such as agricultural runoff and urban storm water. Overlooked for years, the TMDL process is now being used to control pollutants including nutrients, bacteria and sediments that come from non-point sources. According to Kenneth Reckhow, professor of water resources at Duke University and chairman of the NAS committee that prepared the report on the TMDL process, improving the TMDL process will require that states "use better data and tools to establish appropriate water quality standards," and that they develop plans to address violations of those standards. Hearing: 9:30 AM, Thursday, June 28, in 2167 Rayburn House Resources Committee markups This Wednesday the House Resources Committee is scheduled to mark up eight bills, including the following: -A bill to allow private groups to maintain a series of small dams and weirs in California's Emigrant Wilderness Area. Conservationists object to such maintenance as unnecessary and inconsistent with the values underlying the Wilderness Act. -Legislation to expand the watershed management unit that protects Portland, Oregon's drinking water supply. -A bill to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct water supply studies for three tribes in Washington state. Markup: 10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 27, in 1324 Longworth BUSH ADMINISTRATION ENVIRONMENTAL NOMINEES This Wednesday the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for three nominees. The nominees include John Keys III for commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, Frances Mainella to be director of the National Park Service and Vicky Baily for a Department of Energy assistant secretary position. According to staff, the nominations are considered non-controversial. Still pending before the Committee are three Interior Department nominations: Patricia Lynn Scarlett, for assistant secretary for policy, management and budget; William Gerry Myers for solicitor; and Bennett William Raley for assistant secretary for water and science. Hearing: 9:30 AM, Wednesday, June 27th, in 366 Dirksen CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR Senate: Confirmation Hearing Energy and Natural Resources Committee 9:30 am, Wednesday, June 27, in 366 Dirksen House: Energy and water bill markup Appropriations Committee 3:30 pm, Monday, June 25, in 2359 Rayburn Markup of House Resources bills Resources Committee 10:00 am, Wednesday, June 27, in 1324 Longworth Hearing on nuclear energy/hydropower Energy and Commerce Committee 10:00 am, Wednesday, June 27, in 2123 Rayburn Hearing on water science report Transportation Committee 9:30 am, Thursday, June 28, in 2167 Rayburn Field Hearing on California water issues Resources Committee Saturday, June 30, in Modesto CA Field Hearing on California water issues Resources Committee Monday, July 2, in San Jose CA Questions? Contact Michael Garrity, Conservation Associate, at 202-347-7550. Legislative information taken from sources including: Environment and Energy Daily, Greenwire, Congressional Green Sheets, and members of the American Rivers conservation staff. Encourge friends to become an online river activist, by visiting www.americanrivers.org/takeaction. To become a member of American Rivers, visit www.americanrivers.org/joindonate Join the nation's online river community at www.americanrivers.org for free online resources, toolkits, and ways to unite with other activists on your important issues. AOL Keyword: American Rivers *************************************
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