To read the River Policy Update online, visit American Rivers' Online
Newsroom at http://www.americanrivers.org/policyupdates/update.htm
and click on "River Policy Update."
Week of July 16, 2001
IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE:
* Energy policy
* Appropriations
* Global warming
* Water policy
* Wildlife/fisheries
* Parks and public lands/rivers
* Take action
* Jobs
ENERGY POLICY
House and Senate energy legislation
House Resources Committee:
This Tuesday, the House Resources Committee will markup Chairman Jim
Hansen's (R-UT) Energy Security Act. Heavily backed by the Bush
administration, the Energy Security Act is expected to include, among
other things, provisions that would open the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge to oil and gas development, promote offshore oil and gas
development, provide for studies aimed at maximizing hydroelectric
generation under the jurisdiction of the Interior Department, and
implement measures to increase efficiency at some hydropower dams
under the Interior's jurisdiction. Democrats plan to offer a
substitute in the form of an amendment.
2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 17 in 1324 Longworth.
House Energy and Commerce Committee:
This week, the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on energy and
air quality will move ahead on the energy conservation bill. The
comprehensive energy legislation addresses five key areas including
conservation, reformulated gasoline, hydropower relicensing, nuclear
energy, and so-called "clean coal" technology. Hydropower industry
advocates have criticized the lengthy licensing process brought on
by "mandatory conditioning," which gives federal resource agencies
the authority to demand some environmental safeguards during the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) dam relicensing
process. Conservationists have argued that the changes promoted by
the industry would alter the relicensing process in a way that would
limit the authority of the Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife
Service, Forest Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service to
adequately protect aquatic resources and riparian lands. The
Committee staff has developed compromise language on hydropower that
both conservationists and industry have agreed to, which would
require that the resource agencies consider less costly alternatives
when developing conservation measures. Numerous amendments are
expected on other portions of the bill.
Markup: 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, in 2123 Rayburn
Senate Energy
This Tuesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will
hold a hearing focusing on renewable energy, hydropower and advanced
electricity technology proposals as well as FERC hydropower
relicensing procedures.
Hearing: 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, in 106 Dirksen
APPROPRIATIONS
Supplemental appropriations bill
This week a House-Senate conference committee will meet for final
approval of the $6.5 billion supplemental appropriations bill for
FY '01. The bill would provide $20 million for drought-stricken
Klamath Basin farmers.
Conference: TBA
Energy and Water funding
Last Thursday the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on energy and
water development unanimously approved the FY '02 energy and water
funding bill, followed by full Committee adoption. The conservation
community is vigorously opposed to a rider that Rep. Tom Latham (R-
IA) inserted in the House version of the bill that would prevent the
Army Corps of Engineers from revising Missouri and Mississippi river
operations to benefit wildlife, and plans to fight the rider's
inclusion in the Senate bill and in conference committee. The Senate
bill reported by the Appropriations Committee contains a more limited
provision that would allow continued consideration of necessary flow
changes. Conservationists 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 interior 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. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) blocked a rider
preventing the flow changes last year and is expected to fight it
again this year.
Other amendments may also be considered to limit funding for certain
environmentally damaging Corps of Engineers projects and to place a
moratorium on oil and gas drilling under the Great Lakes. Debate on
the $25 billion bill begins Tuesday: Time TBA
Agriculture funding
This Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee will markup the
FY '02 Agriculture Appropriations Act. The House bill provides $21
million above the Administration's request for four key programs in
the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The House measure did
not request funding for the NRCS forestry incentives program, which
the Senate has insisted on funding. In addition, the House did not
fund three other popular conservation programs: the Wetland Reserve
Program, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and the Farmland
Protection Program.
Markup: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 17, in S128 of the Capitol
EPA funding
This Week, both the House and Senate appropriations committees will
markup a $84.15 billion bill that would restore funding to EPA water
programs that the Bush administration proposed cutting. The
Administration proposed cut backs in both the clean water state
revolving fund and the safe drinking water state revolving fund.
House Markup: 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2359 Rayburn
Senate Markup: 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 19, S-128 of the Capitol
NOAA Funding
This Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee will markup a wide-
ranging commerce bill, including funds for the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration for FY '02. Last Tuesday, the House
Appropriations Committee approved a $38.5 billion funding bill for
NOAA, which includes the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
NMFS's Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, which funds state,
local, and tribal salmon habitat and monitoring projects, would
receive $110 million - 20 million more the Bush Administration
requested. NMFS would receive an additional $25 million for
activities related to the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the United
States and Canada.
Floor action: Tuesday, July 17 Time TBA
Markup: 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 19, in S-128 of the Capitol
GLOBAL WARMING
This Wednesday the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a
hearing to consider a U.S strategy on climate change. Sen. Robert
Byrd (D-VA) introduced a bill that would establish a White House
climate response office and launch a government-wide effort to meet
the challenge of global warming. The bill aims to have a "long-term
goal of stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations while
minimizing adverse short- term and long-term economic and social
impacts." Representatives of industry and the scientific and
environmental communities are expected to testify.
Hearing: 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 18, 342 Dirksen
WATER RESOURCES
California's water bill (CalFed)
This Thursday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Water and
Power Subcommittee will hold a hearing to assess Sen. Dianne
Feinstein's California Ecosystem, Water Supply, and Water Quality
Enhancement Act. Similar to Rep. Ken Calvert's (R-CA) Western Water
Enhancement Act, Feinstein's bill would reauthorize the federal-state
effort to improve water quality and endangered species management in
the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay, and
would initiate several major new water storage projects at a cost of
at least $3 billion over seven years. Conservationists oppose both
the Feinstein and Calvert bills, arguing that they would undermine
water rights and renege on commitments to environmental goals. Rep.
George Miller (D-CA) has introduced another bill (HR 2404), supported
by California environmental groups, that would authorize numerous
water reclamation, reuse, recycling, desalination and groundwater
banking projects. "Instead of turning back to 19th century solutions
like big new dams that are subsidized by taxpayers," said Miller, "we
use 21st century methods -- including recycling and desalination - to
generate over a million acre feet of real water for California's
diverse needs."
Hearing: 2:30 pm, Thursday, July 19, in 366 Dirksen
WILDLIFE/FISHERIES
Refuge/salmon bills
This Thursday, the House Resources subcommittee on fisheries
conservation, wildlife and oceans will markup two bills. The first
bill would establish a Michigan wildlife refuge encompassing the 18-
mile Detroit River. Running between the cities of Detroit, Michigan
and Windsor, Ontario, the river would be the first ever International
Wildlife Refuge. The second bill would reauthorize a compact between
the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut
to develop projects to help Atlantic salmon in the Connecticut River
basin. The authorization would extend the compact by another 20
years at a level of $9 million annually.
Markup: 10:00 am, Thursday, July 19, 1324 Longworth
PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS/RIVERS
Parks/rivers bills
This Tuesday, the Senate Energy's national parks, historic
preservation and recreation panel will hold a hearing to look at
several parks, rivers and historic preservation bills. Included
within the bills is legislation to direct the National Park Service
to study the Eightmile River in Connecticut for possible addition to
the national wild and scenic rivers system. The Eightmile River is
currently listed on the Park Service's nationwide inventory of rivers
as a good candidate for the system. The National Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act of 1968 restricts development of rivers designated as part
of the system or that are being studied for future designation.
Hearing: 2:30 pm, Tuesday, July 17, 366 Dirksen
Buffalo Bayou
This Tuesday, the House Resources subcommittee will hear testimony on
a bill introduced by Rep. Gene Green (D-TX). Rep. Green's bill, HR
1776, would authorize $200,000 for the Park Service to study Buffalo
Bayou as a possible heritage area. Not only has the river played a
significant role in Houston's industrial heritage, but also it
provides recreational activities to surrounding communities and
supports an abundance of wildlife.
Hearing: 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 1334 Longworth
CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR
Senate:
Hearing on fuel efficiency
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
9:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 106 Dirksen
Markup of USDA appropriations
Appropriations Committee
2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 17, in S-128 Capitol
Hearing on river designations, other bills
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, 366 Dirksen
Hearing on global warming legislation
Governmental Affairs Committee
9:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 18, 342 Dirksen
Hearing on national energy policy
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 18, in 366 Dirksen.
Hearing on national energy policy
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
9:30 a.m., Thursday, July 19, 366 Dirksen
Markup of CJS appropriations
Senate Appropriations Committee
2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 19, S-128 Capitol
Hearing on CALFED
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
2:30 p.m., Thursday, July 19, 366 Dirksen
House:
Markup of EPA appropriations bill
Appropriations Committee
10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2359 Rayburn
Hearing on Antiquities Act, other bills (Buffalo Bayou)
Resources Committee
10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 1324 Longworth
Markup of Energy bill
Energy and Commerce Committee
11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2123 Rayburn
Markup of Energy bill
Science Committee
1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2318 Rayburn
Markup of Energy Security Act
Resources Committee
2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 17, 1324 Longworth
Markup of energy bill
Science Committee
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2318 Rayburn
Hearing on PCBs
Water Resources and environment subcommittee
9:30 a.m., Thursday, July 18, 2167 Rayburn
TAKE ACTION
Follow the latest American Rivers' Action Alerts and Press Releases!
Take action to help save America's Rivers. Visit
http://www.amrivers.org/takeaction/.
SPECIAL TRIP DEAL
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and more information:
http://www.away.com/postcards/american_rivers_members
JOBS
American Rivers currently has a number of job openings. See our
employment page for the following opportunities:
* Online Community Manager
* Conservation Assistant-Outreach
* Organizer/Outreach Specialist-Missouri River Campaign
* Communications Assistant
* River Restoration Financing Associate
* Development Assistant
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.
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Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council