This information is courtesy of American Rivers.
After a lengthy hiatus, the American Rivers listserv will again include weekly legislative updates. We are improving our technology and the format of our listserv and would like to take an inventory of who our listserv includes. If you are with an environmental organization and want to remain on our listserv, please email American Rivers at outreach@amrivers.org and include your organization name, contact person, mailing address, and telephone number. One or two sentences about your organization's mission would also be helpful.
For the week of June 15, 1998:
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The $21 billion energy and water fiscal 1999 appropriations bill is likely to face Senate floor action this week, after unanimous approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 4th. Highlights of the bill include: $4 million for hydropower research and development; an increase of $34 million over budget request for Department of Energy environmental restoration to $4.29 billion; a $566 million increase to $3.8 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as $4.65 billion for flood control and water resource development. Currently, the bill funds "no new starts" for fiscal 1999 water projects.
The House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee marked up its $20.6 billion fiscal 1999 appropriations bill on June 10th. The bill includes $3.96 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, and no funding for the Tennessee Valley Authority. Markup before the full committee will be Tuesday, June 16th at 1 p.m. in 2359 Rayburn.
The House Resources Committee will meet to markup up a bill authorizing a land trade to build a hydroelectric plant in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park on Wednesday, June 17th at 11 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.
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In the next seven weeks, the House will debate the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1998 in which House members will add to the Administration's proposed list of water projects to be funded. The House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee is reviewing hundreds of proposals and will decide which to include in the bill. The Administration's $1.46 billion WRDA bill emerged April 22nd and included "Challenge 21," a program designed to "achieve the dual purposes of flood damage reduction and the restoration of riverine ecosystems."
The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the fiscal 1999 agricultural bill on June 11th. The bill which provides $792 million for conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service includes $11 million for watershed surveys and planning and $101 million for watershed and flood prevention operations. $34 million would be directed toward local efforts at resource conservation.
On June 10th, the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee approved a $13.6 billion fiscal 1999 agricultural bill which significantly increased funding for watershed and flood prevention to $97.8 million. The bill also contains $35 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and $9.5 million for watershed surveys and planning. The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, June 16th, at 1 p.m. in 2359 Rayburn.
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General Restoration, Pacific Salmon, and Other Fish and Wildlife:
The House Interior and Related Agencies Subcommittee will look at the DOI's request of $849 million for a multibureau program to implement the Administration's Clean Water and Watershed Restoration Initiative. $213.6 million would be directed toward the Land and Water Conservation Fund. $86 million would fund the Park Service's acquisition and removal of two dams on the Elwha River in Washington. The bill also would provide a record $826.3 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The markup will be on Wednesday, June 17th, at 2 p.m. in B-308 Rayburn.
In the Senate Appropriations Committee markup for energy and water appropriations, Senator Gorton (WA) attempted to extend the current federal agency agreement on fish and wildlife mitigation until 2006 if the Administration did not reach an agreement by September 1st. Senators Gorton and Murray (WA) then agreed to simply encourage the agencies to reach an agreement by September.
The House Resources Fisheries Conservation Subcommittee will hold a hearing about a 1995 study on the various impacts of industry on the habitat of the Great Lakes basin and discuss HR 1481, a bill aimed at restoring fish and wildlife in the Great Lakes region. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 18th at 10 a.m. in 1334 Longworth.
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In the FY '99 energy and water bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee reduced the $143 million budget request of the Bureau of Reclamation's California-Bay Delta estuary restoration program $65 million in its June 4th markup. The markup also included a fifty percent reduction to $3 million for the Animas LaPlata water program.
The Senate Energy Subcommittee for Water and Power plans a hearing on Tuesday, June 16th for proposed water projects in Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon at 2:30 p.m. in 366 Dirksen.
Arizona: S 2087 changes ownership of the Gila Project in Arizona to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation District and would allow the Bureau of Reclamation to negotiate a fair market price.
Colorado: S 2140, introduced by Senator Campbell (R-CO), would provide federal funds for the Denver Non-potable Reuse Project which would use secondary wastewater for both industrial purposes and to provide river and lake water for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal which is being converted into a wildlife refuge.
Oregon: S 2041 would allow the Bureau of Reclamation to become involved in the Willow Lake Natural Treatment System Project in the Salem and Willamette Valleys, a program which would store and treat wastewater that currently overflows from sewers into Salem Creek and the Willamette River.
The Senate Energy Committee will hold a hearing on a bill (S 469) that would protect 29 miles of land along the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers as congressionally designated scenic and recreational rivers. S 1665, proposed by Spector (R-PA), which reauthorizes the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal Heritage Corridor Act will also be discussed. The hearing will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, June 18th in 366 Dirksen.
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On June 9th, the VA-HUD Senate Appropriations subcommittee rejected the Administration's request for an increase of $600 million for the superfund program in fiscal 1999. The subcommittee did approve $1.5 billion for the superfund toxic water cleanup program. The bill also provides $265 million additional funding over the administration's request for water quality activities and $350 million more for state revolving funds for clean water infrastructure. The bill would provide $75 million for wastewater projects on the U.S.-Mexico border. The House markup will take place in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA-HUD-Independent Agencies hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 18th in H-140 in the Capitol building.
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On June 10th the House Appropriations Agriculture subcommittee set a limit of 136,000 acres for enrollment in the CCC-supported Wetlands Reserve Program, 28,000 acres under the Administration's request.
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Monday: No action
Tuesday: Senate AZ, CO, and OR water projects hearing-- Energy Committee 2:30 p.m., 366 Dirksen. Full committee markup of Agriculture appropriations bill-- House Appropriations 1 p.m., 2359 Rayburn.
Wednesday: Full committee markup for House Resources 11 a.m., 1324 Longworth, includes bill authorizing hydroelectric plant in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park. House Interior FY '99 markup-- Appropriations Committee 2 p.m., B-308 Rayburn, includes funding for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Thursday: Senate rivers and trails hearing to discuss designation of Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers as wild and scenic-- Energy Committee 2 p.m., 366 Dirksen. House markup on VA-HUD and Other Related Agencies FY '99-- Appropriations Committee 5 p.m., H-140 Capitol. House hearing on Great Lakes Fisheries-- Resources 10 a.m., 1334 Longworth.
Friday: No action.
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June 24th: Joint Senate Indians Affairs and Energy Committee hearing on S 1771 amending the Colorado Ute Water Rights Settlement Act and S 1899 discussing the Chippewa Cree tribe's water rights in Rocky Boy's Reservation at 2:30 a.m. in 485 Russell.
June 25th: House Water and Power Subcommittee markup of several bills transferring several water projects to local managers at 10 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.
July 14th: Senate Water and Power Subcommittee
Jennifer Rikoski
American Rivers
1025 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 720
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 347-7550 x 3006
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