American Rivers Legislative Update, with permission of American Rivers.
For the week of July 13th:
Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New
This Thursday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Water and Power Subcommittee will hold a hearing on three hydro-related bills. A bill (S. 1515) proposed by Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) authorizes $500 million to provide water to various communities in North Dakota, including four Indian reservations. The bill would reduce the non-federal share of construction costs from 25 to 15 percent. The bill also would instruct the Interior Department and the state of North Dakota to update Congress on the water quality of the Red River Valley and to create an environmental impact statement of the community's needs in the Red River Valley. The bill also authorizes a $25 million water conservation program for the state to develop and implement. Congressman Earl Pomeroy introduced the House companion bill (H.R. 3012) in November.
A second bill to be discussed is S. 2111, introduced by Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), which sets guidelines that the Bonneville Power Administration or any other federal agency must follow to participate in memorandums of understanding with non-federal entities in regards to the management of the Columbia River Basin. The bill would authorize a committee composed of representatives from various groups including local governments, environmental organizations, BPA customers, grazers, shippers, and land owners to help federal agencies plan the "Three Sovereigns" river governance design, which seeks to balance the needs of fish and wildlife with economic concerns on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. A detailed explanation of this concept can be found at http://www2.state.id.us/gov/hydro/970903mm.htm
The third bill, S. 2117, introduced by Senator Tim Johnson (R-SD), authorizes construction of the Perkins County, South Dakota Rural Water System and allows for non-federal financial assistance in overseeing the project. The hearing will be on Tuesday, July 14th, at 2:30 p.m. in 366 Dirksen
The House Resources Water and Power Subcommittee plans to markup several bills transferring federal water projects to local authorities. Possible bills to be considered are H.R. 3677 which transfers the Gila Project in Arizona to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District; H.R. 3706 which transfers authority of the Clear Creek Distribution System to the Clear Creek Community Services District; and H.R. 3706 which transfers the Collbran Reclamation Project to the Ute Water and the Collbran Conservancy Districts. The markup will begin at 2 p.m., Thursday, July 16th, in 1324 Longworth.
Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New
The Senate Agriculture FY '99 Appropriations bill is scheduled to reach the floor this Tuesday. Funding for the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service would be $100 million below the Administration's request of $752 million. The House passed its respective version H.R. 4101 on June 24, providing $641 million for the NRCS program
Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New
Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New
The $13.4 billion House Interior and Other Related Agencies FY '99 Appropriations bill (H.R. 4193) is slated to reach the floor this Wednesday. Included in the bill is language that would end funding for the Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project, a project spanning seven states that manages regeneration of the area's fisheries and forests. The bill provides $800 million less than the Administration's request and $700 million less than the current year.
The $13.4 billion Senate version of the Interior spending bill (S. 2237) faces floor action in the upcoming weeks, though is not on this week's schedule. The bill carries numerous controversial anti-environmental riders, including one introduced by Senate Interior Appropriations Chairman Slade Gorton (R-WA) which would halt key river restoration, water quality, and salmon recovery efforts in the Pacific Northwest. This rider, Section 343, would prevent federal or state agencies from altering existing dam operations including the federal dams in the Columbia-Snake River System, over 100 non-federal dams currently undergoing FERC relicensing, and numerous reservoirs and irrigation diversions subject to state water laws. The White House Office of Management and Budget has sent a letter to the President encouraging a veto of the bill. Senate and House allocations for various agencies can be found in the June 29 legislative update, located at http://www.amrivers.org/policy6-29.html
The House Resources Committee plans a hearing this Wednesday to discuss lawsuits filed under the Endangered Species Act that limit grazing in the Southwest because of its harm to fish species and rivers. Scheduled to testify are the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Jamie Clark; the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice, Peter Koppelman; the U.S. Forest Service's Southwest Regional Forester, Ellie Towns; Jeff Mingus of the Arizona Cattlemen's Association; Howard Hutchison of the Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties; Robert Wiygul of the EarthJustice Legal Defense Fund; Arizona Land Department Deputy Land Commissioner, Mike Anable; and Dr. Robert Ohmart of the Center for Environmental Studies. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, July 15th, at 2 p.m. in 1324 Longworth.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing this Wednesday, June 15th, on the nomination of Nikki Tinsley as the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency. The hearing will be at 9 a.m. in 406 Dirksen
Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New
This Wednesday, July 15th, the House Resources Committee will mark up H.R. 4111, a bill introduced by Water and Power Subcommittee Chairman John Doolittle (R-CA), which would authorize the construction of a cofferdam on the site of the proposed Auburn Dam, transfer authority to the state of California, and construct five new outlets for the existing Folsom Dam. The markup is scheduled for 11 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.
Floor action is expected this Wednesday on The Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Recovery Act, H.R. 3267. The bill provides $5 million for an 18 month study by the Interior Department to design a reclamation plan and earmarks $350 million of the Interior's Land and Water Conservation fund for the project's actual construction. The bill also provides $3 million for cleanup of the Alamo and New Rivers
The House Parks Subcommittee will hold a hearing this Thursday on H.R. 4141, a bill proposed by House Speaker Gingrich (R-GA), which would enable the National Park Service to purchase land from willing sellers within 2,000 feet of each bank of the Chattahoochee River and designate it as part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Georgia. The bill which would authorize up to $25 million proposes to turn this land into a 48 mile greenway along the river. The hearing will take place on Thursday, June 16th, at 10 a.m. in 1324 Longworth
The House Water and Power Resources Subcommittee plans a hearing this Thursday on H.R. 2161 which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to transfer the Palmetto Bend Project to the state of Texas. The legislation, introduced by Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), requires the state to ensure that fish, wildlife, and recreational needs are met before the transfer takes place. The hearing will be Thursday, July 16th, at 2 p.m. in 1324 Longworth
Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New
House floor action is expected this Thursday on the VA-HUD Independent Agencies FY '99 Appropriations bill that includes funding for the Council on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. The bill provides $2.675 billion for CEQ, a $175,000 increase from current funding. The bill also provides $7.423 billion for the EPA, $370 million below the Administration's request and $60 million more than the current year. The bill meets the Administration's request of $153 for the EPA's Clean Water Action Program which includes money for Section 319 nonpoint source pollution grants and Section 106 state water quality management grants. The bill also fully funds the Administration's $775 million request for the safe drinking water state revolving fund, $50 million more than the current year. The House bill provides no additional funding for Superfund, maintaining its budget at $1.448 billion, despite the Administration's request for an increase of $600 million. The House bill also maintains the current level of $75 million for cleanup of urban brownfields, $16.4 million below the Administration's request.
The corresponding Senate version of the bill, S. 2168, is currently on the floor. The bill provides $7.415 billion for EPA, and does not allocate the additional $600 million requested by the Administration for Superfund. Also included is $2.575 billion for CEQ.
Wetlands:
Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New
Monday: No action
Tuesday: House: No action. Senate hearing on hydro bills-- Energy and Natural Resources Committee 2:30 p.m., 366 Dirksen
Wednesday: House hearing on ESA-- Resources Committee 2 p.m. 1324 Longworth. House markup on Auburn Dam site transfer to state-- Resources Committee 11 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Senate hearing on EPA Inspector General nominee-- Environment and Public Works Subcommittee 9 a.m., 406 Dirksen.
Thursday: House hearing on water project transfers to local authorities-- Resources Committee 2 p.m., 1324 Longworth. House hearing on Chattahoochee land designation-- Parks Subcommittee 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Senate: No action
Friday: No action Future Events:
Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New
July 6th: http://www.amrivers.org/policy7-6.html
American Rivers
CHECK OUT OUR HOMEPAGE!! http://www.amrivers.org American Rivers
Legislative information taken from many sources including: Congressional Green Sheets, Environment and Energy Weekly, and Roll Call.
Jennifer Rikoski American Rivers 1025 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 720 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347-7550 x 3006
Back to top or
Links to past updates:
June 29th: http://www.amrivers.org/policy6-29.html
June 22nd: http://www.amrivers.org/policy6-22.html
June 15th: http://www.amrivers.org/policy6-15.html
June 8th : http://www.amrivers.org/policy6-8.html
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite
720 Washington, DC
20005
(202) 347-7550
Back to Whats New Index Page
Back to CRC Index Page
Back to General Index Page