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The House Resources Committee plans to mark up H.R. 3903, a bill which would authorize the construction of a hydroelectric project on lands designated as wilderness in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park. The bill would designate other lands within the park as "wilderness" so that no net-acreage of wilderness would be lost. The dam's actual construction depends upon Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval. The markup is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 22nd, in 1324 Longworth.
The Senate companion bill, S. 2109, will be discussed in a Senate Energy Parks and Lands Subcommittee hearing this week. Contingent upon FERC licensing of the project, the bill authorizes a land trade between the state of Alaska and the National Park Service. The bill would allow the state and the Park Service six months to determine which lands become wilderness areas. A hearing to discuss the bill is scheduled for Thursday, July 23rd, at 2 p.m. in 366 Dirksen.
The Senate Energy Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Bill Richardson to become the Secretary of Energy, at which the committee will question Richardson about the Administration's energy policies. Richardson's nomination is expected to be confirmed by the Committee, but Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) promises a floor fight unless the Secretary of Energy is granted the authority to negotiate nuclear waste solutions. The hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 22nd, in 366 Dirksen.
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Both House and Senate committees plan to mark up a bill (1998 Water Resources Development Act) authorizing Army Corps of Engineers' flood control and navigation projects for the next two years. Both in the House and Senate members agreed to introduce the Administration's $1.46 billion proposal "by request," meaning they do not fully support the bill as written. The bill includes language encouraging "non-structural approaches to preventing or reducing flood damage," and instructs the Corps to charge fees for permits that allow developers to dump materials into navigable waters. The Corps' recommendation to alter the Folsom Dam to accommodate increased flood waters is not in the current version of the bill, but is expected to be discussed. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is scheduled to mark up the bill at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 22nd, in 406 Dirksen. The House Transportation Committee tentatively scheduled its markup for 10 a.m. Thursday, July 23rd, in 2167 Rayburn.
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General Restoration, Pacific Salmon, and Other Fish and Wildlife:
This Tuesday, the House will begin consideration of the $13.4 billion FY'99 Interior and Other Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Funding for specific agencies can be found in the June 29th legislative update, located at http://www.amrivers.org/policy6-29.html
Congressman Elizabeth Furse (D-OR) plans to offer an amendment that would cut funding by $120 million for logging roads and redirect $80 million of it toward maintaining current roads and watershed restoration. An amendment is likely by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) which would strike the language allowing for a 250 foot-wide easement for the construction of a road in the Chugach National Forest. The road would harm salmon in the
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The corresponding Senate funding bill is not currently scheduled for floor consideration. The bill carries numerous anti-environmental riders, including one introduced by Senate Interior Appropriations Chairman Slade Gorton (R-WA). This rider, Section 343, would prevent federal or state agencies from altering existing dam operations in the Columbia-Snake River System without an act of Congress. Discussions are underway to add portions of S. 1180, a bill reauthorizing the Endangered Species Act, to the Interior funding bill.
The Estuary Habitat Restoration Act, S. 1222, an omnibus of five different estuary habitat restoration bills under consideration, (S. 1222 as introduced by Senator John Chafee (R-RI), S. 1321, S. 1219, S. 618, and S. 619), will be marked up at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee meeting this Wednesday. The omnibus would create an interagency federal council to coordinate estuary restoration projects, authorize $315 million for Army Corps restoration efforts, reauthorize the National Estuary Program, continue EPA restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay, and establish a pfiesteria research program. The markup will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22nd, in 406 Dirksen.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee plans to mark up a number of wildlife bills this week, including S. 659, which would authorize implementation of the recommendations made in the 1995 Great Lakes Fishery Restoration Study. The research advocates a coalition of federal, state, and tribal governments for planning fish and wildlife habitat conservation efforts, and encourages the Fish and Wildlife Service to similarly work with the Canadian government. The markup is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 22nd, in 406 Dirksen.
The Senate Agriculture FY '99 Appropriations bill passed last Thursday, providing $791 million for the National Resources Conservation Service.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will vote this Wednesday on the approval of Nikki Tinsley as the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency. If approved, Tinsley will then face full Senate confirmation. The hearing will take place at 9 a.m., in 406 Dirksen.
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On July 15th, the House Resources Committee approved H.R. 4111, a bill authorizing the construction of a dam on the American River near Auburn, California. The bill would also transfer the dam site to the state of California, and enable the construction of a new $1 billion dam.
On July 16th, the House Water and Power Subcommittee passed several bills transferring federal water projects to local authorities. The projects included the Pine River Project (CO), the Palmetto Bend Project (TX), the Gila Project (AZ), and the Clear Creek Project (CA).
By a close vote of 221-200, the House passed the Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Recovery Act which provides $5 million for the design of a reclamation plan and $3 million for the cleanup of the Alamo and New Rivers. The bill passed with an amendment made by Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) that prohibits use of the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the project.
Last Friday, the Senate passed S. 1132 which places the headwaters of the Upper Alamo Watershed under the jurisdiction of New Mexico's Bandelier National Monument.
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The House VA-HUD and Independent Agencies FY '99 Appropriations bill is expected to return to the floor this Wednesday, after last Friday's initial discussions. The bill provides $2.675 billion for the President's Council on Environmental Quality and $7.423 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency. Further information about this bill can be found in the July 13th legislative update, located at http://www.amrivers.org/policy7-13.html
An amendment to the bill was approved on Friday that will provide full funding for the EPA's brownfields program, and lifts previous restrictions placed on the use of brownfields funds.
The Senate version, S. 2168, passed last Friday, allocating $7.4 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Legislative information taken from many sources including THOMAS, 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
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