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On Wednesday, the House Resources Committee approved H.R. 3903 which enables the construction of a hydroproject on lands designated as wilderness in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park. The actual construction is contingent upon action by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), but H.R. 3903 provides the land upon which it can be built. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee plans to mark up its version (S. 2109) this Wednesday, July 29, at 9:30 a.m. in 366 Dirksen.
The Senate Energy Committee will vote on the nomination of Bill Richardson to become the Secretary of Energy this Wednesday, July 29th. Richardson's nomination is expected to pass through the committee with ease, but Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) promises a floor fight unless the Secretary of Energy is granted the authority to negotiate solutions to nuclear waste problems. The Committee meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. in 366 Dirksen.
A joint conference to amend differences in the Senate (S. 2138, S. Rpt. 105-206) and House (H.R. 4060, H. Rpt. 105-581) Energy and Water FY '99 Appropriations bills may begin this week. Neither side accepted the Administration's request to cut funding for water development projects, nor did either house agree to fund any new water projects in FY '99. The Senate version provides $70 million for the Tennessee Valley Authority, whereas the House cut all its funding.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas Bliley (R-VA) announced last Wednesday that efforts to restructure the electric industry would not be continued this year in the House, although limited discussion continues in the Senate.
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Last Thursday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the 1998 Water Resources Development Act (S. 2131), the biennial U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' proposal for flood control and navigation projects. However, the measure will not officially be reported out of committee until this Wednesday. The $1.5 billion bill includes provisions from the Administration's "Challenge 21" emphasizing non-structural solutions to flood prevention and control. The bill authorizes 22 new projects including one that would provide $302 million for flood control on the American River, the same amount provided in a House bill proposed by Fazio and Matsui for flood control along the river. Also included is a $46 million project proposed by Senator Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID) to research and develop new turbine technology through which fish can safely pass while still generating power. The Committee plans to formally vote on the bill this Wednesday, July 29, at 9:30 a.m. in 406 Dirksen.
The House version is caught up because of competing proposals for flood control in the Sacramento area. The Administration's proposal was introduced in H.R. 3698 by Democratic Representatives Vic Fazio and Robert Matsui both of California. This bill would authorize $302 million for raising several Sacramento River levees and enlarging the Folsom Dam's floodgates to handle larger floods. An alternative bill is being offered by John Doolittle (R-CA) which would allow for a dam to be built along the American River near the town of Auburn, California.
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General Restoration, Pacific Salmon, and Other Fish and Wildlife:
The House passed the $13.4 billion Interior and Other Related Agencies FY '99 Appropriations bill (H.R. 4193) last Thursday by a vote of 245-181. The bill provides $700 million less than current funding. Members rejected the amendment introduced by Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) to strike language ending the Administration's Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. Also, rejected was an amendment by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) to strike language that would grant an easement for construction of a road in the Chugach National Forest. Representative George Miller (D-CA) introduced an amendment that was rejected which prohibited road construction in Alaska's Tongass National Forest. The House approved an amendment introduced by Congressman Don Young (R-AK) which extends the moratorium on federal acquisition of fisheries management in several areas off the coast of Alaska until October 1, 2000. Also adopted was an amendment by Representative Steve Buyer (R-IN) which prohibits the use of Interior funds to establish a national wildlife refuge in the Kankakee river basin. The Senate version (S. 2237) is scheduled for floor action this week, although it may not be discussed until after the August recess.
On Thursday, the Senate passed the Commerce-Justice-State FY '99 Appropriations bill (S. 2260) which provides $2.2 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency that manages America's coastal waters and fisheries. The Senate allocated $197 million above current funding and $83 million above the Administration's request. The $27.4 billion House version (H.R. 4276), which provides $78 million below the Administration's request for NOAA, is scheduled for floor action this week.
Last Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed the Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act (S. 1222) which authorizes $315 million through 2003. The Act aims to encourage local communities to implement estuary restoration projects. An amendment introduced by Senator John Chafee (R-RI) was approved which will incorporate language from three other estuary restoration bills, including one that would fund research about various aquatic toxins including pfiesteria.
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Last Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved S. 659 which allows implementation of recommendations made in a 1995 study to restore the Great Lakes fishery.
This Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. in 366 Dirksen, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee plans to markup a long list of bills. The schedule includes:
H.R. 2886, a House bill, authorizing the U.S. Forest Service to hire only one contractor for restoration activities for the watershed in California's Stanislaus National Forest that drains into the Tuolumne River;
H.R. 1663, another House bill, authorizing the National Forest Service to continue maintaining 18 concrete dams and weirs located within the Emigrant Wilderness, an area of Stanislaus National Forest;
S. 1398 which extends contracts between the Bureau of Reclamation and Wyoming/Nebraska irrigation water contractors who extract water from the Glendo Reservoir;
S. 2087, a bill authorizing the transfer of the Gila Project in Arizona to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District;
S. 2171 which extends the Federal Power Act deadline to build a hydroelectric project in Arkansas;
S. 469, a bill adding portions of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers in Massachusetts to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The House Resources Committee plans to mark up its version (H.R. 1110) this Wednesday, July 29, at 11 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.
The House Resources Committee plans to mark up a bill (H.R. 4079) introduced by Representative John Doolittle (R-CA) which would authorize up to $5 million for the Bureau of Reclamation to install monitoring and temperature control devices along the Folsom Dam located near Sacramento. The equipment is intended to help restore Chinook salmon and steelhead trout in the American River. The markup will take place Wednesday, July 29, at 11 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.
A hearing will be held this Tuesday, July 28, in the House Resources Water and Power Subcommittee about two bills related to the Animas-LaPlata project which offer proposals for providing water to the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute tribes in Colorado. Representative Scott McInnis (R-CO) introduced the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments (H.R. 3478) which require the construction of a smaller Animas-LaPlata project. An opposing bill offered by Peter DeFazio (D-OR) would deauthorize the project and request the Secretary of the Interior to begin new discussions with the two tribes. The hearing will begin at 2 p.m. in 1334 Longworth.
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Floor debate is expected to continue this week on H.R. 4194, the House VA-HUD FY '99 Appropriations bill. The funding bill includes $7.423 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and $2.675 billion for the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The bill fully funds EPA's portion of the Clean Water Action Plan with $153 million, providing additional money for nonpoint source pollution grants listed under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The bill also includes $775 million for the safe drinking water state revolving fund. An amendment was adopted last week which funds the Administration's request of $91.3 million for brownfields cleanup.
The bill includes a rider which prohibits the use of dredging to clean up PCBs until completion of a study by the National Academy of Sciences is analyzed by Congress. The rider will stall the cleanup of several of the nation's most polluted rivers including the Housatonic, Hudson, and Fox Rivers. On Thursday, the House rejected an amendment by Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) which would have struck numerous anti-environmental riders from the funding bill.
The Senate version of the funding bill provides only $123 million for the EPA's portion of the Clean Water Action Plan.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee plans a hearing this Thursday, July 30, on the nominations of J. Charles Fox to become the EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water and Romulo Diaz Jr. to become the Assistant Administrator for Administration and Resources Management. The hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. in 406 Dirksen.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the nomination of Nikki Tinsley to become the EPA's Inspector General. However, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) placed a hold on the nomination because of concerns about the reassignment of another EPA official, Robert Perciasepe.
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Monday: Senate--no action. House hearing on Uranium Mill Cleanup-- Commerce Energy and Power Subcommittee 2 p.m. in 2123 Rayburn.
Tuesday: House hearing on Animas-LaPlata-- Water and Power Subcommittee 2 p.m. in 1334 Longworth.
Wednesday: Senate Energy Committee vote on the nomination of Bill Richardson to become Secretary of Energy and markup of Granite Watershed, Emigrant Wilderness, Wellton-Mohawk, Sudbury/Assabet/Concord Rivers, and Glacier Bay bills.-- 9:30 a.m. in 366 Dirksen. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee vote on 1998 Water Resources Development Act-- 9:30 a.m. in 406 Dirksen. House markup of Sudbury/Assabet/Concord Rivers, and Folsom Dam Equipment bills-- 11 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.
Thursday: Senate hearing on the nominations of EPA officials-- Energy and Public Works Committee 2 p.m. in 406 Dirksen.
Friday: No action.
August 4th: Senate Water and Power Subcommittee hearing in Pendleton, OR on the management of the Columbia-Snake River basin by Bonneville Power (S. 2111) at 9 a.m.
August 6th: House National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee markup of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area expansion (HR 3963)-- 10 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.
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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
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