>American Rivers Policy Update For the week of May 10, 1999

VIEW THIS ON THE AMERICAN RIVERS WEBPAGE WITH DIRECT LINKS TO THE ACTUAL BILLS!! http://www.amrivers.org/policynew.html

APPROPRIATIONS
- House to Consider FY 00 Funding for USDA:
EMERGENCY FUNDING
- Kosovo Emergency Bill Carries Riders:
ESTUARIES
- Hearing Rescheduled on Estuary Restoration Bill:
FISH AND WILDLIFE
- Anti-Salmon Resolution Hearing Set in House:
MINING
- Field Hearing on Mining Regulations:
WATER RESOURCES
- Clean Water Action Plan Under Congressional Eye:
LEGISLATION PASSED LAST WEEK
- House:
- River-Related Bills in Congress
HEARINGS
LINKS TO PAST UPDATES:

APPROPRIATIONS

House to Consider FY 00 Funding for USDA:

Funding for the Agriculture Department for FY 00 will be the focus of a markup by a House Appropriations subcommittee this week, the first appropriations bill of the year. Strict spending caps mandated by the Balanced Budget Act will make it difficult for Congress to enact the thirteen regular annual appropriations bills that fund the government, meaning there could be another year-end legislative backlog.

The funding request for the USDA includes increased funding for a number of environmental and resource programs, such as open space preservation, smart growth initiatives, and clean water programs. The Clinton Administration requested $1.41 billion for the USDA s Natural Resource Conservation Service, its key environmental arm. This figure is a boost over the $1.26 billion estimated for FY 99. The White House also asked for additional funds for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program -- $300 million for FY 00 as opposed to $174 million for FY 99. Part of this increase is to help clean up animal feeding operations. Legislation to allow this increase has not yet been received by the authorizing committee, and there is a similar situation regarding a request for $27.5 million to increase acreage for the farmland protection program.

The markup is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 13 in 2362 Rayburn House Office Building.

House Appropriations contacts: Martin Delgado, majority, 225-2638; David Reich, minority, 225-3481.

EMERGENCY FUNDING

Kosovo Emergency Bill Carries Riders:

On Wednesday or Thursday, a House-Senate conference will discuss a long-stalled emergency funding bill for disaster assistance, along with a funding measure for military operations in Yugoslavia. The disaster aid bill has lingered in Congress due to the significant differences between the House and Senate versions and objections to numerous riders from the Clinton Administration.

A number of anti-environment riders have already been attached to the emergency bill, and more could be added before conference. Among the anti-environment riders are provisions to prevent the Park Service from protecting fisheries in Glacier Bay National Park; further delay pending regulations on environmental and reclamation standards at mines on federal lands; delay an Administration initiative to recalculate the valuation of royalties paid on oil and gas production on federal lands; allow states to keep all of the $246 billion promised by tobacco companies in settlement of state lawsuits; weaken the Endangered Species Act; and transfer $100 million from Forest Service wildfire management operations to an Agriculture Department fund for reforestation on national forest lands.

ESTUARIES

Hearing Rescheduled on Estuary Restoration Bill:

The Senate Environment Committee has scheduled a markup session from Thursday, May 6 to Tuesday, May 11 to discuss several measures, including a $315 million bill aimed at restoring the nation's estuaries. Introduced by Representative John Chafee (R-RI), the Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act (S. 835) would create an Interagency Collaborative Council composed of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to work with state, local, and tribal governments, as well as other organizations, to restore estuaries. The Council would develop a national strategy to restore estuaries and select estuary restoration projects for funding.

The markup session has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 11 in 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Environment contacts: Jimmie Powell, majority, 202-224-6176; Tom Sliter, minority, 202-224-8832.

FISH AND WILDLIFE

Anti-Salmon Resolution Hearing Set in House:

On May 27, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Ocean will hold a hearing on H. Con. Res. 63, a resolution that argues against dam removal in federal efforts to restore threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead runs on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In so doing, the resolution, introduced by Representative Doc Hastings in March, weighs in on the ongoing public debate about the merits of removing dams on the Lower Snake River.

Although H. Con. Res. 63 is a non-binding resolution, how it is received carries great weight. If Congress brings the resolution to the floor, it will be the first vote on how the nation should deal with the demise of Snake River salmon and steelhead, and it will set the tone for all future decisions regarding fish recovery and the four Lower Snake River dams.

Largely because of four federal dams on the Lower Snake River, every single species of Snake River salmon is now listed under the Endangered Species Act. This December, the National Marine Fisheries Service will release its long-term recovery plan for Snake River salmon, and partial removal of these four dams is one of the options being studied. Science has shown that removing the four dams is the only option under consideration by the Clinton Administration that can save these legendary fish from extinction.

For more information on the Snake River and saving wild salmon through dam removal, see http://www.amrivers.org/snake.html or contact Justin Hayes at jhayes@amrivers.org or 202-347-7550.

To see the text of H. Con. Res. 63, see http://thomas.loc.gov and type in H.Con. Res. 63.

To see a map of the Lower Snake River, see

http://www.amrivers.org/99map.html .

MINING

Field Hearing on Mining Regulations:

Following on the heals of the 127th anniversary the signing of the General Mining Law by President Ulysses S. Grant on May 10, 1872, the House Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a field hearing to examine a number of proposals aimed at changing how the law regulates hardrock mining operations, trends in exploration, and state and local government revenues.

The Reno, Nevada, meeting will call together state and local officials and large- and small-mine operators to discuss the potential impacts of the $100 annual claim maintenance fee and proposed royalties on the extraction of hardrock minerals from federally-owned lands. Passed to foster migration West, the General Mining Law allows prospectors to stake claims to minerals on almost any public lands, paying only a nominal fee to gain title to the property and without paying a penny in royalties.

The law has long been criticized for virtually giving away title to valuable mineral resources on federal lands. The law s patenting provision allows a miner to convert a hardrock mining claim and the land it occupies to private ownership for $2.50 to $5 an acre. The law also lacks strict reclamation requirements and guidelines detailing which lands are suitable for mining.

As a result, many Western lands have been severely degraded by mining activities.

While many environmental groups have been fighting to make the General Mining Law stricter, the mining industry has resisted many of the proposals, claiming they would cripple mining operations and result in significant job loss and reduced revenue for Western states. The current claim maintenance fee, $100 paid annually by miners to maintain their rights to each claim, expires in FY 01. Congress has frozen new patent claims for the past few years.

The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, in the Washoe County Commission Chambers, 1001 East 9th Street, Building A, in Reno, Nevada. House Resources contacts: John Rishel, majority, 225-2761; Deborah Lanzone, minority, 226-2311

WATER RESOURCES

Clean Water Action Plan Under Congressional Eye:

The Senate Environment Committee will hear testimony this week from environmental and industry groups and state and federal officials about President Clinton s Clean Water Action Plan. The $1.8 billion program involving a number of agencies, aims to protect and restore the nation s rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and wetlands. Several members of the committee have express doubts about the plan, largely focused on the leadership role to be played by the Environmental Protection Agency.

President Clinton requested $568 million in new federal funding for the plan in FY 99, which would have increased funding for the plan to $2.2 billion. Congress approved only $1.8 billion for the initiative. For FY 00, President Clinton has asked for $2.3 billion for the plan. The increase includes funding for a number of key programs, including controlling polluted runoff from factory animal farms and abandoned mines, limiting damages from flooding, restoring stream banks, improving non-point source pollution management, restoring watersheds, and protecting wetlands.

The hearing will be held in 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 13. Senate Environment contacts: Jimmie Powell, majority, 202-224-6176; JoEllen Darcy, minority, 202-224-8832.

LEGISLATION PASSED LAST WEEK

House:

H.R. 359 to allow private groups to maintain several small dams and weirs in California's Emigrant Wilderness.

H.R. 459 to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the date to begin construction of the Mt. Hope Waterpower Project in New Jersey.

H.R. 883 to terminate all previous biosphere reserve designations under the U.N. Man and Biosphere program unless Congress specifically approved them before December 31, 2000, and bar future designations. It also would place limits on nominations of land areas for the World Heritage List.

H.R. 898 to designate the 18,000-acre Spanish Peaks Wilderness in the San Isabel National Forest in Colorado.

HR 1523 to forbid the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management from closing a federal road unless they meet with local officials and provide written public notice and a 90-day public comment period.

H.R. 1552 to reauthorize ocean research programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for fiscal 2000 and 2001.

River-Related Bills in Congress

For more information or to see the text of any of the bills listed below, go to the Thomas website at < http://thomas.loc.gov/> and enter the bill number.

H.R. 1235: Representative George Miller s (D-CA) legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts with the Solano County Water Agency, California, to use Solano Project facilities for impounding, storage, and carriage of non-project water for domestic, municipal, industrial, and other beneficial purposes. The bill was referred to the House Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power.

H.R. 1549: Introduced by Representative Peter Visclosky (D-IN), H.R. 1549 would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a National Clean Water Trust Fund and to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to use amounts in that Fund to carry out projects to restore and recover waters of the United States from damages resulting from violations of that Act. The bill, which has 45 cosponsors, was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

H.R. 1615: Representative John Sununu s (R-NH) Lamprey Wild and Scenic River Extension Act would amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to extend the designation of a portion of the Lamprey River in New Hampshire as a recreational river. The bill would extend the length of the designated segment of the river from 11.5 miles to 23.5 miles. The bill was referred to the House Resources Committee.

H.R. 1652: The Yukon River Salmon Act of 1999, introduced by Representative Don Young (R-AK), would create a Yukon River Salmon Panel. The purpose of the Panel would be to advise the Secretary of State regarding the negotiation of any international agreement with Canada relating to the management of salmon stocks originating from the Yukon River in Canada, advise the Secretary of Interior regarding restoration and enhancement of such salmon stocks, and perform other functions relating to conservation and management of such salmon stocks as authorized by this or any other Act. The Panel will have six members - a representative of the US Government with expertise in salmon conservation and management, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of State; an official of the State of Alaska with expertise in salmon conservation and management, who shall be appointed by the Governor of Alaska; four other experts in salmon fisheries on the Yukon River appointed by the Secretary of State. At least three of the members of the panel must come from a list of nominees provided by the Governor of Alaska.

H.R. 1652 was referred to the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans

S. 685: Introduced by Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID), the State Water Sovereignty Protection Act would preserve the authority of States over water within their boundaries, to delegate to States the authority of Congress to regulate water. The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

S. 968: Introduced by Senator Bob Graham (D-FL), the Alternative Water Resources Act of 1999 would authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to State agencies with responsibility for water source development, for the purposes of maximizing the available water supply and protecting the environment through the development of alternative water sources. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S. Res. 61: Introduced by Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID), S. Res. 61 would designating the year of 1999 as `The Year of Safe Drinking Water' and commemorating the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The resolution requests that President Clinton issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the year with appropriate programs that enhance public awareness of drinking water issues, the advancements made by the US in the quality of drinking water during the past 25 years, and the challenges that lie ahead in further protecting public health. The resolution was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

HEARINGS

Tuesday, May 11 9 a.m.: Senate Environment Committee markup of legislation to restore the nation s estuaries. Location: 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Environment contacts: Jimmie Powell, majority, 202-224-6176; Tom Sliter, minority, 202-224-8832.

Thursday, May 13 9:30 a.m.: Senate Environment Committee hearing on the Clinton Administration s Clean Water Action Plan. Location: 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Environment contacts: Jimmie Powell, majority, 202-224-6176; JoEllen Darcy, minority, 202-224-8832.

9:30 a.m.: Senate Energy Committee hearing on Senator Frank Murkowski s bill (S. 748) mandating a study of the Interior Department's success -- or failure -- at hiring Native Alaskans as required under current law and requiring that the DOI set up pilot programs intended to lead to local communities taking over some or all of the management and administrative functions of several parks. Location: 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Senate Energy contacts: Jim O'Toole, majority, 224-4971; David Brooks, minority, 224-4103.

10 a.m.: House Appropriations markup of FY 00 funding bill for the Agriculture Department. Location: 2362 Rayburn House Office Building. House Appropriations contacts: Martin Delgado, majority, 225-2638; David Reich, minority, 225-3481.

10 a.m.: House Resources Subcommittee on Parks hearing on legislation to outline the public comment and environmental analysis procedures required before designating national monuments under the 1906 Antiquities Act.

Location: 1324 Longworth House Office Building. House Resources contacts:

Gary Griffith, majority, 226-7736; Rick Healy, minority, 226-2311.

10 a.m.: House Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing on restructuring of the electric utility industry. Location: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. House Commerce contacts: Joe Kelliher, majority, 202-226-2424; Sue Sheridan, minority, 202-226-3400.

Saturday, May 15 10 a.m.: House Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources field hearing on the General Mining Law. Location: Washoe County Commission Chambers, 1001 East 9th Street, Building A, in Reno, Nevada. House Resources contacts: John Rishel, majority, 225-2761; Deborah Lanzone, minority, 226-2311

LINKS TO PAST UPDATES:

American Rivers, 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 720 Washington, DC 20005, (202) 347-7550

CHECK OUT OUR HOMEPAGE!! http://www.amrivers.org QUESTIONS? Contact Suzy McDowell, Conservation Outreach Coordinator, at smcdowell@amrivers.org or 202-347-7550x3040.

Legislative information taken from many sources including Thomas, Congressional Greensheets, Greenwire, and Roll Call.

Suzy McDowell Outreach Coordinator, American Rivers 1025 Vermont Ave., NW, #720 Washington, DC 20005 202-347-7550 x3040 smcdowell@amrivers.org OR send online mail right now to: Suzy McDowell

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