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Sometime this week, the Senate make take up S. 1217, the funding bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the judiciary, and related agencies sometime this week. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed S.
1217 on June 10, including an amendment offered by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) that set conditions for disbursement of a $100 million request by the Clinton Administration for river restoration and salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest. Overall, the $35 billion funding measure would provide the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with $2.55 billion for its ocean, coastal, fisheries, and atmospheric programs. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) would receive $442 million, an increase of $22 million over the Administration's request and $59 million more than current funding levels.
Senator Steven's amendment pertains to a plan announced by the Administration in January for a new Pacific coastal salmon conservation fund that would have doubled the amount of federal dollars going to Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. The money was intended to match state, local, and tribal government contributions to acquire conservation easements to promote salmon recover efforts. Under the amendment offered by Senator Stevens, the money would be paid directly to states instead of being funneled through a federal agency. Each of the states would receive $20 million. The amendment would also add $5 million to NMFS's Pacific Salmon Treaty program for the Southern Boundary and Transboundary Rivers restoration fund and $5 million for the State Department's Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs restoration fund for Northern Boundary and Transboundary Rivers. Washington and Alaska would receive additional payments of $15 million and $5 million respectively to implement a new salmon conservation agreement between Canada and the United States. The US-Canada agreement, made earlier in June, follows a 1985 treaty that regulated salmon fishing within 200 miles of the coast from southeast Alaska to northern California.
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This week, the full Senate may consider S. 1233, the FY'00 funding bill for agriculture, rural development, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies. The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the $60.7 billion bill on June 17. Only $14 billion of the total is available for discretionary appropriations such as funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Conservation services under the NRCS would receive $656 million, $24 million below the amount requested by the Clinton Administration.
The bill provides $10 million for watershed surveys and planning ($1 million less than the Administration's request), $99 million for watershed and flood prevention operations (in addition to the $95 million from the recent emergency supplemental appropriations bill), and $35 million for resources conservation and development (equal to Administration's request). S. 1233 would limit the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to $174 million, far below the Administration's request of $300 million. The measure would provide no funds to stem conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, a program for which the Administration requested $50 million.
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Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA) may turn the attention of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior to the issue of FY'00 funding as early as Tuesday or Thursday of this week. The interior funding bill provides resources for most of the agencies that manage the nation's natural resources, including the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Minerals Management Service, the Forest Service, and the Office of Surface Mining.
The Clinton Administration's request for FY'00 for the Department of Interior was $8.67 billion, an increase of almost eleven percent over FY'99 funding levels. Among the priorities laid out in the Administration's budget request for interior programs were the new $1 billion Lands Legacy, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, federal land acquisition, efforts to restore ecosystems such as the Everglades and the California Bay-Delta, and the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund. The Administration requested $2.06 billion for the National Park Service, $950 million for the Fish and Wildlife Service, $1.27 billion for the Bureau of Land Management, $305.8 million for the Office of Surface Mining, $2.82 billion for the US Forest Service, and $124.9 million for biological research programs under the US Geological Survey.
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Last week, as part of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for FY'00, the Senate approved an amendment offered by Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA) that prohibits the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) from raising rates to pay for the possible breaching of four dams on the Lower Snake River. The amendment would change the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, which currently mandates that BPA help pay for salmon recovery efforts. The agency planned to raise as much as $1 billion to facilitate salmon recovery efforts when it sets rates for 2001 through 2006.
Many environmental groups have strongly criticized the amendment, stating it sets a dangerous precedent.
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On Tuesday, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans will discuss a number of fisheries conservation bills, including H.R. 1444, H.R. 1934, and H.R. 2181. H.R. 1444, introduced in April by Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Greg Walden (R-OR) would authorize the US Army Corps of Engineers to develop and implement projects for fish screens, fish passage devices, and other similar measures. The bill would authorize $25 million for FY'00 and each fiscal year thereafter. The bill is expected to be non-controversial and move without any amendments.
H.R. 1934, introduced by Representative Jim Saxton (R-NJ), would provide government grants for efforts to rehabilitate beached marine creatures such as whales and dolphins. The measure would create a three-year, $15 million program to provide grants of as much as $10,000 for eligible stranding centers and networks.
H.R. 2181, introduced by Representative Don Young (R-AK) earlier this month, would authorize $60 million per year for six years for NOAA to purchase and equip six fishery research vessels. The purpose of the boats would be to survey fish populations and locations, information critical to fisheries management decisions under the Magnuson Fisheries Conservation and Management Act and for implementation of fishing treaties.
The markup is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22 in 1334 Longworth House Office Building.
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The plans and procedures of a cooperative effort by nine federal agencies to restore salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest will be the focus of a hearing on Wednesday by the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Drinking Water. The Columbia-Snake River System salmon populations that once numbered in the millions have been decimated by a number of human activities over the past 200 years. In March, the National Marine Fisheries Service added seven species of salmon and two populations of cutthroat trout in the Pacific Northwest to Endangered Species list. The US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries Service are currently investigating the impacts of four federal dams on the lower Snake River on the fish populations and what measures should be taken to recover the salmon runs. Preliminary studies indicate that breaching the four federal dams on the lower Snake River would be the most cost-effective means to save the fish populations.
A great number of government agencies, industries, and interest groups have become involved in the issue. Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) stated that there were at least twenty major initiatives and groups in existence, with a number of minor projects and local groups involved in management activities as well. Among those major initiatives are: NMFS' work on its biological opinion of how federal dam projects and operations impact the fish populations; the Army Corps' lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Plan; the Federal Caucus working on a 4H paper outlining salmon recovery plans in hydropower operations, hatchery production, harvest management, and habitat restoration; the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Plan; the Columbia River Basin Multi-Species Framework, which is working to analyze the trade-offs of various alternative recovery options; the Columbia River Basin Form involving ten federal government agencies, thirteen tribes, and the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington; the Plan for Analyzing and Testing Hypotheses; the Northwest Power Planning Council; Oregon's plan for restoring coastal coho populations; Washington's State Salmon Recovery Plan; a review of hatchery production in the Columbia River Basin; the Bonneville Power Administration's 20-year Basin Plan; various Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dam relicensing proceedings; and treaty negotiations between the US and Canada.
The hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. in 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building on June 23.
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One of the items on the agenda of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation's (CEC) June 27-29 meeting in Alberta, Canada, will be the fate of the Upper San Pedro River in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The Upper San Pedro River, highly valued for its biological diversity and importance for neotropical migrating birds, is threatened by the rapid depletion of the regional aquifer that maintains the river's year-round flows. For more information on the Upper San Pedro River, visit
http://www.amrivers.org/99sanpedro.html .
The Secretariat will present the final report on the San Pedro Initiative and make recommendations regarding potential actions to help preserve the river and its habitat. The report was developed by the San Pedro Expert Team, a body convened by the CEC to conduct an independent, science-based inquiry into the operative ecological, biohydrologic, socio-economic, and legal/institutional circumstances that characterize the availability of base water flows needed to sustain and enhance the riparian area along the upper San Pedro River. The full report is available at
http://www.cec.org/english/new/experte.cfm?format=1. To see the agenda of the conference or for more information about the CEC, visit www.cec.org.
The CEC and members of the San Pedro Expert Team will also present report and answer questions in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The open house is scheduled for July 28-30 from 4:00 to 8:00. The workshops will last four hours and include time for group discussion. For times and locations, please visit
http://www.cec.org/english/new/pubinp_e.cfm?format=1. Interested groups and individuals may also send feedback about the San Pedro Report to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona, 803/811 East First Street, Tucson, AZ 85719, sanpedro@u.arizona.edu
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On Tuesday, the House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment will focus on clean water infrastructure needs and combined sewer overflows. There are three legislative proposals before the subcommittee - a measure offered by the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies to establish by statute requirements for dealing with combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, and storm water discharges; H.R.
828, introduced by Representative James Barcia (D-MI), focusing on many of the same problems as the AMSA proposal; and a yet-to-be-introduced bill by Representative Sue Kelly (R-NY) to reauthorize the clean water state revolving fund.
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to oppose both H.R. 828 and the AMSA proposal as the agency because they advocate action that goes beyond the agency's current policy regarding sewer overflows.
The hearing will be held in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building on June 22 at 1:00 p.m.
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For more information or to see the text of any of the bills listed below, go to the Thomas website at
and enter the bill number.
H.J.RES.54, introduced by Representative Pat Danner (D-MO), would grant the consent of Congress to the Missouri-Nebraska Boundary Compact. The purpose of the compact is to resolve actual and potential disputes and controversies over the location of the boundary line between the states of Missouri and Nebraska. The boundary between the two states is formed by the Missouri River, which has shifted over time, resulting in actual and potential boundary disputes. The compact would establish an identifiable compromise boundary between Missouri and Nebraska without interfering with or otherwise affecting private rights or titles to property. The bill would establish a permanent compromise boundary line between the two states at the center line of the main channel of the Missouri River, except for the part of McKissick's Island as determined by the Supreme Court to be within the state of Nebraska. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
H.R. 1101: Introduced by Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA), H.R. 1101 would amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to assist individuals and local, state, and federal agencies in complying with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in reconstructing or repairing of flood control levee structures to address imminent threats to public health or safety or catastrophic natural events and in maintaining the structural integrity of those structures. The bill would exempt from the ESA consultation and conferencing requirements any federal action that consists of reconstruction or repair of a Federal or non-Federal levee structure; addresses a critical, imminent threat to public health or safety; is in response to a catastrophic natural event; or consists of maintaining the structural integrity of a federal or non-federal levee structure. The measure further states that these actions, by a federal or non-federal entity, would be exempt from the ESA takings prohibition. H.R. 1101 was referred to the House Resources Committee.
H.R. 1186: Introduced by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), H.R. 1186 would direct the Secretary of the Army to include primary flood damages avoided as benefits for cost-benefit analyses for federal nonstructural flood damage reduction projects. If at any time during construction of the project the Secretary of the Army determines that the costs of lands, easements, rights-of-way, dredged material disposal areas, and relocations in combination with other costs contributed by the non-federal interests will exceed 35 percent, any additional costs for the project, but not to exceed 65 percent of the total costs of the project, would be a federal responsibility, to be contributed during construction as part of the federal proportionate share. At the request of a non-federal interest for a flood control project, the Secretary of the Army shall conduct a reevaluation of a previously authorized project to consider nonstructural alternatives. H.R.
1186 was referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
H.R.1297: Introduced by Representative Ken Bensten (D-TX), the Repetitive Flood Loss Reduction Act of 1999 would amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 with the goal of reducing losses caused by repetitive flooding, and for other purposes. The bill would create a program to mitigate repetitive flood losses to structures by purchasing structures or by making grants to States, communities, and local flood management agencies for eligible mitigation activities. Grant amounts and funds for purchasing structures would be based on appropriations bills. To be eligible for a grant, a state, community, or local flood management agency must submit an application that includes a description of the mitigation activities for which the grant is requested, a description of the structures that the mitigation activities will protect, and a statement of the aggregate amount of payments made under the flood insurance program. The bill was referred to the House Banking and Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
H.R.2017: Introduced by Representative Wally Herger (R-CA), the Species Rescue Act would amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to enable federal agencies responsible for the preservation of threatened species and endangered species to rescue and relocate members of any of those species that would be taken in the course of certain reconstruction, maintenance, or repair of Federal or non-Federal manmade flood control levees. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Resources.
S. 1211: Introduced by Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT), S. 1211 would amend the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act to authorize additional measures to carry out the control of salinity upstream of Imperial Dam in a cost-effective manner. S. 1211 was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S. 1236: Introduced by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), S. 1236 would extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act for commencement of the construction of the Arrowrock Dam Hydroelectric Project in the State of Idaho. The bill would allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, at the request of the licensee for the project and after reasonable notice, extend until March 26, 2005, the time period during which the licensee is required to commence construction of the project. S. 1236 was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
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Senate bills that may come up for floor action at any time:
S. 109 to improve protection and management of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Georgia.
S. 323 to elevate the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument to national park status and create several other conservation areas near Montrose, Colorado.
S. 416 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the city of Sisters, Oregon, a certain parcel of land for use in connection with a sewage treatment plant.
S. 700 to amend the National Trails System to designate the Ala Kahakai Trail as a national historic trail.
S. 744 to provide for the continuation of higher education through the conveyance of certain public lands in Alaska to the University of Alaska.
S. 776 to authorize the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study for the preservation of the Loess hills in western Iowa.
H.R. 154 to allow the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture to establish a fee system for commercial filming activities in a site or resource under their jurisdictions.
Monday, June 21 9:00 a.m.: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry field hearing on the US Forest Service's implementation of President Clinton's Pacific Northwest Forest Plan. Location: Medford City Hall, Medford, OR.
Tuesday, June 22 1:00 p.m.: House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment hearing on clean water infrastructure needs and combined sewer overflows. Location: 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.
2:00 p.m.: House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans markup of several fisheries conservation bills. Location: 1334 Longworth House Office Building.
2:30 p.m.: Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee hearing on issues related to federal and industry efforts to promote distribution of electricity from plants using renewable fuel sources. Location: 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Wednesday, June 23 1:30 p.m.: Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Drinking Water hearing on salmon recovery efforts in the Pacific Northwest. Location: 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
2:00 p.m.: Senate Energy Subcommittee on Forest and Public Land Management hearing on several lands bills, including measures to designate 18,500 acres of wilderness on Bureau of Land Management Land in California (H.R. 15); designate 18,000 acres of forest wilderness in Colorado (S. 503); and convey small parcels of public land to Douglas County, Oregon (S. 977), a ski resort in South Dakota (S. 953), and the city of Sedona, Arizona (S. 1088).
Location: 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Thursday, June 24 10:00 a.m.: House Resources Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee hearing on the effect of invasive plants. Location: 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
2:00 p.m.: House Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power hearing on restructuring of the electric utility industry. Location: 1334 Longworth House Office Building.
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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
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