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The current continuing resolution, a three-week stop gap measure passed to fund the federal government while Congress and President Clinton struggle to finalize the 13 FY 00 appropriations bills, expires at midnight on Thursday.
A number of appropriations bills still have not been approved and signed, meaning Members of Congress will need to pass another stop-gap measure to give themselves more time to move the bills through. The House will take action on another continuing resolution on Tuesday, and the Senate will do the same at some time this week. The second continuing resolution will most likely be for one week.
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This week, the House and Senate will vote on the $14 billion House-Senate conference report on appropriations for the Department of Interior and Related Agencies for FY 00, which was approved by conferees on October 14.
The House plans to act on the measure on Tuesday, and the Senate will take it up after the debate on campaign finance reform.
Most House Democrats are expected to refuse to sign the conference report, which is also expected to draw a veto from President Clinton. The Administration opposes the low level of funding from priority requests, including the Lands Legacy initiative and other efforts to protect open space and conservation areas. The conference report would provide less than half of the funding requested by the White house for land purchases. The Administration is also against a number of toned-down Senate riders left attached to the bill, such as measures to delay again Minerals Management Service regulations on determining royalties due to the government from companies extracting oil from public lands and provide a two-year exemption for working hardrock mines on federal lands and those with plans approved by May 21, 1999 from a ruling restricting the amount of federal land available for the disposal of mine wastes.
Conferees toned down a Senate provision that would have allowed the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management sole discretion in deciding whether to conduct wildlife population surveys in making land management decisions by removing the phrase at their discretion. The conference report would funnel another $22 million to the disaster relief fund for southeast Alaska over the upcoming three years to help communities suffering economic hardship due to changes in the mill and timber industry. Conferees also agreed to impose a three-month extension on the public comment period on White River National Forest management plans upon the request of Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO).
House Appropriations contacts are Deborah Weatherly, majority, 202-225-3081 and Del Davis, minority, 202-225-3481. Senate Appropriations contacts are Bruce Evans, majority, 202-224-7233 and Curt Dodd, minority, 202-224-5271.
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Last week, Congress approved the conference report for FY 00 appropriations for VA-HUD-Independent Agencies, which includes funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The House passed the final agreement (H.R. 2684, H. Rpt. 106-379) 406-18, and the Senate approved the measure 93-5. The $90.8 billion bill includes $7.6 billion for EPA, up from $7.5 billion in FY 99. The Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund would receive $1.35 billion, its current level, and the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund would receive $820 million.
The Senate approved the conference report for FY 00 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture-Rural Development and Related Agencies by a vote of 74-26 last week. The House approved the measure on October 1. The bill (H.R. 1906, H. Rpt. 106-354) would provide $813 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, of which $661 million would go to conservation operations.
To view the bills, visit the Thomas website at
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The Senate Environment Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Drinking Water will hold the latest in a series of hearings on Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Tuesday s hearing, the first of two already planned for the fall, will focus on the experiences and opinions of states, the environmental community, and businesses about the pros and cons of the HCP process and anecdotes on the implementation of HCPs. The second will focus on how to make HCPs work better.
Since 1992, the Department of Interior has significantly increased the use of HCPs in an effort to balance the needs of species protected under the ESA and the rights of landowners to use their lands as they see fit. There are currently 240 HCPs in operation across the nation, covering more than 11 million acres. Another 200 plans are in the works.
HCPs essentially set up a land management agreement whereby certain species either listed species or potential endangered species can be managed under standards different from the federal standards. Landowners who enter the agreement must act as stewards for the plants and animals and engage in mitigation activities for the species under the federally approved HCPs for the lifetime of the plans, which can be up to 100 years. In exchange, the landowners have greater liberty with developing or otherwise doing as they please with their land.
HCPs have come under attack by a number of environmental organizations and scientists, however, who assert the plans do not properly protect species and in some cases go so far as to authorize destruction of important habitat.
The hearing is set for Tuesday, October 19 at 10 a.m. in 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
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The House Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will discuss a bill aimed at banning oil and gas drilling in a lake in Ohio.
Introduced by Representative James Traficant (D-OH), H.R. 2818 would prohibit oil and gas drilling and extraction at Mosquito Creek Lake in Courtland, Ohio.
Mosquito Lake was created by a dam operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps also owns the lake, which it leases to Ohio as a state park. The lake is located in a residential area and is a source of drinking water and recreation for thousands of residents.
The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 21 in 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
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Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) has attached a controversial rider to the House-Senate conference measure to fund the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State and the Judiciary. The Commerce Conference Committee was scheduled to meet at 3p.m. on Monday, October 18 to discuss the compromise bill. Senator Steven s salmon rider would waive Endangered Species Act protections for salmon in Alaska. It is likely that Senator Stevens has linked passage of the rider to funding for salmon recovery in Northwestern states. The Administration strongly opposes the rider, as do the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Governor Gary Locke (D-WA), and Governor John Kitzhaber (D-OR).
Senator Steven has stated that if the Clinton Administration and States do not accept the rider, he will oppose funding for the ten-year 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty, an agreement between the United States and Canada, as well as millions of dollars slated for state programs for salmon coastal habitat restoration. Senator Stevens claims the rider is meant to protect Alaskan fishing rights.
The Senate version of the Commerce appropriations bill includes funding for Pacific salmon recovery and implementation of the US-Canada treaty, but the House bill does not. The National Marine Fisheries Service has listed 15 salmon populations under the Endangered Species Act since 1991. Alaska salmon are not on the list, but endangered fish from the Puget Sound and the Columbia and Snake Rivers migrate into Alaskan waters.
The conference is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. today in H-140 of the Capitol Building. Senate Appropriations contacts are Jim Morhard, majority, 202-224-7277 and Lila Helms, minority, 202-224-7270. House Appropriations contacts are Jim Kulikowski, majority, 202-225-3351 and Sally Chadbourne, minority, 202-225-3481.
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Last Tuesday, the House approved by voice vote a bill to extend the recreational river designation of a portion of the Lamprey River in New Hampshire. Approved by the House Resources Committee on September 22, Representative John Sununu s (R-NH) bill would add another 12 miles to the already protect portion of the Lamprey River near Portsmouth. The reach of the river already protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act flows through the towns of Lee, Durham, and Newmarket. The new portion would flow south to Epping.
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This week, the Senate Energy Subcommittee on Water and Power and the House Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power will examine a number of water resources bills.
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The Senate hearing is at 2:30 p.m. on October 20 in 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building and the House hearing is at 2 p.m. on October 21 in 1334 Longworth House Office Building.
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The following bills could come to the House floor at any time:
H.R. 795 to provide for the settlement of the water rights claims of the Chippawa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy s Reservation.
H.R. 2140 to improve protection and management of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Georgia.
The following bills could come to the Senate floor at any time:
S. 109 to improve protection and management of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Georgia.
S. 244 to authorize the construction of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System.
S. 438 to provide for the settlement of the water rights claims of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy s Reservation.
S. 492 to amend the Federal Water Pollution Act to assist in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
S. 501 to require the National Park Service to allow subsistence fishing and gathering and commercial marine fishing (regulated by the state) in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.
S. 744 to grant up to 500,000 acres of federal land to the University of Alaska.
S. 953 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in South Dakota to the Terry Peak Ski Area.
S. 986 to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Griffith Project to the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
S. 1030 to provide that the conveyance by the Bureau of Land Management of the surface estate to certain land in Wyoming in exchange for certain private land will not result in the removal of the land from operation of the mining laws.
S. 1088 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey some land in Arizona to the city of Sedona for a wastewater treatment facility.
S. 1100 to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that the designation of critical habitat for endangered and threatened species be required as part of the development of recovery plans for those species.
S. 1211 to amend the Colorado River Basin Salinity control Act to authorize additional measures to carry out the control of salinity upstream of the Imperial Dam in a cost-effective manner. The bill would increase the authorized ceiling for the project from $75 million to $175 million annually.
H.R. 2454 to permit increased hunting of mid-continent light geese, including snow geese, in an effort to protect fragile arctic marshes in Canada from an exploding population of the birds.
S. 1287, Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amendments.
S. 1288 to provide incentives for collaborative forest restoration projects on national forest system and other public lands in New Mexico.
S. 1377 to amend the Central Utah Project Completion Act to allow the Bureau of Reclamation to shift funds among the programs as needed.
S. 1632 to extend the authorization of appropriations for activities to protect Long Island Sound.
The Senate may also consider Major General Phillip Anderson, US Army, as president of the Mississippi River Commission, and Sam Epstein Angel and Brigadier General Robert Griffin, US Army, as members of the Mississippi River Commission.
To view the bills, visit the Thomas website at
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Oct 18, 9:30 a.m.: House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources field hearing on the challenges facing New York in protecting the state s lakes, rivers, and streams from degradation from acid rain and overuse.
Location: Fennimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY. House Transportation contacts are Jeff More, majority, 202-225-4360 and Ken Kopocis, minority, 202-225-0060.
Oct 18, 3 p.m.: House-Senate conference on funding for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State and the Judiciary. Location: H-140 of the Capitol Building.
Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m.: Senate Energy Subcommittee on Forest and Public Land Management hearing on regulatory proposals to stabilize the level of revenue-sharing payments from natural resource development receipts to rural counties (S. 1608).
Oct. 19, 10 a.m.: House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands hearing on two highly controversial bills to grant new protective status to nearly 3 million acres of desert lands in Arizona and Utah.
Location: 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
Oct 19, 10 a.m.: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Risk Management, Specialty Crops, and Research hearing on H.R. 2827 to promote conversion of biomass into fuel and industrial products. Location: 1300 Longworth House Office Building.
Oct 20, 9:30 a.m.: Senate Energy Committee markup of legislation to restrict the president s authority to designate national monuments. Location: 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Oct 20, 9:30 a.m.: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee markup of numerous lands and water bills, including S. 1296 to protect 66 miles along the Lower Delaware River as part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System and S.
1569 to direct the National Park Service to study the Taunton River in Massachusetts for possible inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Location: 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Oct 20, 10 a.m.: House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans hearing on legislation (H.R. 2903) to authorize $50 million over five years to aid projects aimed at conserving coral reefs.
Location: 1334 Longworth House Office Building.
Oct 20, 11 a.m.: House Resources Committee markup of numerous land and water bills (H.R. 1695, S. 416, H.R. 2632, H.R. 2737, H.R. 2889, H.R. 3013).
Location: 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
Oct 20, 2 p.m.: House Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing on the functioning and possible improvement in the EPA s hazardous waste research program. Location: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building.
Oct 20, 2:30 p.m.: Senate Energy Subcommittee on Water and Power hearing on a number of water bills. Location: 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Oct. 21, 10 a.m.: House Resources subcommittee hearing on a bill (H.R. 2950) to consolidate public and private holdings in northeastern Oregon. The bill would authorize a trade involving 104,000 acres of intermingled public and private lands. Location: 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
Oct 21, 2 p.m.: House Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power hearing on a number of water resources bills. Location: 1334 Longworth House Office Building.
Oct. 21, 2 p.m.: House Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing on a bill to ban oil and gas drilling in Mosquito Creek Lake in Ohio. Location: 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
Oct. 23, 9:30 a.m.: House Resource Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources field hearing on how the Clinton Administration s interpretation and implementation of federal mining statutes could affect the mining industry and state and local revenues. Location: Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility, Hearing Room 1, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, Colorado. House Resources contacts are John Rishel, majority, 202-225-2761 and Deborah Lanzone, minority, 202-226-2311.
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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.
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