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NFC: Fw: River Policy Update, Week of February 11, 2002
American Rivers' Policy Update
Week of February 11, 2002
IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE:
* Energy policy
* Farm bill
* Federal budget
* Water Resources
* Wildlife
* Congressional calendar
* Take action
ENERGY POLICY
Energy bill update
Senate Democrats are expected to bring their energy bill (S. 1766) to
the floor late this week, but debate over the bill is not likely to
begin in earnest until after next week's Presidents' Day recess.
Several key provisions of the energy bill have yet to be finished,
including sections on vehicle fuel efficiency standards and energy
taxes. S. 1766 also includes language that would alter the
hydropower dam relicensing process. This language was originally
characterized by Senate staff as a "placeholder," and new language is
expected to be included in the final bill brought to the floor.
State agencies, Indian tribes and conservationists will seek to
ensure that any effort to streamline hydropower licensing also
strengthens environmental protections.
The Democratic energy bill would not open up the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, and Democrats believe they
have the votes to keep such a provision off of the bill. If they do
not end up having sufficient votes, several Democrats have promised
to filibuster against any attempt to open up ANWR. The environmental
threats posed by the development of ANWR prompted American Rivers to
list the wildlife refuge's Canning River as the nation's second most
endangered river in its America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2001
report.
FARM BILL
The Senate's five-year farm bill (S. 1731) may clear the Senate this
week. The primary issue still under debate regards an amendment by
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) to strike a water conservation provision that
was added to the bill in December by Majority Whip Harry Reid (D-
NV). The provision would provide $375 million that could be used to
improve the efficiency of irrigation systems, to promote less water-
intensive crops, or it could be used by states to lease or buy water
rights from willing farmers. It would also nationalize an Oregon
program allowing farmers to voluntarily sell their water rights to
the state for a limited time. Conservation groups have been
supportive of the Reid water conservation provision.
FEDERAL BUDGET
EPA budget hearing
This Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
will hold a hearing on the administration's proposed FY 2003 budget
for the Environmental Protection Agency. Overall, the administration
proposed cutting the EPA budget by approximately $300 million from FY
2002 levels, to $7.7 billion. The administration proposed spending
the same amount as it recommended last year for the clean water ($1.2
billion) and safe drinking water ($850 million) state revolving
funds. However, because Congress ended up funding the clean water
state revolving funds at $150 million above the level recommended by
the administration for FY02, the administration proposal would result
in a cut. EPW Committee Chair Jim Jeffords (I-VT) is expected to
express concern over both the administration budget proposal for EPA
and an administration policy that may result in relaxed enforcement
of air quality standards.
Hearing: 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 in 406 Dirksen
House budget hearing in Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee
on Water Resources and the Environment will hold a hearing on the
impact of the administration's budget proposal on federal agencies
under its jurisdiction. The subcommittee will discuss the proposed
budgets for the EPA, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
Hearing: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 in 2167 Rayburn
WATER RESOURCES
CALFED hearing
This Thursday the House Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Water
and Power will meet to discuss water allocation in California's
Central Valley. The hearing, led by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), is
expected to voice criticism of the federal-state water management
effort known as CALFED for allegedly placing environmental concerns
above irrigation interests. A bill to reauthorize CALFED (H.R.
3208), passed the House Resources Committee last November, but has
yet to go the House floor. The bill was criticized by environmental
groups and much of the Central Valley farming community for urging
that CALFED deliver the Westlands Water District 70 percent of its
contractual water in normal water years. The bill originally would
have guaranteed Westlands that water, which critics point out would
have benefited Westlands at the expense of other water districts,
municipalities, and fish and wildlife. A less controversial bill, S.
1768, has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Feinstein (D-CA)
and Boxer (D-CA). Hanging over the hearing will be a court ruling
issued last Thursday, that, if it stands up on appeal, will reduce
the ability of federal water managers to allocate water toward
environmental purposes.
Hearing: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 in 1334 Longworth
WILDLIFE
Platte River/Endangered Species Act hearing
This Saturday in College Park, Nebraska, the House Resources
Committee will hold a full committee hearing on efforts to protect
the Platte River basin's Endangered Species Act-listed species,
including the piping plover, interior least tern, and pallid
sturgeon.
Field hearing: 1:00 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16 in the Hornday-Marshall
Auditorium in College Park, Nebraska
CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR
House:
Hearing on "ecoterrorism"
Resources Committee
3:00 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12 in 1324 Longworth
Hearing on agriculture budget
Appropriations Committee
9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 in 2362A Rayburn
Hearing on FY03 Research and Development funds
Science Committee
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 in 2318 Rayburn
Hearing on Office of Pipeline Safety
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 in 2167 Rayburn
Hearing on individual fishing quotas
Resources Committee
1:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 in 2322 Rayburn
Hearing on CALFED
Resources Committee
10:00 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 in 1334 Longworth
Hearing on EPA, water budgets
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
10:00 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 in 2167 Longworth
Hearing on BLM, Forest Service accounts
Resources Committee
10:00 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 in 1310 Longworth
Hearing on transportation funding
Appropriations Committee
10:00 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 in 2358 Rayburn
Hearing on parks bills
Resources Committee
2:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 in 1334 Longworth
Field hearing on Endangered Species Act
Resources Committee
1:00 p.m., Feb. 16 in the Hornday-Marshall Auditorium in College
Park, Nebraska
Senate:
Hearing on DOE, DOI, Forest Service budgets
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12 in 406 Dirksen
Hearing on EPA funding
Environment and Public Works Committee
9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 in 406 Dirksen
Hearing on parks bills
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
2:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 in 366 Dirksen
TAKE ACTION
Follow the latest American Rivers Action Alerts and press releases!
Take action to help save America's Rivers, and sign up to hear about
the most pressing river news and actions.
Visit http://www.americanrivers.org/takeaction/
RIVER CONSERVATION TOOLS
Restoring Riverfronts: A Guide to Selected Federal Funding Sources
Is your community working on a riverfront revitalization or
restoration project? Our funding guide can help! Get the full guide
on our website at:
http://www.amrivers.org/riverfronttoolkit/fundingreport.htm
JOBS
There are currently no job openings at American Rivers. Keep track
of employment opportunities at American Rivers and partner
organizations at http://www.americanrivers.org/jobs/default.htm
Questions?
Contact Michael Garrity, Conservation Associate, at 202-347-7550.
Legislative information is obtained from sources including:
Environment and Energy Daily, Greenwire, Congressional Green Sheets,
and members of the American Rivers conservation staff.
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