[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
NFC: Fw: River Policy Update, Week of May 7, 2001
To read the River Policy Update online, visit American Rivers' Online
Newsroom at www.americanrivers.org/policyupdates/default.htm and
click on "River Policy Update."
For additional information on any bill, visit Thomas at
http://thomas.loc.gov.
American Rivers' Policy Update
Week of May 7, 2001
IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE:
* Energy Policy
* Confirmations
* Endangered Species
* Fisheries
* Congressional Calendar
* Upcoming Events
* Take Action
* Jobs
ENERGY POLICY
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Set to Move Emergency
Electricity Bill
On Thursday, May 10, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee is
scheduled to markup Chairman Joe Barton's (R-TX) Electricity
Emergency Relief Act (H.R. 1647). Although the bill is intended to
assist California meet electricity demands over the next two years,
it would do little to serve that goal. Among the provisions of H.R.
1647, it would exempt the nation's private hydropower dams from the
requirements in their operating licenses and it would exempt the
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the Bureau of Reclamation
from all federal laws governing dam operations - including those
designed to protect endangered salmon in the event of a state -
declared power emergency. The waivers at federal dams would be
immune from judicial review. These provisions could significantly
damage the rivers we rely on for fisheries, recreation, and public
enjoyment, and interfere with other project purposes such as
irrigation, urban water supply, navigation and flood control. The
bill would also weaken air quality standards and allow the siting of
power transmission lines in national parks, wildlife refuges and
wilderness areas.
Despite widespread criticism from Democrats, the California
delegation, and the environmental community, the bill will be marked
up in its present form. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee
is scheduled to markup on Thursday, May 10 at 10 a.m. in Rayburn
Senate Office Building 2123.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Considers DOE Nominations
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will consider
President Bush's nominations for four positions at the Department of
Energy (DOE). These nominations include: Francis Blake for DOE
deputy secretary; Robert Gordon Card for DOE under-secretary; Bruce
Marshall Carnes for chief financial officer; and David Garman,
currently chief of staff to Senate Energy Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-
AK), for assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable
energy.
The hearing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, May 9 at 9:30
a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 366.
ENDANGERED SPECIES
On Wednesday, May 9, the Senate Fisheries, Wildlife and Water
Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the listing and delisting process
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). The subcommittee
will look at whether the science used in the listing process is
sufficient, whether the agencies do adequate peer review, and whether
agency data is transparent and accessible to the public. The
subcommittee hopes to ensure that peer review of agency science is of
the highest quality. Controversial issues not on the agenda but
likely to surface include an administration request to include
language in the FY'02 spending package that would exempt the Fish and
Wildlife Service's listing process from citizen lawsuits.
Reauthorization of the ESA is another controversial issue likely to
emerge - conservative lawmakers would like to weaken the ESA so that
it places fewer constraints on the activities of landowners.
The Senate Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee is scheduled to
meet on Wednesday, May 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office
Building 628.
FISHERIES
Resources Panel Holds Hearing on Magnuson-Stevens Act
On Thursday, May 10, the Resource Subcommittee on Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans will hold their second hearing on
reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. The hearing is part of a series of hearings
regarding reauthorizing the act. The hearing on Thursday will focus
on capacity reduction programs, federal investments in fisheries, and
reauthorization.
CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR
House:
Resources:
Hearing on Two Public Lands Bills
Tuesday, May 8 at 10 a.m. in Longworth House Office Building 1334
Energy and Natural Resources:
Hearing on DOE Nominees
Wednesday, May 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 366
Science:
Hearing on NOAA Budget
Wednesday, May 9 at 10 a.m. in Rayburn House Office Building 2318
Appropriations:
Hearing on EPA Budget
Wednesday, May 9 at 1:30 p.m. in Rayburn House Office Building 2359
Energy and Commerce:
Hearing on Magnuson-Stevens Act
Thursday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m. in Longworth House Office Building 1324
Energy and Commerce:
Markup of Emergency Power Bill
Thursday, May 10 at 10 a.m. in Rayburn House Office Building 2123
Appropriations:
Hearing on EPA Budget - continued
9:30 a.m. in Rayburn House Office Building 2359
1:30 p.m. in Rayburn House Office Building 2358
Senate:
Energy and Natural Resources:
Hearing on Interior Funding
Tuesday, May 8 at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 366
Environment and Public Works:
Hearing on Yucca Mountain
9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 628
Appropriations:
Hearing on DOE Appropriations
Tuesday, May 8 at 10 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 124
Energy and Natural Resources:
Hearing on Forest Service Funding
Tuesday, May 8 at 2:30 p.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 366
Environment and Public Works:
Hearing on Endangered Species
Wednesday, May 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 628
Energy and Natural Resources:
Hearing on DOE Budget - continued
Thursday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 366
Environment and Public Works:
Hearing on DOT and NEPA
Thursday, May 10 at 10 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building 628
Energy and Natural Resources:
Hearing on FERC California Order
Thursday, May 10 at 2:30 p.m. in Dirksen Senator Office Building 366
UPCOMING EVENTS
House:
Appropriations:
The hearing schedules of subcommittees are listed at:
http://www.house.gove/appropriations/hearings.htm
Resources:
The Water and Power Subcommittee will hold a field hearing on drought
management and energy availability in the Pacific Northwest
May 19 at 9 a.m. in the Tacoma City Council Chambers on the first
floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building in Tacoma, WA.
Senate:
Appropriations:
The hearing schedules of subcommittees are listed at:
http://www.senate.gov/~appropriations/hearing.htm
TAKE ACTION
Follow the latest American Rivers' Action Alerts and Press Releases!
Take action to help save America's Rivers. Visit
http://www.americanrivers.org/takeaction.
JOBS
American Rivers currently has a number of job openings. See our
employment page for the following opportunities:
* Conservation Assistant for Dam Removal Program
* Online Community Manager
* Conservation Assistant for Outreach
* Organizer/Outreach Specialist-Missouri River Campaign
Questions?
Contact Jamie Mierau, Assistant to the Vice President for
Conservation, at 202-347-7550.
Legislative information taken from sources including: Environment and
Energy Daily, Greenwire, Congressional Green Sheets, and members of
the American Rivers conservation staff.
*************************************
Thank you robertrice at juno_com for helping to protect and
restore America's rivers.
To contact American Rivers, send an email to Rebecca
Sherman at outreach at amrivers_org or call 202-347-7550.
Join the nation's online river community at
www.americanrivers.org for free online resources, toolkits,
and ways to unite with other activists on your important
issues.
To unsubscribe from this distribution list, reply to this
email (action at action_amrivers.org) and include "remove" in the subject
line.
*************************************