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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.


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