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NFC: Fw: River Policy Update, Week of November 12, 2001
American Rivers' Policy Update
Week of November 12, 2001
IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE:
* Appropriations
* Energy bill update
* Farm bill
* Bush administration environmental nominations
* Hazardous chemicals
* Water policy
* Public lands
* Congressional calendar
* Tribute to two legendary river advocates
* Take action
* Jobs
APPROPRIATIONS
EPA, Commerce-Justice-State conference reports completed
Two environmentally-related appropriations bills, the VA-HUD-
independent agencies bill and the Commerce-Justice-State bill, made
it out of conference committee last week and are headed for floor
votes this week. The VA-HUD-independent agencies appropriations
conference report, which includes funding for the Environmental
Protection Agency, funds the EPA at higher levels than the
administration requested. It also rejects an administration request
to cut the EPA's enforcement budget. The Commerce-Justice-State
appropriations bill, which includes funding for the National Marine
Fisheries Service, cuts NMFS funding by well over $200 million, from
$815 million in FY '01 to $579.2 million for FY '02. The Pacific
Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF), which provides matching funds
for state and local salmon recovery programs in Alaska, Washington,
Oregon, and California, was funded at $110 million. While that is
$20 million more than the Bush administration requested,
conservationists had hoped that the PCSRF would be funded at between
$165 and $200 million and expanded to include Idaho.
Conservationists also expressed disappointment that the NMFS budget
provides only about one-fourth of the $98.1 million of non-PCSRF
funding needed to fully implement the federal recovery plan for
Columbia and Snake river salmon.
ENERGY BILL UPDATE
An already controversial debate over an economic stimulus package is
likely to become still more contentious this week, as drilling in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge enters the debate. Sen. Ted Stevens
(R-AK) plans to attach the House-passed energy bill (HR 4), which
includes a provision opening up ANWR to drilling, as a rider to the
Senate stimulus package. Democrats have promised to filibuster any
energy legislation that would open up ANWR, and it is not clear if
Republicans have the 60 votes needed to override a filibuster.
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
This week the Senate Agriculture Committee is meeting to continue
marking up a new Senate farm bill. Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA)
plans to push ahead with marking up his version of a farm bill (S
1628) this year despite objections from the Bush administration that
moving the bill during the current national security situation would
be "unnecessary and unwise." Harkin's bill would provide
considerably more funding for agricultural conservation programs than
would the House farm bill (HR 2646), but some conservationists have
noted that the percentage of funding that this farm bill devotes to
conservation programs is less than that provided in the last farm
bill. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) may offer an amendment to bump up
farm bill spending on conservation programs from $3.5 billion per
year in Harkin's bill to $5 billion per year.
Markup continues: 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13 in 328A Russell.
BUSH ADMINISTRATION ENVIRONMENTAL NOMINATIONS
This Wednesday, the Senate Energy Committee will hold a hearing on
the nomination of Kathleen Clarke to be Director of the Bureau of
Land Management. If confirmed, Clarke would oversee 264 million
acres of federal land, primarily in 12 Western states. Clarke's
nomination has received criticism from the environmental community
for her land management policies when she was directing the Utah
Department of Natural Resources, but property rights groups have also
criticized Clarke for her support of the Conservation and
Reinvestment Act.
Hearing: 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 14 in 366 Dirksen
HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Subcommittee's on
Superfund, Toxics, Risk and Waste Management will hold a hearing this
Wednesday to discuss S 1602, which aims to reduce the threat of an
intentional attack against a chemical facility and to prevent
accidental releases of hazardous chemicals. The bill was introduced
by Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ).
Hearing: 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 in 406 Dirksen
WATER POLICY
Water supply
This Wednesday the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water will meet to discuss
the role of the federal government in water supply issues. The
hearing is expected to address water supply issues throughout the
United States, with a focus on how to meet water supplies given
increasing demand in the rapidly-growing West and how to manage a
drought currently affecting some portions of the East.
Hearing: 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 in 406 Dirksen
Water pollution
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee
on Water Resources and the Environment will meet Thursday to discuss
the federal government's progress, or lack thereof, in controlling
non-point source pollution through the total maximum daily load
(TMDL) program. At issue is a July 2000 rule to strengthen the
program, which Congress effectively blocked through a rider on a
fiscal 2001 appropriations bill. In response, EPA published a rule
on Oct. 18 that set April 2003 as the final deadline for revisions to
the TMDL rule. A proposed rule is expected by late spring or early
summer of 2002. Conservation groups have expressed concern about the
delay and have questioned the administration's commitment to
strengthening protections against non-point source pollution. EPA's
top water official, G. Tracy Mehan, will testify.
Hearing: 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 15 in 2167 Rayburn
PUBLIC LANDS
Parks hearings
The House Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Parks will hold a
rescheduled hearing this week on several parks-related bills,
including the Fern Lake Conservation and Recreation Act (HR 2238)
which would authorize the Secretary of Interior to add Fern Lake in
Kentucky to Cumberland Gap National Park; HR 1963, which would add a
Revolutionary War trail in Indiana and Illinois to the National
Trails System; and a bill to expand Arizona's Tumacacori National
Historical Park (HR 2234).
Hearing: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13 in 1334 Longworth
CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR
Senate:
Markup of Farm Bill
Agriculture Committee
8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13 in 328A Russell
Hearing on national water supplies
Environment and Public Works Committee
9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 in 406 Dirksen
Hearing on BLM nominee
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
9:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 in 366 Dirksen
Hearing on chemical security bill
Environment and Public Works Committee
2:00 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 in 406 Dirksen
Hearing on forest fire investigation
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 in 366 Dirksen
Hearing on four-pollutant bill
Environment and Public Works Committee
9:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 15 in 406 Dirksen
House:
Hearing on parks bills
Resources Committee
2:00 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13 in 2325 Rayburn
Hearing on water security bill
Science Committee
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 in 2318 Rayburn
Hearing on watershed bill
Agriculture Committee
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 in 1300 Longworth
Hearing on TMDL program
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
9:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 15 in 2167 Rayburn
Markup of watershed bill
Agriculture Committee
9:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 15 in 1300 Longworth
Markup of water security bill
Science Committee
10:00 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 15 in 2318 Rayburn
TRIBUTE
Last month we lost two legendary river advocates: Frank Craighead, an
architect of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, and James Phillips, a
clean water activist. To read more, visit
http://www.americanrivers.org/feature/legends.htm
TAKE ACTION
Follow the latest American Rivers' Action Alerts and Press Releases!
Take action to help save America's Rivers. Visit
http://www.amrivers.org/takeaction/.
JOBS
American Rivers currently has a two job openings. See our employment
webpage at http://www.amrivers.org/jobs/default.htm for the following
opportunities:
* Director of Outreach
* Director of Development, Northwest Regional Office
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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