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NFC: Fw: River Policy Update, Week of November 26, 2001
To read the River Policy Update online, visit American Rivers' Online
Newsroom at http://www.americanrivers.org/policyupdates/update.htm
American Rivers' Policy Update
Week of November 26, 2001
IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE:
* Energy bill update
* Public lands
* Congressional calendar
* Take action
* Jobs
ENERGY BILL UPDATE
With only two to three weeks left until Congress is expected to
adjourn for the year, it remains unclear whether the Senate will pass
some version of energy legislation this session. Senate Energy and
Commerce Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) is reportedly hoping to
present Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) with comprehensive
energy legislation this week. Daschle, however, has said that
passing an energy bill this session is a lower priority than ensuring
the passage of the remaining annual appropriations bills and various
legislation responding to issues raised by the Sept. 11 attacks. The
Democratic bill is expected to include a renewable energy portfolio
standard and incentives to reduce global warming.
Senate Republicans, unhappy with Democratic leadership for not
bringing comprehensive energy legislation to the floor, have drafted
their own energy legislation that would, among other things, open up
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling. Sen.
Frank Murkowski (R-AK), who wants to force a vote on ANWR, has vowed
to filibuster other bills in order to pressure Daschle to schedule
floor debate on energy legislation. In addition, Senate Republicans
may attempt to attach their energy legislation to unrelated bills,
such as the economic stimulus package or the farm bill.
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.
PUBLIC LANDS
Senate hearing on public lands bills
This Tuesday the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's
Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests will hold a hearing on
several public lands bills. Among the bills to considered will be S
1028, which would convey over 17,000 acres of Bureau of Reclamation
(BuRec) land to the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.
The land was purchased by the federal government for a water storage
project that was never built, and plans to build it have been
shelved. Some of the BuRec land would be offered for sale to the
original owners of the land, some of whom still hold preferred
leases. The Department of Game, Fish and Parks would receive the
remaining land, and would use it to help mitigate for bottomland
habitat destroyed by various flood control reservoirs along the
Missouri River.
Hearing: 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27 in 366 Dirksen
House hearing on parks, public lands, and historic preservation bills
The House Resources Committee will meet Wednesday to mark up several
uncontroversial 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 HR 2234,
which would expand Arizona's Tumacacori National Historical Park.
Hearing: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28 in 1324 Longworth
CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR
House
Hearing on parks, public lands, and historic preservation bills
Resources Committee
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28 in 1324 Longworth
Senate
Hearing on land conveyance bills
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27 in 366 Dirksen
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 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
* Director of Strategic Technology
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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Thank you robertrice at juno_com for helping to protect and
restore America's rivers.
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Sherman at outreach at amrivers_org or call 202-347-7550.
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