NFC: Fw: River Policy Update, Week of April 8, 2002

[robert a rice <robertrice at juno_com>]

American Rivers' Policy Update
Week of April 8, 2002

IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE:

* Energy policy
* Wild and Scenic rivers
* Water policy
* Environmental budget
* Congressional calendar
* Take action
* River conservation tools
* Jobs
* Internships

ENERGY POLICY

Energy bill update

Debate on the energy bill will resume this week.  Before the spring 
recess, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) promised to bring a 
cloture motion on April 9 to force an end to debate on the bill.  If 
Daschle brings his motion, Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK) is expected to 
offer a long-promised amendment that would open up the Arctic 
National Wildlife Refuge to Oil and Gas drilling.    

The Democratic energy bill would not open up the Arctic Refuge to oil 
and gas drilling, and Democrats believe they have the votes to keep 
such a provision off of the bill.  The environmental threats posed by 
the development of the Arctic Refuge 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.

Behind the scenes negotiation continue over proposals to alter the 
hydropower dam relicensing process.  State agencies, Indian tribes 
and conservationists are seeking to ensure that any effort to 
streamline hydropower licensing also strengthens environmental 
protections and ensures public participation.     

WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS

This Wednesday the House Resources Committee's Subcommittee on 
Forests and Forest Health will hold a hearing on H.R. 3954, a bill to 
designate three rivers in Puerto Rico's Caribbean National Forest as 
part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.  Kristen 
McDonald, Associate Director of the Wild and Scenic Rivers program at 
American Rivers, will testify.  The hearing will also address two 
lands bills.

Hearing: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 10 in 1334 Longworth

WATER POLICY

Water Resources Development Act/Army Corps of Engineers hearing

This Wednesday the Water Resources Subcommittee of the House 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hear testimony from 
various interests on reforming the Army Corps of Engineers.  
Witnesses from conservation groups, including Melissa Samet, American 
Rivers' Director of Water Resources, are expected to testify in favor 
of reforming the Corps by requiring independent project review, 
concurrent wetlands mitigation, and sounder economic and 
environmental analysis in assessing whether a proposed Corps project 
is necessary.

Hearing: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 10 in 2167 Rayburn

ENVIRONMENTAL BUDGET 

National Park Service appropriations hearing

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior will consider the 
Administration's Fiscal Year (FY) proposal for funding the National 
Park Service this Wednesday.  The president's FY03 budget proposal 
would raise the Park Service's budget by 1.4 percent, to $2.36 
billion.  

Hearing: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 10 in B308 Rayburn

Fish barrier hearing

This Wednesday the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior will 
consider a proposal to spend $375 million over several decades to 
clear and monitor culverts that, when blocked, can serve as barriers 
to the passage of salmon and other anadromous fish in the Pacific 
Northwest.

Hearing: 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 10 in B308 Rayburn

Fish and Wildlife Service appropriations hearing

This Thursday the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior will 
consider the Administration's FY03 proposal for funding the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service.  The president proposed a slight increase for 
the FWS in FY03.  The agency's budget would rise from $1.27 billion 
in FY02 to $1.28 billion in FY03.  

Hearing: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 11 in B308 Rayburn

FARM BILL

The House/Senate conference committee negotiating the final language 
of the 2002 Farm Bill, H.R. 2646, will begin formal meetings this 
Tuesday afternoon.  While both the House and Senate bills include 
increases in funding for conservation programs that encourage farmers 
to reduce polluted runoff, maintain wildlife habitat and preserve 
wetlands, the Senate bill offers much higher funding levels.  In 
addition, the Senate bill includes a pilot program to support on-farm 
water conservation measures and state acquisition of agricultural 
water rights to maintain instream flows for species at risk.  
Conservationists are working with the conferees to ensure that the 
higher funding levels for conservation programs and the water 
conservation program are retained in the final bill.  While the 
conference committee is in session, the meeting can be heard live at 
http://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill.htm.

Meeting:  3:00 pm, Tuesday, April 9 (and following dates to be 
announced) in 1300 Longworth 

CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR

House:

Hearing on designation of Wild and Scenic rivers in Puerto Rico/lands 
bills
Resources Committee
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 10 in 1334 Longworth

Hearing on National Park Service budget
Appropriations Committee
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 10 in B308 Rayburn

Hearing on Water Resources Development Act/Army Corps of Engineers
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 10 in 2167 Rayburn

Hearing on fish barriers
Appropriations Committee
1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 10 in B308 Rayburn

Hearing on California bridge bill
Resources Committee
2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 10 in 1334 Longworth

Hearing on drinking water needs
Energy and Commerce Committee
9:30 a.m., Thursday, April 11 in 2123 Rayburn

Hearing on Fish & Wildlife Service budget
Appropriations Committee
10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 11 in B308 Rayburn

Hearing on wetlands, coastal bills
Resources Committee
10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 11 in 1334 Longworth

Hearing on park right-of-way bills
Resources Committee
2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 11 in 1334 Longworth

Senate:

Markup of water, brownfields, land bills
Environment and Public Works Committee
10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 11 in 406 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

Coordinator, Hydropower Reform Coalition
Fellow, Community Rivers Program

Keep track of employment opportunities at American Rivers and partner 
organizations at http://www.americanrivers.org/jobs/default.htm 

INTERNSHIPS

Do you love rivers?  Does interning in the nation's capital in a fun 
and friendly environment sound like a great way to spend a semester 
or the summer? If you've answered yes, then click on the following 
link to learn more about American Rivers' Internship Program and how 
you can gain valuable experience working at a national conservation 
organization:  http://www.americanrivers.org/job/internships.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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