Legislative Activity

This Week’s Hearings:

  • Wednesday, June 12:  The House Science, Space and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Environment, will hold a hearing questioning the achievability of new ozone standards proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • Thursday, June 13: The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, will hold an oversight hearing titled “Mining in America, the Administration’s Use of Claim Maintenance Fees and Cleanup of Abandoned Mine Lands.”

Regulatory Activity

Future Drinking Water Infrastructure

The EPA has released results of a survey showing that $384 billion in improvements are needed for the nation’s drinking water infrastructure through 2030 for systems to provide safe drinking water to 297 million Americans. The survey is required under the Safe Drinking Water Act to be submitted to Congress every four years. The survey examined operational needs of public drinking water systems across the United States. In many cases, drinking water infrastructure was reported to be 50-100-years-old. Highlighted in the survey are investments needed over the next 20 years for pipes and treatment plants to prevent contamination, and for storage tanks and water distribution systems. The survey can be accessed here.

BLM Resource Advisory Council

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is reopening its request for public nominations for BLM Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that have member terms expiring this year. RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning for management of the National System of Public Lands within their respective geographic areas. Current openings are for RACs in Alaska, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Nominations are due by July 3.

Offshore Wind Sale

The U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued a final sale notice for commercial leasing for wind power on the outer continental shelf offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts. BOEM will hold a mock auction for the eligible bidders on July 24. The nonmonetary phase of the auction will begin on July 29. The monetary phase of the auction will be held online and will begin on July 31.

Forest Planning

The U.S. Forest Service’s National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule will hold a meeting open to the public to provide recommendations on the implementation of the Planning Rule and the Proposed Land Management Planning Directives.  The meeting will be held June 25–26.