Legislative Activity

Nuclear Waste

Allison Macfarlane, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Peter Lyons, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy, will testify this week before the House Energy and Commerce Committee concerning the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.

This Week’s Hearings:

  • Tuesday, September 10:  The House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, will hold a hearing to discuss next steps concerning implementing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.
  • Tuesday, September 10:  The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation, will hold an oversight hearing concerning school trust lands ownership within federal conservation areas.
  • Wednesday, September 11: The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs, will hold an oversight hearing on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Regulatory Activity

Environmental Impact Statements

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched the “EIS Mapper,” a web-based tool that is intended to enable the public to learn about Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) filed with EPA for major projects  proposed on federal lands and other proposed federal actions. Additional information on the EIS Mapper can be accessed here.

Chesapeake Bay

The EPA has announced a “Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns” (G3) grant program which is open to local governments and nonprofit organizations interested in pursuing urban green stormwater infrastructure and green jobs as part of an integrated community or watershed plan. EPA intends for the program to help municipalities and nonprofit organizations support projects that add green space and reduce stormwater runoff by using green infrastructure practices that increase tree canopy, capture and filter rainwater, and improve watershed protection, community livability and economic vitality.  The G3 program has received a joint investment of $3.4 million by the State of Maryland, EPA and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.