Legislative Activity

This Week’s Hearings:

  • Tuesday, October 1: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a full committee hearing titled “Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreement.” The committee will consider two bills: S. 812, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to implement the agreement between the United States and Mexico regarding transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico; and H.R. 1613, to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to provide for federal management of transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs. Testimony will be heard from Carlos Pascual, Special Envoy and Coordinator, International Energy Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, and Tommy Beaudreau, Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management of the U.S. Department of Interior.
  • Tuesday, October 1: The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Subcommittee on Environment, will hold a hearing titled, “Reauthorization of the National Integrated Drought Information System.” Dr. Roger Pulwarty, Director of the National Integrated Drought Information System of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will testify.
  • Wednesday, October 2: The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a full committee hearing titled “Natural Resource Adaptation: Protecting Ecosystems and Economies.”
  • Thursday, October 3: The House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation, will hold a hearing to consider land conveyance, National Parks and related lands bills.

Regulatory Activity

Climate Action Plan

Last week, the administration released its draft U.S. Climate Action Report. Public comment on the report is due October 24. The report outlines a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to nearly 17 percent below that of 2005 levels by 2020. The report also includes a Biennial Report addressing how additional planned climate actions are intended to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions trends.  The report outlines potential action in three main areas: (1) new rules intended to reduce carbon from the power industry sector; (2) actions to encourage energy efficiency and clean energy technologies; and (3) efforts to reduce methane (CH4) and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions. The U.S. Climate Action Report can be accessed here.

NOX Budget Trading Program Regarding Regional Transport of Ozone

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a notice informing the public that the agency is planning to submit an information collection request renewal for the NOX Budget Trading Program to Reduce the Regional Transport of Ozone to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The NOX Budget Trading Program is a market-based cap and trade program created to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) from power plants and other large combustion sources in the eastern United States. Comments may be submitted on or before November 18 and may be emailed to a-and-r-docket@epamail.epa.gov

Energy Efficiency Project Funding

On Tuesday, October 1, the U.S. Department of Energy will host “Speaking the CFO Language: Building the Case for Energy Efficiency with Financial Decision-makers,” a live webinar to address funding for energy efficiency projects.