Legislative Activity
Senate to Consider Environmental Nominations
On Tuesday, May 13, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a full committee hearing to evaluate President Obama’s nominations for key environmental positions. Dr. Monica Regalbuto is being nominated for Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) to oversee the department’s Office of Environmental Management. Dr. Regalbuto currently serves as the department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fuel Cycle Technologies. The committee will also consider the nomination of Dr. Suzette Kimball for Director of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), who currently serves as USGS’s Acting Director. Finally the committee will review the nomination of Estevan Lopez to be the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner. Mr. Lopez is currently the Director of the state of New Mexico’s Interstate Stream Commission.
Regulatory Activity
EPA’s Review of Review NAACS for Lead
EPA is expected to make available early next week its document, “Policy Assessment for the Review of the Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards,” as part of the agency’s ongoing consideration of the impact of lead particles in air on health and welfare.
Lead and Copper In Drinking Water
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council Lead and Copper Rule Working Group on May 29 to discuss the Lead and Copper Rule sample site selection criteria. Registration for the meeting closes May 27; written statements for inclusion are due by May 22.
Solar Policy
On Wednesday, May 14, the Department of Energy will host a webinar titled “Top Solar Tools: What Are They and How Do They Help Policymakers?”
This Week’s Hearings:
Runoff
Tuesday, May 13: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, is scheduled to hold a hearing to address runoff titled, “Solving the Problem of Polluted Transportation Infrastructure Stormwater Runoff.”
Protection of Chemical Facilities
Wednesday, May 14: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Charting a Path Forward for the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards Program. The committee will hear testimony from the U.S Department of Homeland Security and the American Chemistry Council.
Forest Fires
Wednesday, May 14: The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold an oversight hearing on the prevention of forest fires titled, “Wildfires and Forest Management: Prevention is Preservation.”
