Regulatory Activity

EPA to Hold Public Hearings on Clean Power Plan

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold public hearings in Washington D.C., Atlanta, Denver and Pittsburgh to receive comments on its proposed Clean Power Plan. EPA’s Clean Power Plan intends to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants to 30 percent below 2005 levels. Each of the hearings will be two day sessions and will be held on July 29 and 30, with the exception of Pittsburg, which will be held July 31 and August 1.

Environmental Projects on U.S./Mexico Border

The EPA is accepting nominations for its Good Neighbor Environmental Board, which is responsible for submitting an annual report to the President regarding the need for environmental and infrastructure projects along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Representatives are sought from U.S. government agencies; the governments of the states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas; private organizations and tribal entities with experience in environmental and infrastructure issues along the U.S./Mexico Border.

Wind Sale off Coast of New Jersey

The Department of Interior is proposing the sale of commercial wind energy leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off New Jersey. Comments are due by September 19.

Legislative Activity

This Week’s Hearings:

Climate Change

Tuesday, July 29: The Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing titled, “The Costs of Inaction: The Economic and Budgetary Consequences of Climate Change,” which will examine mitigating climate change risks and fiscal challenges. Also on Tuesday, July 29, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, will hold a hearing titled, “Examining the Threats Posed by Climate Change.”

RESTORE Act Follow Up

Tuesday, July 29: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard, will hold a hearing titled, “Revisiting the RESTORE Act: Progress and Challenges in Gulf Restoration Post-Deepwater Horizon.” The hearing will examine restoration efforts and the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. Witness will testify from the Department of Commerce and the Gulf states.

Federal Lands and Permitting

Tuesday, July 29: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Breaking the Logjam at BLM: Examining Ways to More Efficiently Process Permits for Energy Production on Federal Lands.” The hearing will address two bills: S.279, which would promote development of renewable energy on public land, and S.2440, which aims to improve permitting coordination by the Bureau of Land Management.

Renewable Energy

Tuesday, July 29: The House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, will hold a hearing to consider three bills: H.R. 596, “Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act of 2013” which would promote renewable energy on public lands; H.R. 1363, “Exploring for Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act,” which aims to provide for more rapid exploration for geothermal resources under existing geothermal leases and H.R. 2004 “Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013″ which intends to expand geothermal production.

Carbon Oversight

Wednesday, July 30: The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing titled, “EPA’s Carbon Plan: Failure by Design.”