Legislative Activity Revival of the Comprehensive Energy Bill Last week, by unanimous consent, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced 11 bills governing energy infrastructure and efficiency. The bills address a range of issues including: skill preparation for energy-related jobs; improvement to hydroelectric licensing; retrofits for schools; increasing energy and water efficiency for federal facilities … Continue Reading
Executive Branch Activity Next OCS Developments Last Friday, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) directing the Department of the Interior to review and potentially rewrite the Obama Administration’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Final Program for the years 2017 to 2022 to include provisions for oil and gas development in the Arctic and … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Energy Infrastructure Moving forward with her previously announced effort to write draft legislation to address energy infrastructure for the larger anticipated infrastructure bill, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) will hold a hearing on Tuesday, April 4 to consider methods to protect the electricity grid and associated energy … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Resolution Repealing BLM’s Planning 2.0 Rule Sent to the President Last week, the Senate passed H. J. Res 44, using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s Resource Management Planning rule, known as the BLM Planning 2.0 Rule, by a vote of 51-48. The House passed the resolution … Continue Reading
Legislative Action Comprehensive Energy Bill Conferees met on last week on Thursday for the opening session to consider energy legislation, S. 2012, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2016. If passed, the bill would be the first piece of comprehensive energy legislation to emerge from Congress in almost a decade. The mood … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council has announced a two-step application process for entities seeking funding for council-selected projects “to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region” as a result of the Deepwater Horizon … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Arctic Comprehensive Conservation Plan The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its Record of Decision for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement. According to the agency, this document “establishes the management direction for Arctic Refuge for the next 15 years.” Funding for Hydropower Projects … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Passes Water Resources Reform and Development Act Last week, the House passed its Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which provides federal funding for water and water-related infrastructure projects. The Senate passed its Water Resources and Development Act legislation in March. A conference committee will now be appointed to work out … Continue Reading
