Legislative Activity House to Consider Environmental Regulatory Reform Legislation This week, the House will consider H.R. 2279, the “Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act.” The legislation consolidates three bills that were favorably reported by the Energy and Commerce Committee last year dealing with the Solid Waste Disposal Act (the “SWDA”), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Wind Turbine Funding Opportunity The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Program intends to release a funding opportunity in early 2014 targeting the development of taller wind turbines. According to DOE, “the funding opportunity is expected to focus on innovative designs and processes for wind turbine tower manufacturing and turbine system installations that … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Nominations for U.S. Department of the Interior and EPA On Tuesday, December 17, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will meet to consider the nomination of Neil Kornze to become the Director of the Bureau of Land Management at the Department of the Interior. The Committee will also consider at that time … Continue Reading
Executive Activity President’s Task Force To Meet on Climate Change The President’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience will meet for the first time on Tuesday, December 10. The Task Force is composed of 26 state, local and tribal officials and is charged with identifying ways to prepare communities for the impact of climate … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Natural Resources Committee Approves Mountaintop Mining Lesiglation On Thursday, November 14, the House Natural Resources Committee voted to favorably report H.R. 2824, the “Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America” Act, introduced by Rep. Bill Johnson, by a margin of 24-14. The legislation would prevent the Department of Interior … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate EPW Committee Holds Hearing on Fugitive Methane Gas Leaks Last Tuesday, November 5, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing titled “Fugitive Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Operations.” During the hearing, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) director of atmospheric programs in the Office of Air and Radiation, … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Environmental Protection Agency and Local Governments The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Local Government Advisory Committee will meet November 26 via teleconference to discuss the Draft 2014–2018 EPA Strategic Plan concerning air quality issues, brownfield clean ups, water quality issues, environmental justice and related environmental issues of significance to local governments. While the meeting … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on Energy Infrastructure Legislation Last Tuesday, October 29, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to review the North American Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R. 3301), legislation that seeks to eliminate the State Department’s authority to approve an energy infrastructure project and delegate that responsibility to the Federal Energy … Continue Reading
Executive Branch Activity Executive Order — Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change On Friday, President Obama issued an Executive Order intended to help states and local communities address the impacts of severe weather resulting from climate change. The Order addresses the potential for incentives to local communities to make investments to … 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
Legal Activity Supreme Court Sets Up Limited EPA Greenhouse Gas Challenge On Tuesday, October 15, the Supreme Court granted and consolidated six petitions for certiori to hear a limited appeal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation of greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles. The Court’s decision is limited to a single question: “Whether EPA … Continue Reading
Legislative and Regulatory Activity Senate Energy Committee Clears Two Nominees The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a business meeting in executive session on Tuesday, October 8 to consider the nominations of Mr. Michael Connor and Ms. Elizabeth Robinson to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Interior and Under Secretary of Energy, respectively. … Continue Reading
Executive Branch Activity EPA To Hold Listenting Sessions on Carbon Emissions From Power Plants The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning on holding 11 public listening sessions across the United States to gather public input on reducing carbon pollution from existing power plants. EPA maintains that “power plants are the nation’s largest stationary source … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Energy Efficiency Legislation Delayed The Senate failed last week to fully consider S. 1392, energy efficiency legislation introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH). While the legislation enjoys bipartisan support, consideration of the legislation has been delayed by negotiations regarding non-germane amendments related to the Keystone XL Pipeline and implementation … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, September 24: The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, will hold a hearing to examine black carbon as a global health problem and to determine low-cost solutions. Tuesday, September 24: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Energy Efficiency Legislation Today, the Senate is scheduled to resume consideration of S. 1392, energy efficiency legislation introduced by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH). The Senate began to consider the legislation last Wednesday, September 11, but disagreements regarding non-germane amendments related to the Keystone XL Pipeline and implementation of … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Climate Change In advance of this week, Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power, issued invitations to the administrators of 13 agencies to testify at a hearing to be held this Wednesday, September 18, titled “The Obama Administration’s Climate Change Policies.” The hearing will … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Nuclear Waste Nuclear waste is one of the topics of the week in Congress, with both the House and Senate holding hearings on how to address nuclear waste and nuclear waste facilities. This Week’s Hearings: Monday, July 29: The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Water and Power, will hold a hearing concerning … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity EPA Confirmation Hearings On Thursday, July 18, Gina McCarthy was confirmed as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator in a 59-40 Senate vote. Hearings will be held this week on Wednesday, July 24, by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to examine the nominations for additional positions at the EPA including Kenneth … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Greenhouse Gas Emissions The National Academies of Sciences (NAS) has released its report titled “Effects of U.S. Tax Policy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” Congress had charged NAS with conducting a comprehensive review of the Internal Revenue Code to identify the types of and specific tax provisions that have the largest effects on carbon … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, June 18: The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation, will hold an oversight hearing titled “Citizen and Agency Perspectives on the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.” Tuesday, June 18: The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a full committee hearing concerning the … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Thursday, June 13: A House Natural Resources Subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing titled “Mining in America: The Administration’s Use of Claim Maintenance Fees and Cleanup of Abandoned Mine Lands.” Regulatory Activity Hydraulic Fracturing The Interior Department will extend the public comment period on the revised proposed rule to regulate … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, June 4: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a full committee hearing intended to identify ways to improve federal wildland fire management. Tuesday, June 4: The House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a full committee hearing to address species conservation concerning tribal, state and … Continue Reading
