Natural Resources
Bishop Statement on BLM’s Methane Rule Delay
Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in reaction to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) methane rule delay. “The previous rule was outside the limits of BLM’s authority. “The previous rule was outside the limits of BLM’s authority.
Panel Reviews Bill to Spur Water Infrastructure Development Across the West
The Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a legislative hearing on H.R. 4419, the “Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Indian Affairs Water Project Streamlining Act.” Introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), the bill seeks to streamline and expedite water infrastructure development across the West by requiring future studies to adhere to reasonable timelines and other accountability measures.
Bishop Statement on the Appointment of Brian Steed as Director of the Bureau of...
Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in reaction to the appointment of Brian Steed as Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM): “Brian Steed has the expertise to help BLM partner with state and local governments to improve federal land management.
Chairman Bishop Releases Discussion Draft Legislation to Overhaul Federal Lands Energy Policy
Following months of hearings and input from stakeholders, Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) released discussion draft legislation to overhaul federal lands energy policy. The legislation reforms existing regulatory frameworks for energy development in America’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and the vast onshore acreage under federal ownership.
Onshore Energy Bill Draws Praise as Subcommitte Continues Broad Overhaul of Federal Lands Energy...
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources heard testimony on a discussion draft of the “Opportunities for the Nation and States to Harness Onshore Resources Act” or “ONSHORE Act.” The bill allows states with established regulatory programs to seek primacy for the implementation of federal permitting responsibilities for oil and gas development on federal lands
Panel: Bipartisan Bills Enhance ESA Protections, Boost Hydropower Reliability
The Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3144 (Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-WA) and H.R. 3916 (Rep. Ken Calvert, R-CA), the “Federally Integrated Species Health Act” or “FISH Act,” bills to improve the recovery of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed fish while providing certainty for water and power users.
Committee Passes “Native American Energy Act”
The House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 210. Introduced by Rep. Don Young (R-AK), the “Native American Energy Act” addresses the federal government’s overregulation of Indian lands to promote energy development by Indian tribes and Alaska Native Corporations
Subcommittee Begins Comprehensive Onshore Federal Lands Energy Policy Overhaul with Review of Targeted Reform...
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources began a comprehensive legislative overhaul of federal onshore energy development with a legislative hearing to review targeted bills that reform the existing federal regulatory framework
Bishop Statement on Infrastructure Executive Order
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s executive order on establishing accountability in the environmental review and permitting process for infrastructure projects
Committee Passes Bills to Spur Private Investment in Water Infrastructure, Increase Federal Transparency
The House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 3281 (Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-CO), the “Reclamation Title Transfer and Non-Federal Infrastructure Incentivization Act,” and H.R. 2371 (Rep. Paul Gosar, R-AZ), the “Western Area Power Administration Transparency Act.”
Committee Passes Bill to Improve Transparency, Management of Federal Land Ownership
The House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 2199, the “Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform Act of 2017” or the “FLAIR Act.” Introduced by Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), the bipartisan bill requires the Department of the Interior to create a publicly available register of federal real property to increase transparency and improve management of the federal estate.
Panel: Expanding Offshore Access a Boon for Coastal Communities, Integral to Future Energy Security
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing on federal offshore oil and gas development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Panel members discussed the benefits of expanding access to the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific and Alaska for coastal communities, job creation nationally, and increased revenues for both states and the U.S. Treasury.
Panel: Regulatory Uncertainty, Red Tape Discourages Responsible Energy Development
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing on the status of onshore oil and gas leasing and drill permitting processes on federal lands. Members and witnesses discussed improvements to the duplicative and costly bureaucratic policies discouraging operators from leasing federal minerals.
Committee Passes Bill to Protect Water Rights
The House Committee on Natural Resources advanced H.R. 2939, the “Water Rights Protection Act of 2017.” Introduced by Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), the bill protects privately held water rights from federal overreach.
Rep. LaHood Introduces “Community Reclaimers” Bill to Expedite Abandoned Mine Land Cleanup
Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) introduced H.R. 2937, the “Community Reclamation Partnerships Act.” This bill authorizes partnerships between states and non-governmental entities for the purposes of expanding abandoned mine reclamation projects.
House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Improve Electricity Reliability and Vegetation Management
The House passed H.R. 1873, the “Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act,” by a bipartisan vote of 300-118. Introduced by Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR), the bipartisan bill provides streamlined processes for the removal of hazardous vegetative overgrowth within or adjacent to electricity infrastructure on federal lands.
House Passes “One Stop-Shop” Permitting Bill to Expand Water Storage Infrastructure
The House passed H.R. 1654, the “Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act,” by a bipartisan vote of 233-180. Introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), the bill creates a “one-stop-shop” permitting process through the Bureau of Reclamation for new or expanded surface storage facilities. It streamlines agency permit requirements that sometimes impose unnecessary costs and burdens on entities seeking to construct new water storage infrastructure.
Hearing Focuses on Bills to Protect Endangered Salmon, Empower Local Management on Federal Water...
The Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a legislative hearing on two bills to lessen the costs of federal water and power infrastructure to American ratepayers.
Murkowski Announces Support for Three Energy Nominees
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing for President Trump’s nominees for key positions at two federal agencies: Dan Brouillette to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE), and Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson to be members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Murkowski Announces Promotions and Additions to Energy Committee Staff
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced several recent promotions and additions to her Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff.
