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2/13/13
McMorris Rodgers Applauds Unanimous Passage of Hydropower Bill - 2/13/13
“Hydro Will Create Jobs and Bolster America’s Competitiveness”
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), authors of H.R. 267, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013, applauded the unanimous approval of their bill in the House of Representatives today. The final vote was 422-0. Their legislation would facilitate the development of small hydropower and conduit projects and direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to study the feasibility of a streamlined two-year permitting process. The bill now moves to the Senate.
“Hydro plays a crucial role in Eastern Washington – whether it’s conventional, small, or conduit hydro,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “In fact, hydropower provides 75 percent of electricity to Eastern Washington and to the Pacific Northwest region. While there are a vast array of renewable energies – including solar, wind, and nuclear power – in my opinion, the facts are clear: the future of American energy independence depends on the development of an ‘all of the above’ energy approach – including hydro. That’s why Congresswoman DeGette and I have been working to expand hydropower production. Our bill is timely and targeted and it will create jobs and bolster America’s competitiveness in the energy sector.”
In the 112th Congress, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 5892, which made the hydropower regulatory process more efficient. While there was bipartisan support for the bill in the Senate, it did not come to a vote before the end of the session. The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 introduces a chance to expand clean and affordable energy during the 113th Congress.
The original co-sponsors of this legislation include Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE), Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR).
To watch Rep. McMorris Rodgers’s remarks on the House floor, click here.
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2/6/13
Lummis Comments on Administration's Appointment for Interior Secretary - 2/6/13
WASHINGTON – Wednesday President Obama announced his nomination for Interior Secretary, REI CEO Sally Jewell. Following the announcement US Representative Cynthia Lummis issued the following statement:
“I’m willing, for the moment, to reserve judgment on the selection of Sally Jewell to serve as Secretary of the Interior. She is an accomplished woman who runs a very successful business. Business acumen could go a long way at an agency that has been more interested in shutting down sources of revenue on public lands than in actively pursuing them. To be a successful leader in Wyoming and the West, Mrs. Jewell must commit to the balanced, multiple use of public lands, which runs counter to recent Obama Administration proclivities toward preservation rather than responsible shared use. While REI is a successful company that caters to a particular niche, let’s remember that the Department of the Interior must manage land and resources for a much broader constituency than just those who purchased a new wicking fleece for a day hike. I sincerely hope Sally Jewell is up to the task.”
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2/5/13
Lamborn Statement on Report Detailing Economic Benefits of Energy Production on Federal Lands - 2/5/13
Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, released the following statement after reviewing Dr. Joseph R. Mason’s report on the “Economic Effects of Immediately Opening Federal Lands to Oil and Gas Leasing: A Response to the Congressional Budget Office.” The report projects significant growth in jobs and economic activity—$14.4 trillion GDP increase, almost 2 million jobs created, and $2.7 trillion in federal tax revenues—that would result from increased energy production on federal lands.
“I intend to continue to push an aggressive legislative agenda in this Congress to open up America’s vast energy resources on our federal lands. This report should be required reading at the Obama White House. According to the study, if the Obama administration were to simply open up federal lands currently closed to energy production, it would jump start the economy.
“This economy could use the boost. Millions of American families are barely making it each month as they struggle with high taxes, high gasoline prices, and high unemployment. We can do better, and boosting domestic energy is a great place to get started.”– Doug Lamborn (CO-05)
According to the report, if federal lands “that are statutorily or as a matter of administration policy prohibited from leasing,” immediately opened, the results would be:
GDP increase:
· $127 billion annually for the next seven years.
· $450 billion annually in the long-run.
· $14.4 trillion cumulative increase in economic activity over the next thirty years.
Jobs increase:
· 552,000 jobs annually over the next seven years.
· Almost 2 million jobs annually over the next thirty years.
Wage increase:
· $32 billion increase in annual wages over the next seven years.
· $115 billion annually between seven and thirty years.
· $3.7 trillion cumulative increase over thirty-seven years.
Increase in tax revenue:
· $2.7 trillion increase in federal tax revenues over thirty-seven years.
· $1.1 trillion in state and local tax revenues over thirty-seven years.
· $24 billion annual federal tax revenue over the next seven years, $86 billion per year thereafter.
· $10.3 billion annual state and local tax revenue over the next seven years, $35.5 billion annually thereafter.
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2/5/13
PEARCE WORKS ACROSS THE AISLE ON MINING CLEANUP BILL - 2/5/13
Washington, D.C. (February 5, 2013)- Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce worked across the aisle with other members of the New Mexico delegation to introduce a bipartisan mining cleanup bill.
“I’m pleased to work with my colleagues from New Mexico on this key legislation for our state,” said Pearce. “Mines in New Mexico are desperately in need of cleanup—for the safety, health, and prosperity of the community. This bill provides the clarification needed to ensure that the Abandoned Mine Land program serves all Americans, as originally intended. Bipartisan efforts like this one are vital for the solutions America needs, and I look forward to continuing in this spirit of cooperation on this and other legislation.”
This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to clarify that state and tribal governments may use funds under the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program for reclamation projects related to non-coal mines. Recent interpretations of the AML program have restricted funding largely to coal mine cleanup, to the detriment of Western states like New Mexico, which has hundreds of uranium and other non-coal mines.
The legislation makes AML funds available to seal abandoned mines, treat contaminated drainage, and restore land impacted by mining, to the benefit of public health and safety.
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2/5/13
Rep. Young Condemns Shameful Department of Interior Decision on King Cove Road Access - 2/5/13
WASHINGTON, DC. – Alaskan Congressman Don Young today released the following statement in response to the Secretary of Interior’s and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to put the health and well-being of Alaskans aside by choosing to prohibit limited road access through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge:
“Today’s decision is a betrayal of the residents of King Cove, and further demonstrates how beholden this Administration is to environmental extremists. This Administration’s choice will continue to prevent the community of King Cove from having reliable access to the only all weather airport in the region; often their only lifeline to safe and reliable access to medical facilities.
“How many King Cove residents must perish due to a lack of immediate medical attention for the Department of the Interior to allow this land exchange? At a minimum, the Secretary of the Interior should look these Alaskans in the eye and explain why some seaweed and ducks trump their access to reliable life-saving transport. To date, a meeting with representatives of King Cove has never been granted by the Secretary.
“These Alaskans simply want limited road access to an all-weather airport, something many in Alaska and nearly all Americans in the Lower 48 take for granted. Simply put, today’s decision is shameful, and I am horrified that the federal government would turn its back on the health and safety of its residents.
“In 2009, Congress passed the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange Act, and although this is the final EIS, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will have the final say. This will likely be one of his final actions as Secretary, and I hope he gives the tremendous impact of this issue thoughtful reflection.”
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2/5/13
Bishop- Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Issues Statement on New Study Examining Benefits of Energy Production on Federal Land - 2/5/13
WASHINGTON– House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01) issued the following statement in reaction to a report issued today by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) on “The Additional Economic Effects of Immediately Opening Federal Lands to Oil and Gas Leasing.” The report, based on the findings of a study conducted by Dr. Joseph Mason, projects the impact on revenue, job creation, and overall GDP growth from increased energy production on federal lands. Today, Bishop also joined with fellow members of the Congressional Western Caucus, Congressman Stevan Pearce (NM-02), and Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (WY-at large) to encourage Chairman of the House Budget Committee Paul Ryan (WI-01) to consider IER’s study and the economic benefits of energy production on public lands and waters when drafting the FY 2014 budget [letter].
“As the report illustrates, there are beneficial and responsible ways to grow revenues and jobs in this country without taxing hard-working Americans. Some view tax increases as the panacea to our nation’s budgetary problems. I disagree with this notion and this study proves that there are alternative solutions. I noted in a recent letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner that increased energy production on our nation’s public lands is a healthy way to bolster revenues, create jobs, and provide greater energy security. The report released today by IER confirms that utilization of the abundant resources on our public lands would be a boon for our country,” said Bishop. “I appreciate the work IER and Dr. Mason did to clearly illustrate the overwhelming benefits of responsible energy production on public lands. It is increasingly frustrating to know that our country could be far better off if the President would stop placating his special interest group allies and put the interests of this country first.”
Key findings from the report:
REVENUE:
Annual increase in GDP for the next seven years: $127
Increase in annual GDP for the next thirty years: $450 billion
Cumulative 37-year increase in GDP: $14.4 trillion
The federal government stands to receive $2.7 trillion more in tax revenues over the next 37 years, while state and local tax revenues equal $1.1 trillion in the same time period
JOBS:
Job creation over the next seven years: 552,000
Annual job creation for the next thirty years: nearly 2 million
Job gains would be felt in high-wage, high-skill employment like health care, education, professional fields, and the arts.
Annual wage increases over the next seven years: $32 billion
Cumulative wage increase over a 37 year cycle: $3.7 trillion
2/5/13
Bishop Rebuts Remarks Made Today by Former DOI Secretary Bruce Babbitt - 2/5/13
Notes that conservation lands overwhelmingly outweigh leased acres
WASHINGTON–House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01) issued the following statement in response to remarksdelivered today by former Department of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt encouraging the President to impose stricter federal lands policies that aim to limit multiple use and energy production:
“I would probably be willing to accept the ‘one for one’ concept if we started at the position of parity. At present, little more than 37 million acres of BLM land have been leased for oil and gas development, whereas 293 million acres have already been set aside for conservation. This disparity clearly favors conservation but also reinforces the fact that deserving places are already being protected. Instead of villainizing American energy developers, Secretary Babbitt should accept the fact that energy development, multiple use, and conservation are not mutually exclusive activities,”said Bishop.
BLM Acres Leased for oil and gas in 2012 = 37,792,212 acres (source: Bureau of Land Management)
Federal Conservation Lands = 293.5 million acres (source: Congressional Research Service)
National Park Service:
79.7 million
Wilderness Study Areas:
18.8 million
Wilderness Areas:
109.5 million
Forest Service Roadless:
58.5 million
National Landscape Conservation System:
27 million
Total:
293.5 million acres (source: congressional research service)
“As Governor, Bruce Babbitt had a logical view of public land use in this country. However, as Secretary, Babbitt abandoned his former ideologies and launched a campaign to limit energy production and public land use in this country. In the final days of the Clinton Administration, Secretary Babbitt orchestrated one of the most historic assaults on Utah’s energy resources in the history of the state when he helped President Clinton establish the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument through executive fiat. This locked up the nation’s largest proven coal deposit. Suggesting that the President hurry up and use the Antiquities Act to unilaterally establish new land designations clearly illustrates that Secretary Babbitt’s agenda is purely political and has little to do with the vitality of states and communities. Otherwise, he would instead be encouraging these efforts to initiate at a local level, where most responsible and common sense land policies originate. I’m not opposed to new land designations, new national monuments, or even new wilderness areas, but they must be the result of collaborative efforts at the local level, and not an arbitrary formula concocted by a former presidential cabinet member turned liberal activist,”Bishop added.
In 1982, as Governor of the State of Arizona, Babbitt wrote that:
“By any conceivable measure of the relative federal and state interest, management of the public domain in the West is not fairly shared.
“This lack of management control—not lack of ownership—is frustrating planned growth in the West at the very moment it is needed most. It is as if each western state were split in two, with part administered from the state capitol and the rest from the Interior Department on ‘C’ street in Washington, D.C. neither the federal nor the state interests in the public lands are protected by this confused management structure. Greater shared management is needed; it can be achieved by increasing the responsibilities of state and local governments for the public domain.
“It is ironic that, while, the roots of the Sagebrush Rebellion may be traced to passage of FLPMA, the Act took significant strides toward increasing the influence of state and local government on federal land use planning activities. Section 202 of the Act establishes guidelines for BLM planning, including provisions requiring coordination with the planning and management programs of state and local governments. The Act mandates that the BLM consider state and local plans in designing resource management programs. Federal plans must be ‘consistent’ with state and local efforts ‘to the maximum extent [the Secretary] finds consistent with Federal law and the purposes of the Act.’ Inconsistencies between federal and nonfederal plans are to be resolved to the extent practical.”
2/1/13
Terry Statement on Reports Keystone Pipeline Decision Could Languish Until June - 2/1/13
WASHINGTON, DC – As a leading proponent of the Keystone XL pipeline, Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) today released the following statement after reports that the Obama Administration will delay a decision on the Keystone XL oil pipeline until at least June:
“This is a transparent attempt to delay the decision on the pipeline in hopes it will fall out of the public eye. All the environmental reports have been reviewed by the State Department more than two years ago. The only new information is the Nebraska leg of the route and review of that aspect should not take more than 60 days,” Terry stated.
1/30/13
DAINES LEADS BIPARTISAN GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVES IN CALLING ON OBAMA TO APPROVE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE - 1/30/13
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Daines this week led a bipartisan group of nearly 150 Representatives in calling on President Barack Obama to expeditiously approve the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
Daines, alongside Representative Lee Terry (R-NE), spearheaded a letter urging Obama to approve needed permits, in light of Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman’s recent support of a new route through the state of Nebraska for the Keystone XL pipeline project.
“We respectfully request that your administration act expeditiously and approve the project as soon as possible,” Daines wrote. “You have the information from the State of Nebraska. No other portion of the pipeline has changed. This is in our national interest given the clear and positive linkage to job creation, the economy and domestic energy security. It is time to act in our nation’s best interest and approve the Keystone XL pipeline.”
The full letter may be found here.
On Monday, in an address to the Montana State Legislature, Daines reaffirmed his commitment to moving forward the the construction of the Keystone XL project, which is estimated to directly create at least 800 Montana jobs.
“Let me be clear—this project means jobs for Montanans,” Daines stated in his address. “It means coming one step closer to North American energy independence. This isn’t about politics—Republicans and Democrats alike support the pipeline. This is about American jobs. It’s time for President Obama to approve this project.”
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1/30/13
Tipton Statement on Revived Forest Service Effort to Hijack Individual Water Rights - 1/30/13
Washington, D.C.— Today, Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO) issued this statement following an announcement by the U.S. Forest Service to initiate a public comment process as it once again ramps up efforts to implement a directive that would require the transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government as a permit condition on National Forest System lands.
“While I appreciate the Forest Service’s willingness to increase public input on matters relating to water rights and public land management, and feel that public opinion should drive policy decisions in this area, I deeply believe that any directive adopted should comply with state water law and protect existing individual water rights. The fact remains that this proposed permit requirement would tamper with state water law in order to accommodate a federal grab of private water rights. This is wrong, and I intend to protect the water rights that many Colorado communities and businesses rely on for their livelihoods.”
Background
In October of 2011, Tipton sent a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reconsider implementing a permit condition to require the transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government as a permit condition on National Forest System lands. Tipton expressed concern over the impact the requirement would have on water rights held by ski areas and ranchers in particular. See the letter here.
Following the letter, Tipton led a Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands oversight hearing on Forest Service Regulatory Roadblocks to Productive Land Use and Recreation: Proposed Planning Rule, Special-use Permits, and Travel Management. This hearing further examined the Forest Service’s proposal which could threaten deference to state water law and infringe upon private property rights.
It was brought to light during the hearing that the USDA is already enforcing the permit requirement despite the fact that it has yet to be officially implemented. Glenn Porzak spoke on behalf of the National Ski Areas Association, and told the committee that the Forest Service required the developers of the Powderhorn ski area (just outside of Grand Junction) to agree to the terms of the permit requirement regardless of future Congressional or court action on it.
The National Ski Areas Association filed suit against the Forest Service to block implementation of the permit directive. In December 2012, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado vacated the 2012 Forest Service directive.
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