NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

AAA predicts that come Memorial Day weekend, the average price of a gallon of gasoline will rise above the $3.64 level motorists saw on Memorial Day in 2012 and the $3.79 recorded in 2011. The national average for a gallon of unleaded regular is currently $3.65, AAA said, the highest since March, but still 4 cents below the year-ago levels.

Gas prices, which have been hovering below year-ago levels for nearly three months, have climbed 14 cents in the last month, a reversal of the direction seen last year when prices fell in the run-up to the long Memorial Day holiday weekend.

In Minnesota and North Dakota, prices have soared by 68 and 63 cents, respectively, setting new all-time highs for this time of year, according to AAA’s Weekly Fuel Gauge report. Prices have climbed 50 cents in the last two weeks in Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma, stopping just 10 cents shy of those states’ all-time highs.

“Higher crude oil prices may be the reason that drivers in every state are paying more for gasoline than two weeks ago, but tight regional supplies and refinery maintenance — both planned and unplanned — are the reason for the dramatically higher pump prices in the Midwest and West Coast,” according to Avery Ash, regulatory affairs manager for AAA.

Those factors are coupled with the severe weather currently working its way through the Midwest, including twisters that ravaged North Texas last week and a tornado that hit Oklahoma City on Monday. No refineries have reported disruptions yet, Ash said, “but the potential remains for additional refinery issues in the already supply-strapped region.”

West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices closed at $96.71 per barrel on the NYMEX Monday, the highest price in six weeks.

• Wall Street Journal – Kim Murphy: “Alaska governor launches bid to measure oil in Arctic refuge”
• Joplin Globe – Andy Ostmeyer: “Federal agency proposes adding two Missouri mussels to endangered species list”
• Washington Examiner editorial: “Do 'Right by Ike' with scaled-down memorial”
• Washington Examiner – Eric P. Newcomber: “Congress takes aim at Eisenhower Memorial”

Today, the Full Committee on Natural Resources is holding a markup on 18 bills including legislation that will help develop critical and strategic minerals. Critical and strategic minerals are fundamental components of technologies and everyday items ranging from cell phones, building materials and motor vehicles to personal hygiene products.

	Over 66 individual minerals are used to make the typical computer, including silver, aluminum, copper and gold.
	Four rare earth minerals are required to make a hybrid vehicle: dysprosium, lanthanum, neodymium and praseodymium.
	Energy-efficient light bulbs use europium, terbium and yttrium.
	iPods require five rare earth minerals: dysprosium, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium and terbium.
	Deodorant contains aluminum and the container is made of petroleum products.
	A clock includes iron, nickel, petroleum products and silica.
	Lipstick and makeup include clay, mica, talc, limestone and petroleum products.
	Mail boxes are made of copper and zinc, which make brass.
	Pens are made out of limestone, mica, petroleum products, clays, silica and talc.
	Toilets are made of clays, silica, copper, zinc, petroleum products and borates.

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The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:

• Associated Press: “Wind farms get pass on eagle deaths”
• Associated Press – Ben Neary: “Western lawmakers push to restore mineral funds”
• Reuters – Alex Lawler: “IEA urges swift U.S. decision on allowing crude oil exports”
• Associated Press: “Ark. mountain snail dropped from endangered list”
• Associated Press: “US Indian affairs official to attend SD summit on tribal children placed in foster care”
• Los Angeles Times – Julie Cart: “Federal omission in closing oyster farm broke law, court told”

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:

• Politico – Darren Goode: “Key natural gas rules may be in the pipeline”
• Associated Press – Dina Capiello: “Wind farms get pass on eagle deaths”
• Bloomberg: “Gasoline rises most in three months at U.S. pumps”
• Wall Street Journal – Ben Kesling: “The Few, the Proud, the Tortoises: Marines Protect Endangered Species”
• Associated Press: “Health reforms penalize some Indians, Native Alaskans”
• The Hill – Zack Colman: “Feds warn sequester cuts weakened readiness for wildfire season”