Natural Resources Committee Blog Entries

ICYMI: AAA sees gas prices rising into Memorial Day weekend

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

AAA sees gas prices rising into Memorial Day weekend
By Talia Buford
5/21/2013

The seasonal Memorial Day rise in gasoline prices is likely to bump up the cost of filling up the car this weekend, but much of the pain will hit motorists in the Midwest and on the West Coast, where a confluence of factors is leading to all-time highs leading into the holiday.

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.

VIDEO: View from the Top of the Washington Monument

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Last week, the National Park Service (NPS) finished the scaffolding surrounding the Washington Monument. The Washington Monument has been closed since being damaged in an Earthquake on August 23, 2011. This video released by the NPS shows a first person perspective from the top of the monument.

Breakfast Links

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:20:00 GMT

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:

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”

Breakfast Links

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:

CQ – Anna McGeehan: “Panel Passes Bills on Rare Earth, Critical Minerals”
Associated Press: “U.S. Gas Prices Up 11 Cents Over Past 2 Weeks”
US News and World Report – Elizabeth Flock: “Commission for Unbuilt Ike Memorial Wants Another $51 Million From Taxpayers”
Washington Examiner – Eric P. Newcomber: “Eisenhower family opposes Frank Gehry's design”
Associated Press – Jeff Barnard: “Ore. Timber Country Ponders Future With Fewer Logs”
Herald and News – Devan Schwartz: “Water quality, fisheries and tribal resources all must mesh”

Breakfast Links

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:

Fuel Fix – Jennifer A. Dlouhy: “Feds make concessions to oil industry in new hydraulic fracturing rule”
Examiner – Charles Pekow: “Committee approves two bills to help national wildlife refuge system”
Washington Post – Steven Mufson: “Obama administration issues draft fracking regulations”
KRBD – Ed Schoenfeld: “Feds oppose smaller Sealaska land bill”
Associated Press: “House approves swap of mineral rights between Utah, Indian tribe”
Havre Daily News – Tim Leeds: “Daines calls for hydropower on waterways, including Milk River Project”

Breakfast Links

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:

Platts: “US House Republicans release bills for more oil, gas drilling”
Associated Press: “Gosar, Kirkpatrick legislation for proposed Arizona copper mine gets committee approval”
Green River Star: “Lummis soda ash bill passes House committee”
Associated Press: “New secretary lays out agenda for Native Americans”
The Hill – Julian Hattem: “Interior pressed to encourage Indian tribes to develop oil and gas”

VIDEO: Drill Permit Streamlining Bill Sponsored by Rep. Cramer Passes House

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

In North Dakota, it can take 10 times as long to get a drilling permit on federal lands compared to state lands. That is why the House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to pass H.R. 767, a bill sponsored by Committee member Congressman Cramer, which streamlines the federal permitting process in North Dakota to reduce delays in obtaining a permit to drill on federal lands.

Check out what Rep. Cramer has to say in this news video highlighting his bill below.

Minerals in Our Everyday Lives

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

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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Breakfast Links

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

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”

Breakfast Links

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

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”