In The News
Forest Service delaying media wilderness photography rules amid growing outcry about First Amendment
The Oregonian By Rob Davis September 25, 2014 Amid growing public outcry, the U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday it will delay finalizing restrictive rules requiring media to get special permits to shoot photos or videos in wilderness areas. The federal agency will allow public comment for an additional month, until Dec. 3, Forest Service spokesman Larry Chambers said, and set up meetings to answer questions from journalists, wilderness groups and the public. "The Fo… Continue Reading
09.26.14
Feds want to restrict filming in wilderness areas
The Statesman Journal By Zac Urness September 25, 2014 The U.S. Forest Service has proposed a set of rules that would strictly limit filming and photography in federal wilderness areas by media companies, commercial outfitters, nonprofit groups and even, potentially, members of the general public. The directive, which has been on the books for 48 months but hasn't been enforced, is intended to tighten restrictions on people and organizations that derive commercial gain or seek to raise… Continue Reading
09.26.14
Congressmen decry plan to restrict wilderness filming
The Statesman Journal By Zac Urness September 25, 2014 Four members of Oregon's congressional delegation have now denounced the U.S. Forest Service's plan to limit access to journalists, filmmakers and the general public to federal wilderness areas. "This seems like a fairly ridiculous over-reach by the Forest Service," Rep. Kurt Schrader said in a statement. "I understand the need to protect our wilderness areas from commercial exploitation, but this is just silly.&… Continue Reading
09.23.14
Committee passes bill to help economy in Trinity County
The Redwood Times September 21, 2014 TRINITY COUNTY >> Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced that the House Natural Resources unanimously approved his bipartisan Trinity Land Exchange Act (H.R. 3326), which would help Trinity County's economy. Huffman's bill allows the Trinity Public Utilities District to exchange county land along the Trinity River for land adjacent to the Weaverville Airport, currently held by federal agencies. Today's vote was the last step b… Continue Reading
09.22.14
Burning money: Cost of fighting wildfires robs funds to prevent them
Christian Science Monitor By Brad Knickerbocker September 20, 2014 News from California this week made it seem as if half the drought-stricken state was ablaze with wind-whipped wildfires, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate, wrecking some vacation plans for Yosemite National Park, and torching hundreds of structures - including 143 homes in the small town of Weed. All of that is happening and continues to happen as firefighters battle what fire officials say are 23 active wildf… Continue Reading
09.19.14
Congress Takes Recess Without Moving Ahead On Wildfire Funding
KLCC By Angela Kellner September 19, 2014 More than fifty fires continue to burn in the West. Efforts this summer to change how the federal government pays for fire suppression hasn't moved forward. And that has one Oregon lawmaker speaking out. The Obama Administration has proposed paying for wildfire suppression the same way the federal government responds to natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Representative Peter DeFazio of Springfield spoke on the floor of the … Continue Reading
09.19.14
House GOP passes bills to approve KXL, boost domestic production
E&E News By Daniel Bush September 19, 2014 House Republicans yesterday passed two legislative packages that would approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline and boost domestic energy production, over objections from Democrats who claimed that the votes were aimed at turning out GOP voters in the midterm elections. The House voted 226-191 to approve H.R. 2, the "American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act," a package of bills that includes a measure that… Continue Reading
09.19.14
Now they’re just trolling: House Republicans to vote on rehashed energy package
Salon By Lindsay Abrams Setepmber 18, 2014 The House is planning to vote this week on a new package of GOP-backed, environmentally destructive energy bills that have no chance of going anywhere, just like they didn't go anywhere the last time they were passed. In other words, House Republicans are planning to spend the rest of this legislative session trolling everyone. Even the name is trollish: the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act. The House already pa… Continue Reading
09.19.14
Lawmakers mull doing away with preferential coal leases
E&E News By Manuel Quinones September 18, 2014 House lawmakers are moving forward with legislation to phase out what they call outdated federal coal mining leases, a step that would also benefit the Navajo Nation. Reps. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Cynthia Lummis' (R-Wyo.) H.R. 5176 would allow companies holding so-called preferential right coal leases to exchange them for bidding rights somewhere else. The Interior Department issued the noncompetitive leases as a way to encourage t… Continue Reading
09.19.14
Calif. utility sues Reclamation over environmental payments
E&E News By Debra Kahn September 16, 2014 A California utility and three cities are suing the Obama administration in a bid to lower payments for habitat restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Bureau of Reclamation owes the utilities roughly $45 million, says the lawsuit by the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) and the cities of Redding, Roseville and Santa Clara. The suit was filed earlier this month in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The power agencies ar… Continue Reading
09.19.14
Senate ENR to mark up Wyden's O&C bill after midterm election
E&E News By Phil Taylor September 17, 2014 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Mary Landrieu (D-La.) yesterday announced that her panel will mark up a sweeping forestry and conservation bill by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) after the November election. The Nov. 13 business meeting will include Wyden's "Oregon and California Lands Act of 2014," along with "numerous public lands bills" that have had subcommittee hearings. The markup will come nearly one… Continue Reading
09.19.14
Rules panel sends energy jobs bills to floor for debate
E&E News By Daniel Bush September 17, 2014 The House Rules Committee yesterday moved two legislative packages aimed at boosting domestic energy production to the House floor for debate, over objections from Democrats who claim the measures would increase greenhouse gas emissions and cause environmental pollution. The White House issued a veto threat last night. The Rules Committee move was the first step toward approval later this week of H.R. 2, or the "American Energy Solutions … Continue Reading
09.19.14
House panel to vote on Colo. wilderness, dam bills
E&E News By Phil Taylor September 17, 2014 A new measure designed to safeguard snowmobile access to a high mountain pass in southwest Colorado has raised the ire of wilderness advocates and could complicate future passage of a bipartisan conservation and recreation bill set for markup tomorrow before a House panel. A substitute amendment to Rep. Scott Tipton's (R-Colo.) H.R. 1839 will be marked up by the Natural Resources Committee along with two dozen other measures addressing Wes… Continue Reading
09.16.14
House tackling Keystone XL & gas exports in pre-election debate
Fuel Fix By Jennifer Dlhouhy September 15, 2014 WASHINGTON - Gasoline prices have tumbled to four-year lows, but that isn't stopping lawmakers on Capitol Hill from exploiting concerns about high energy costs ahead of the mid-term elections. Republican leaders are scheduling votes this week on a package of more than a dozen bills designed to highlight Obama administration decisions and federal policies they say are holding back the nation's energy potential. In the mix: disputes over the K… Continue Reading
09.16.14
Bill Honoring Slain Elephant Could Help Fight Ivory Trafficking
Care2 By Alicia Graef September 16, 2014 Earlier this summer the heartbreaking story of Satao, one of Kenya's most well-known and beloved elephants, made headlines after he was killed by poachers in Tsavo East National Park. Now legislation introduced in his honor could impose trade sanctions on countries that continue to facilitate the bloody ivory trade. Among ongoing efforts to fight the poaching crisis, last week Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio… Continue Reading
09.16.14
U.S. Congress To Consider Sanctions Against Nations That Traffic Ivory
The Dodo By Melissa Cronin September 12, 2014 The legislation, called the Targeted Use of Sanctions for Killing Elephants in their Range (TUSKER) Act, was introduced by Congressman Peter DeFazio, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee. In a statement, Rep. DeFazio said: "As many as 40,000 elephants were slaughtered in 2013 alone for their tusks and over 1,000 park rangers have been killed trying to protect endangered wildlife. The illegal wildlife trade funds the operations of … Continue Reading
09.16.14
Bill would sanction countries involved in illegal ivory trade
The Hill Cristina Marcos September 12, 2014 Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) has introduced legislation that would impose trade sanctions on countries involved with ivory trafficking. DeFazio, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said the illegal ivory trade ultimately helps fund terrorist organizations. He argued his bill would protect elephants and park rangers, as well as reduce the amount of money funneled to terrorists. "As many as 40,000 elephants were slaughte… Continue Reading
09.16.14
DeFazio Introduces Legislation to Curb Illegal Ivory Trafficking
Albany Tribune September 12, 2014 Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) introduced Thursday legislation that would impose trade sanctions on countries that facilitate ivory trafficking. According to the White House National Security Council, ivory from elephant tusks contributes between $7 billion and $10 billion a year to the global illegal trade and funds organized crime and terrorist organizations. "As many as 40,000 elephants were slaughter… Continue Reading
09.16.14
Bill would sanction countries involved in ivory trade
KING 5 News Susan Watt September 13, 2014 Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) has introduced legislation that would impose trade sanctions on countries that facilitate ivory trafficking. According to the White House National Security Council, ivory from elephant tusks contributes between $7 billion and $10 billion a year to the global illegal trade and funds organized crime and terrorist organizations. "As many as 40,000 elephants were slaughtered in 2013 alone for their tusks … Continue Reading
09.16.14
Satao’s Law introduced to congress to help protect elephants
Wildlife News Kevin Heath September 12, 2014 A new bill, in honour of Satao a Kenyan 'big tusker' killed by poachers, has been put before Congress in the United States. If passed it will give the US government the power to introduce trade sanctions against countries that do not do enough to tackle elephant poaching and the trade in illegal wildlife. As the United States continues to take the lead in ending the trade in ivory the new bill being introduced by Peter DeFazio from Oregon will e… Continue Reading