Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed a slate of mining reform bills: H.R. 1731, the “Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act of 2017” or the “RECLAIM Act,” H.R. 2053, the “Mining School Enhancement Act,” and H.R. 2937, the “Community Reclamation Partnerships Act.”
“The last eight years have wreaked havoc… Read more »
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 1107, the “Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act.” Introduced by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), the bill codifies a bipartisan agreement between major stakeholders in Pershing County, Nevada to benefit conservation, improve federal land management and promote economic development.
“This bipartisan, locally-driven… Read more »
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 218, the “King Cove Land Exchange Act.” Introduced by Rep. Don Young (R-AK), this bipartisan bill authorizes a land exchange to facilitate the construction of a road linking the City of King Cove to the City of Cold Bay to access a modern airport.
“For too long access to healthcare for the tribes and residents of King Cove has… Read more »
Today, the House Republican Steering Committee appointed Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) to the House Committee on Natural Resources. Rep. Gianforte will serve on the Subcommittee on Federal Lands and the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement:
“I’m excited to welcome Rep. Gianforte to our team. Greg brings western values and… Read more »
Today, the House passed H.R. 1967, the “Bureau of Reclamation Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act.” Introduced by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), the bipartisan bill authorizes expanded pumped storage hydropower at select Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) facilities.
“For an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy we need ‘all-of-the-above’ energy infrastructure. This bill bolsters a diverse and… Read more »
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to rescind the Obama Administration’s Waters of the United States Rule (WOTUS). Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement:
“This rule aggrandized federal bureaucrats at the expense of farmers’ water and private property rights. EPA’s decision to stay and now rescind WOTUS is another welcome act from… Read more »
Today, the Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing with Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke to examine the Trump Administration’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018 and new policy priorities of DOI and its subagencies.
“The shared priorities of balancing our budget, improving land management and expanding access can’t be fully achieved… Read more »
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will be delisted from the endangered species list. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement:
“I commend this Administration and the Department of the Interior for delisting the grizzly bear even though it should have been done years ago. States are far more… Read more »
Today, 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… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on a discussion draft of the “Helium Extraction Act of 2017.” The bill authorizes the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to lease federal land for the purpose of helium production under the same lease terms as oil and gas.
“[M]ajor concerns remain regarding the future of the domestic helium market,”… Read more »
