Monday, June 21, 2010

Gulf Spill Hearings

Senate Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Feinstein, will receive testimony from Interior Dept. Secretary Ken Salazar Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., looking at the pending reorganization of the Minerals Management Service.

House Science Committee will look into response technologies at a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in 2318 Rayburn. Look for a significant discussion on how to address the spill with a significant focus on R&D opportunities to develop new technologies.

House Resources Committee continues its overall look at the spill on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. by focusing on emergency response issues. The hearing is expected to feature state, local and non-governmental officials about the how they write their spill response plans.

Senate Judiciary Marks Up "Environmental Crimes Enforcement Act" – The Judiciary Committee marks up three bills, including Senator Pat Leahy's (D-VT) Environmental Crimes Enforcement Act (S.3466) on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., The bill aims to hold companies accountable for environmental crimes and protect victims by mandating restitution for criminal violations of the Clean Water Act.

Senate Energy will consider bills on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., related to Minerals Management Service (MMS) reform and to offshore drilling: S. 3497, a bill to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to require leases entered into under that Act to include a plan that describes the means and timeline for containment and termination of an ongoing discharge of oil; S. 3431, a bill to improve the administration of the Minerals Management service; and other legislation which will be added to the agenda next week.

Senate Commerce Committee's Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee will hold a hearing Thursday at 2:30 p.m. on ensuring the safety of our Nation's pipelines. Witnesses will include Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration administrator Cynthia Quarterman, Tim Felt of Colonial Pipeline Company (representing the Association of Oil Pipelines), Rocco D'Alessandro of Nicor Gas (representing the American Gas Association), Gary Sypolt of Dominion Energy (representing the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America) and Carl Weimer, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust.

Senate Energy to Look at Oil Dependence – The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in 366 Dirksen on efforts to reduce oil dependence. The hearing will review policies to reduce oil consumption through the promotion of accelerated deployment electric-drive vehicles. Witnesses will include Patrick Davis, program manager, Office of Vehicle Technologies, Department of Energy; FedEx CEO Fred Smith, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers researcher Kathryn Clay, Electric Drive Transportation Association president Brian Wynn, Union of Concerned Scientists David Friedman and National Research Council’s Alan Crane.

Senate EPW to Address Superfund – The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health holds a hearing Tuesday June 22 at 2:30 p.m. on oversight of the EPA's Superfund Program. Already, Democrats have indicated a willingness to reimpose the Superfund business tax. Witnesses will include EPA's Mathy Stanislaus, GAO's John Stephenson, Lois Gibbs of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice; Helene Pierson of Heart of Camden; former Bush 41 EPA Superfund expert Dr. Win Porter (president of the Waste Policy Center) and Fort Valley, GA mayor Dr. John Stumbo.

House Natural Resources Considers Coal Accountability Bill – The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on H.R. 5479, the "Coal Accountability and Retired Employee Act of 2010." The bill aims to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to provide for use of excess funds available under that Act to provide for certain benefits.
[Source: Maisano, Frank]

No comments: