Capitol Hill Calendar: April 2-4, 2014

 


Hearings on Energy and Environment Issues and Legislation

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE

Subcommittee on Energy and Power
10:00 a.m. 2123 Rayburn
and Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, joint hearing entitled "The Fiscal Year 2015 EPA Budget", 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
 
HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
10:30 a.m. 2322 Rayburn
Hearing entitled "Ensuring the Security, Stability, Resilience, and Freedom of the Global Internet", 10:30 a.m., 2322 Rayburn.
 
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
10:00 a.m. 2167 Rayburn (202) 226-0727
Hearing entitled "The President’s Fiscal Year 2015 Budget: Administration Priorities for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers", 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
 
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
2:00 p.m. 2167 Rayburn (202) 226-0727
Hearing entitled "Examining Issues for Hazardous Materials Reauthorization", 2 p.m., 2167 Rayburn.
 
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
2:30 p.m. SD-192
To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2015 for the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of the Interior, 2:30 p.m., SD-192.
 
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
3:00 p.m. SD-124
To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2015 for the Department of Defense and the Department of the Army, 3 p.m., SD-124.
 

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THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
9:30 a.m. B-308 Rayburn
Hearing on National Park Service FY 2015 Budget, 9:30 a.m., B-308 Rayburn.
 
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
10:00 a.m. 2362-A Rayburn
Hearing on USDA Food Safety FY 2015 Budget, 10 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn.
 
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
10:00 a.m. 2362-B Rayburn
Hearing on Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration FY 2015 Budget, 10 a.m., 2362-B Rayburn.
 
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
10:00 a.m. 2358-A Rayburn
Hearing on Oversight of Department of Transportation Modes, 10 a.m., 2358-A Rayburn.
 
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
1:30 p.m. B-308 Rayburn
Hearing on United States Fish and Wildlife Service FY 2015 Budget, 1:30 p.m., B-308 Rayburn.
 
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
2:00 p.m. 2362-B Rayburn
On FY 2015 Budget, 2 p.m., 2362-B Rayburn.
 
HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
10:00 a.m. 2123 Rayburn
Hearing entitled "Fiscal Year 2015 Department of Energy Budget", 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.

HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs 2:00 p.m. 1334 Longworth 202-226-0200 Hearing on the following legislation: H.R. 69, the "Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2013"; H.R. 2646, the "REFI Pacific Act"; and legislation regarding the Pirate Fishing Elimination Act, 2 p.m., 1334 Longworth.
HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES
Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs
2:00 p.m. 1324 Longworth 202-225-0691
Hearing entitled "Implementing the Cobell Settlement: Missed Opportunities and Lessons Learned"
2 p.m., 1324 Longworth.


SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS 10:00 a.m. SD-406 Business meeting to consider S. 491, to amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to modify provisions relating to grants, S. 1961, to protect surface water from contamination by chemical storage facilities, S. 224, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a grant program to support the restoration of San Francisco Bay, S. 2080, to conserve fish and aquatic communities in the D338United States through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation, improve the quality of life for the people of the United States, enhance fish and wildlife-dependent recreation, S. 2042, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, S. 1934, to direct the Administrator of General Services to convey the Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse back to Teton County, Wyoming, S. 2055, to allow for the collection of certain user fees by non-Federal entities, Corps Study Resolution: Point Judith, Rhode Island, and GSA Resolutions, 10 a.m., SD-406.


FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
9:00 a.m. 2359 Rayburn
Hearing on Department of Justice FY 2015 Budget, 9 a.m., 2359 Rayburn.
 
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
9:30 a.m. B-308 Rayburn

 

HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs
2:00 p.m. 1334 Longworth 202-226-0200
Hearing on the following legislation: H.R. 69, the "Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2013"; H.R. 2646, the "REFI Pacific Act"; and legislation regarding the Pirate Fishing Elimination Act, 2 p.m., 1334 Longworth.
 
SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
10:00 a.m. SD-406
Business meeting to consider S. 491, to amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to modify provisions relating to grants, S. 1961, to protect surface water from contamination by chemical storage facilities, S. 224, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a grant program to support the restoration of San Francisco Bay, S. 2080, to conserve fish and aquatic communities in the D338United States through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation, improve the quality of life for the people of the United States, enhance fish and wildlife-dependent recreation, S. 2042, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, S. 1934, to direct the Administrator of General Services to convey the Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse back to Teton County, Wyoming, S. 2055, to allow for the collection of certain user fees by non-Federal entities, Corps Study Resolution: Point Judith, Rhode Island, and GSA Resolutions, 10 a.m., SD-406.
 
 

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014


HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
9:00 a.m. 2359 Rayburn
Hearing on Department of Justice FY 2015 Budget, 9 a.m., 2359 Rayburn.
 
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
9:30 a.m. B-308 Rayburn Hearing on Bureau of Land Management FY 2015 Budget, 9:30 a.m., B-308 Rayburn  

Hearing on Bureau of Land Management FY 2015

 

 
 
 
Recent Posts:  
Pennsylvania neighbors bicker over forced gas drilling

Plan calls for $10B artificial islands to protect NJ coast  New Jersey legislation seeks to plug holes in solar roofs  
Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns   
Shell closer to decision on ethane cracker plant in Pa 
 

Capitol Hill Calendar: April 2-4, 2014 Read More »

Pennsylvania neighbors bicker over forced gas drilling

fracking - pressconnects photo

An energy company is dusting off an old, unused state law that can force property owners to accept oil and gas drilling under their land, pitting neighbor against neighbor in a Pennsylvania community and raising the possibility that lawmakers will have to take sides, the Associated Press reports.

Houston-based Hilcorp seeks to use a 1961 Pennsylvania law to drill under the property of four holdout landowners in New Bedford, near the Ohio border an hour north of Pittsburgh.

The concept, known as "forced pooling," means that people who don’t sign leases get bundled in with those who do, to make drilling more efficient and compensate all the landowners.

The stakes are high. Property owners can reap royalties totaling hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars from drilling in the Utica Shale formation, which lies below the better-known Marcellus Shale.

Full story at: New Jersey Herald – Neighbors bicker in Pa. over forced gas drilling 

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Recent posts:
Plan calls for $10B artificial islands to protect NJ coast 
New Jersey legislation seeks to plug holes in solar roofs 
Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns  
Shell closer to decision on ethane cracker plant in Pa 
In New Jersey, playing that ole RGGI song once more    

Pennsylvania neighbors bicker over forced gas drilling Read More »

Will NJ have enough power to keep the lights on?

South Jersey could lose more than 1,000 megawatts of power generation in coming years, with the Oyster Creek Generating Station in Ocean County shutting down in 2019 and the fate of the B.L. England Generating Station in Cape May County unclear.


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But Braden Campbell of the Press of Atlantic City reports that the Garden State has more than 2,000 megawatts in new generation set to hit the grid.

"The natural gas-powered West Deptford Energy Station in Gloucester County will add more than 700 megawatts of generation potential when it’s completed later this year, and another natural gas plant being built in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, is slated to generate 700 megawatts in 2015. The Newark Energy Center will generate 655 megawatts starting in mid-2015."



Will NJ have enough power to keep the lights on? Read More »

Plan calls for $10B artificial islands to protect NJ coast

The federal government was looking for bold new thinking about ways to protect the coasts of New Jersey and New York from  storms like Sandy.  And they got one. But at a cost in the billions, will it float?
 
Construction of a string of artificial islands off the coast of New Jersey and New York could blunt the impact of storm surges that proved so deadly during Hurricane Sandy, according to a proposal vying for attention and funding, the Associated Press reports.

The proposal would cost $10 billion to $12 billion but it’s also the kind of innovative idea that federal officials requested as they consider how best to protect the heavily populated region from future storms.

"We’ve discussed this with the governor’s office of Recovery and Resiliency and the Department of Environmental Protection, and they all look at me like, ‘Whoa! This is a big deal!" said Alan Blumberg, a professor at New Jersey’s Stevens Institute of Technology. "Yes, it is a big deal. It can save lives and protect property."

The "Blue Dunes" proposal is part of Rebuild By Design, a competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to come up with novel ways to protect against the next big storm. It is one of 10 projects that will be evaluated and voted on next week, but there’s no guarantee any of them will receive funding. Other ideas include building sea walls around cities, re-establishing oyster colonies in tidal flats to blunt wave action and creating water-absorbent nature and recreational preserves.

 

Plan calls for $10B artificial islands to protect NJ coast Read More »

New Jersey legislation seeks to plug holes in solar roofs

Many commercial building owners are eager to install solar panels but fear that doing so would violate their roof warranties, according to two New Jersey state senators.

To alleviate that concern, Senate Environment and Energy Committee Chairman Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) and committee member Chip Bateman (R-Somerset) have introduced S-564,
a bill that tap $2 million in energy rate payment surcharges to create an alternative warranty program.

The legislation would cover up to $50,000 in damages suffered by a building owner as a result of adding a rooftop solar system. 

The bill was released from the committee on March 27 and is now in position for a floor vote, Listen to Senator Smith explain his reason for sponsoring the solar roof warranty bill.

Related environmental news stories:
8 Ways to Make Solar Installations Faster, Safer and Cheaper …
Putting Up Reliable Solar Mounting Systems – CleanTechnica
Ensuring a Successful Solar Roof Install – The Solar Spot |
Rooftop solar winning battles with utilities – Clean Energy Authority
Solar advocates worry about Oklahoma legislation for surcharge

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Recent posts:
Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns
Shell closer to decision on ethane cracker plant in Pa
In New Jersey, playing that ole RGGI song once more   
McGinty has the green credentials to be Pa governor 
EPA chief paving a rocky road toward new climate rules 

New Jersey legislation seeks to plug holes in solar roofs Read More »

Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns

 
David Samson and Gov. Chris Christie – File Photo

David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has resigned, effective immediately, NJ Gov. Chris Christie announced during a press conference today.

Here’s the latest (Updated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29):
Chris Christie announces resignation of Port Authority chair David Samson – Washington Post (blog) http://news.google.com Sat, 29 Mar 2014 11:05:27 GMT
ABC News Chris Christie announces resignation of Port Authority chair David Samson Washington Post (blog) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) announced Friday that David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, had resigned earl …
Read more …

Port Authority Chairman Samson quits in Bridgegate fallout – New York Post http://news.google.com Fri, 28 Mar 2014 20:05:10 GMT
Port Authority Chairman Samson quits in Bridgegate fallout New York Post Port Authority Chairman David Samson — who notoriously brushed off the George Washington Bridge lane closings as a mere “inconvenience” — resigned on Friday, New Jersey Gov. Chris …
Read more …

Chris Christie announces the resignation of Port Authority chairman David Samson – The Week Magazine http://news.google.com Sat, 29 Mar 2014 04:39:09 GMT
Chris Christie announces the resignation of Port Authority chairman David Samson T he Week Magazine New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Friday announced the resignation of David Samson, the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Read more …

Port Authority chairman David Samson resigns – Wall Street Journal
http://news.google.com Fri, 28 Mar 2014 22:21:57 GMT
Port Authority chairman David Samson resigns Wall Street Journal NEWARK, N.J. — David Samson resigned Friday as chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the latest in a series of developments to rock the agency in a lingering scandal …
Read more …

Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns amid GWB probe – NorthJersey.com
http://news.google.com  Sat, 29 Mar 2014 03:33:20 GMT
NorthJersey.com Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns amid GWB probe NorthJersey.com David Samson, the Port Authority chairman who resigned Friday, was not interviewed, and the document does not delve into reports that he voted on Port Authority …
Read more …
Another key Christie ally leaves his job amid scandal – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ 15h ago  Christie announced at a news conference on Friday that David Samson, who chairs the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, had stepped down, effective immediately. Read more …
Washington Post – Christie talks to Megyn Kelly about Bridgegate and 2016 – Post Politics http://www.washingtonpost.com/ 16h ago At the earlier news conference, he announced that the Port Authority chairman, David Samson, was resigning from his position. Read more … Christie announces that David Samson resigned as Port Authority chairman
Chris Christie Says Port Authority Chairman Has Resigned 
Business Insider

***Like what you’re reading? Click here to get free blog updates***    

Recent posts: 
Shell closer to decision on ethane cracker plant in Pa
In New Jersey, playing that ole RGGI song once more  
McGinty has the green credentials to be Pa governor
EPA chief paving a rocky road toward new climate rules  

Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns Read More »