Capitol Hill Calendar: December 17-19, 2013

Capitol_Hill

 
Hearings on Energy and Environment Issues and Legislation

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013


 
SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
10:00 a.m. SD-366
Business meeting to consider the nominations of Steven Croley, of Michigan, to be General Counsel, and Christopher Smith, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, both of the Department of Energy, and Esther Puakela Kia’aina, of Hawaii, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine the nominations of Janice Marion Schneider, of New York, to be Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, and Neil Gregory Kornze, of Nevada, to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management, both of the Department of the Interior, and Marc A. Kastner, of Massachusetts, to be Director of the Office of Science, and Ellen Dudley Williams, of Maryland, to be Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, both of the Department of Energy, 10 a.m., SD-366.
 

SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
2:30 p.m. SD-406
To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Rhea Sun Suh, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife, Victoria Marie Baecher Wassmer, of Illinois, to be Chief Financial Officer, and Thomas A. Burke, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Administrator, both of Environmental Protection Agency, and Roy K. J. Williams, of Ohio, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, 2:30 p.m., SD-406.

 
SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
9:30 a.m. SD-366
Business meeting to consider S. 37, to sustain the economic development and recreational use of National Forest System land and other public land in the State of Montana, to add certain land to the National Wilderness Preservation System, to release certain wilderness study areas, to designate new areas for recreation, S. 404, to preserve the Green Mountain Lookout in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, S. 974, to provide for certain land conveyances in the State of Nevada, S. 1237, to improve the administration of programs in the insular areas, S. 1300, to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to provide for the conduct of stewardship end result contracting projects, S. 1301, to provide for the restoration of forest landscapes, protection of old growth forests, and management of national forests in the eastside forests of the State of Oregon, S. 1341, to modify the Forest Service Recreation Residence Program as the program applies to units of the National Forest System derived from the public domain by implementing a simple, equitable, and predictable procedure for determining cabin user fees, S. 1491, to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to improve United States-Israel energy cooperation, H.R. 1158, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to continue stocking fish in certain lakes in the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, and H.R. 2337, to provide for the conveyance of the Forest Service Lake Hill Administrative Site in Summit County, Colorado, 9:30 a.m., SD-366.
 
 
SENATE JUDICIARY
10:00 a.m. SD-226

Nominations to be considered include: Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr., and Edward G. Smith, both to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.


Capitol Hill Calendar: December 17-19, 2013 Read More »

Site remediation extension bill is back on track in NJ

Scientist working on a contaminated site investigation. GeoSyntec photo

A bill that would give deadline extensions to some LSRP-led cleanups in New Jersey was sidetracked by its sponsor last week when the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)  failed to show up for a committee hearing to explain why the agency believes the legislation is necessary.

It was the second meeting at which sponsor (and Environment and Energy Committee Chairman) Bob Smith, had posted the legislation for committee review–and the second time that the DEP was a no-show. Piqued, Smith held he bill.

Click to hear what Smith told his fellow committee members and those in the audience who had come to Trenton to hear the bill debated.

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But today, apparently, all is well. The legislation, S-3075, is back on the Senate committee’s agenda for Thursday (Dec 19). Insiders say that DEP officials are working with legislative staffers on amendments.  A companion measure, A-4543 (Spencer) was released yesterday by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and is in position for a floor vote in the lower house. 

Both bills loosen the Site Remediation Reform Act’s statutory deadline for completion of all  contaminated site remedial investigations by May 7, 2014.  They would allow the DEP, under certain circumstances, to grant an extension of up to two years to a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) who has not completed the project for good reasons. Without the ability to  grant extensions, the DEP would be required to take over direct oversight of all remedial investigations that are not completed by May 7.

Related environmental news story:
Committee holds LSRP bill when NJDEP fails to testify

 

Site remediation extension bill is back on track in NJ Read More »

Sales tax slice for open space faces Christie's hammer

In a press conference on Friday, Gov. Chris Christie ruled out a proposal being pushed in the state Senate that would divert up to $200 million in sales tax revenue each year over 30 years to protect open space and farmland and to preserve historic structures, NJ Spotlight reports today.
“I think it’s a bad idea,’’ Christie said in a response to a question about the proposal — one being lobbied for by a wide coalition of conservation, recreational, and farm groups. “Belly up to the bar and come up with a better idea.’’

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The proposal, (SCR-165), cleared the Senate Environment and Energy Committee on Thursday with bipartisan support. On the same day the Assembly Budget Committee cleared, also with Republicans backing, a
Democratic bill, (A-4581), that would ask voters to approve a $200 million bond issue on the ballot this fall. Christie did not offer his view on that proposal, which is backed by some environmental organizations.

Sales tax slice for open space faces Christie's hammer Read More »

Monday looks like a honey of a day in NJ Ag Committee

The New Jersey Assembly’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will be buzzing with bee-friendly legislation on Monday as the five-member panel meets at 10 a.m. to consider::

A-4261  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Space, P. (R-24)
Extends Right to Farm Act protections to commercial
beekeepers.
Related Bill: S-2991
     
A-4262  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Space, P. (R-24)
Establishes State’s exclusive authority with regard to
regulation of apiary activities.
Related Bill: S-2990
    
A-4263  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Space, P. (R-24)
Establishes penalty for destruction of man-made native
bee hive.
AR-200  Dancer, R.S. (R-12)
Urges State residents to support NJ beekeepers by
purchasing honey made in NJ.

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Recent blog posts:

NJ Pinelands gas pipeline touted; Commissioner tossed



    

Monday looks like a honey of a day in NJ Ag Committee Read More »

NJ Pinelands gas pipeline touted; Commissioner tossed


New Jersey environmental officials on Friday spoke out in favor of a proposed pipeline plan through the Pinelands, saying it would drastically reduce air pollution in the region by enabling an old coal-burning power plant to use cleaner natural gas. At the same meeting, Pinelands Commissioner Ed LLoyd–a critic of the proposal–removed himself from the debate on orders of the state Attorney General  

The Associated Press‘s Wayne Parry reports:


Three air quality officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection spoke at a Pinelands Commission hearing in favor of a hotly debated plan to run a 22-mile natural gas plant through the environmentally sensitive and legally protected Pinelands region so that it can connect to the BL England power plant in Cape May County.
[Attorney General’s Office tells Commission member Ed Lloyd to exit the debate]

Frank Steitz, assistant director of the DEP’s air quality permitting division, said his agency issued an air quality plan for the project in April. He said enabling BL England to switch to natural gas will double its efficiency and drastically reduce pollution in the region. The plant signed an agreement with the DEP to switch to natural gas.

He said the changeover will cut the plant’s carbon dioxide emissions in half, virtually eliminate sulfur dioxide emissions that can contribute to acid rain and reduce mercury emissions 94 percent.

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“It’s an older plant, over 50 years old, and it’s the last coal plant in New Jersey without a good air pollution control,” said William O’Sullivan, the DEP’s air quality director. “This plant burns the highest sulfur coal in New Jersey. By far, gas is the cleanest option.”

Read the entire story: NJ backs Pinelands pipe plan for air benefits

Related environmental news stories:
Cape May Freeholders Support Pinelands Pipe Plan
Backers and opponents of controversial natural gas line in Pinelands go head-to-head 
Jobs vs. environment in Pinelands pipe plan fracas 
Disputed gas pipeline gets NJ Pinelands hearing tonight

Recent blog posts:
Committee holds LSRP bill when NJDEP fails to testify
EPA: 2012 cars set new low record for gas-slurping 
The EPA seeks to add Superfund sites in NJ and NY 
 
Disputed gas pipeline gets NJ Pinelands hearing tonight   
Energy & Environment legislation tomorrow in Trenton    
Interview with Clean Ocean Action’s Cindy Zipf (Audio)

NJ Pinelands gas pipeline touted; Commissioner tossed Read More »

Committee holds LSRP bill when NJDEP fails to testify

The sponsor of a bill that would extend the deadline for some contaminated site cleanups in New Jersey refused to allow any discussion or vote on the bill today, blaming the state Department of Environmental Protection for failing to attend the meeting and take a position on the legislation.

Senate Environment and Energy Committee, Chairman Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) said he believed that the law he sponsored several years ago to require the of Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRP) to supervise and direct site cleanups has been "one of the most successful programs in the state in terms of getting sites cleaned up."

His new bill modifying that law, S3075, would grant extensions in certain cases, including those in which state funding was delayed.

Click to hear what Smith told his fellow committee members and those in the audience who had come to Trenton to hear the bill debated.

Like what you’re reading? Click here to subscribe to this blog   

Recent blog posts:
EPA: 2012 cars set new low record for gas-slurping
The EPA seeks to add Superfund sites in NJ and NY 
Disputed gas pipeline gets NJ Pinelands hearing tonight  
Energy & Environment legislation tomorrow in Trenton   
Capitol Hill Calendar: Tomorrow-Nov. 5, 2013   
NJ Gov. Christie’s top-level administration changes 
Interview with Clean Ocean Action’s Cindy Zipf
 (Audio)


Committee holds LSRP bill when NJDEP fails to testify Read More »