In the Congress

• Date: 01 December 2024

122024 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REPORTER 54 ELR 11085

In the Congress

“In the Congress” covers notable environment-related activities reported in the Congressional Record during the month

October 2024. Entries are arranged by bill number, with Senate bills listed f‌irst. To see all environment-rela ted bills that are

introduced, reported out of commit tee, passed by either house, or signed by the president, including environmental treatie s

ratif‌ied by the Senate, visit ELR's website at https://elr.info/legislative/congressional-update.

TOXIC SUBSTANCES

EPA proposed to add 16 individually listed per- and poly-

uoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 15 PFAS categories to the

Toxics Release Inventory list of toxic chemicals subject to re-

porting under EPCR A and the Pollution Prevention Act. 89

FR 81776 (10/8/24).

WILDLIFE

FWS proposed to list the Bethany Beach rey as a threat-

ened species under the ESA, and to issue a §4(d) rule un-

der the Act to provide for conservation of the species. 89 FR

7985 7 (10/1/24).

NOTICES

NATURAL RESOURCES

NOAA seeks comment on its draft National Coral Reef Re-

silience Strategy in accordance with the Coral Reef Conser-

vation Act of 2000. 89 FR 82575 (10/11/24).

DOI proposed to revise its NEPA implementing procedures

for BLM by adding a new categorical exclusion for geother-

mal resource conrmation activities on federal geothermal

resource leases. 89 FR 84380 (10/22/24).

BILLS INTRODUCED

CLIMATE CHANGE

H.R. 9970 (Transparency and Honesty in Energy Regu-

lations Act of 2024) was introduced by Rep. Richard Hud-

son (R-N.C.) on October 11, 2024. e bill would prohibit

federal agencies from considering, in taking any action, the

social cost of carbon, the social cost of methane, the social

cost of nitrous oxide, or the social cost of any other green-

house gas, unless compliant with Oce of Management and

Budget guidance. It wa s referred to the Committees on Over-

sight and Accountability and the Judiciary. 170 Cong. Rec.

H5866 (daily ed. Oct. 11, 2024).

ENERGY

H.R. 10018 (POWER Act) was introduce d by Jeerson Van

Drew (R-N.J.) on October 18, 2024. e bill would require

retail electric utilities to notify electric consumers of rate

increases. It was referred to the Committee on Energy and

Commerce. 170 Cong. Rec. H5877 (daily ed. Oct. 18, 2024).

H.R. 10068 was introduced by Morgan Grith (R-Va.) on

October 29, 2024. e bill would amend the Federal Power

Act to require generating facilities to provide advance no-

tices for retiring electric generating units. It was referred to

the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 170 Cong. Rec.

H5900 (daily ed. Oct. 29, 2024).

GOVERNANCE

H.R. 9945 (North American Grasslands Conservation

Act of 2024) was introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.)

on October 8, 2024. e bill would establish a North A meri-

can Grasslands Conservation Council. It was referred to the

Committees on Natural Resources and Agriculture. 170

Cong. Rec. H5860 (daily ed. Oct. 8, 2024).

H.R. 10033 (Expanding Clean Fuel Production Act of

2024) was introduced by Rep. Bradley Schneider (D-Ill.) on

October 22, 2024. e bill would amend the Internal Rev-

enue Code to extend the clean fuel production credit. It was

referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. 170 Cong.

Rec. H5888 (daily ed. Oct. 22, 2024).

Copyright © 2024 Environmental Law Institute®, Washington, DC. Reprinted with permission from ELR®, http://www.eli.org.