Recent Developments

• Date: 01 April 2011

41 ELR 10380 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REPORTER 4-2011

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

In the Congress

“In the Congress” entries cover activities reported in the Congressional Record from January 31, 2011, through February 28,

2011. Entries are arranged by bill number, with Senate bills listed rst. “In the Congress” covers all environment-related

bills that are introduced, reported out of committee, passed by either house, or signed by the President. “In the Congress”

also covers all environmental treaties ratied by the Senate. is material is updated monthly. For archived materials, visit

http://www.elr.info/NewsAnalysis/archive.cfm.

Bills Introduced

S. 228 (Barra sso, R-Wyo.) (climate)

would preempt regulation of, action

relating to, or consideration of green-

house gases under federal and common

law on enactment of a federal policy

to mitigate climate change. 157 Cong.

Rec. S359 (daily ed. Jan. 31, 2011). e

bill was referred to the Committee on

Environment and Public Works.

S. 231 (Rockefe ller, D-W. Va.) (cli-

mate) would suspend, until the end of

the two-yea r period beginning on the

date of enactment of this Act, a ny EPA

action under the CAA w ith respect to

carbon dioxide or methane pursuant to

certain proceedings, other than w ith

respect to motor vehic le emissions.

157 Cong. Rec. S359 (daily ed. Jan.

31, 2011). e bill was referred to the

Committee on Env ironment and Pub-

lic Works.

S. 232 (Levin, D-Mich.) (electric ve-

hicle credit) would amend the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the

manufacturer limitation on the num-

ber of new qualied plug-in electric

drive motor vehicles eligible for credit.

157 Cong. Rec. S359 (daily ed. Jan.

31, 2011). e bill was referred to the

Committee on Finance.

S. 233 (Ba ucus, D-Mont.) (g eother-

mal le asing) would w ithdraw certain

federal land and interests in that la nd

from locat ion, entry, and patent under

the mining laws a nd disposition under

the miner al and geothermal leasi ng

laws. 157 Cong. Rec . S359 (daily ed.

Jan. 31, 2011). e bill wa s referred to

the Comm ittee on Energy and Natu-

ral Resources.

S. 234 (Reid, D-Nev.) (oil spills)

would amend Title 49, U.S. Code,

to provide for enhanced safety and

environmental protection in pipeline

transportation and to provide for en-

hanced reliability in t he transportation

of U.S. energy products by pipeline.

157 Cong. Rec. S359 (daily ed. Jan.

31, 2011). e bill was referred to the

Committee on Commerce, Science,

and Transportation.

S. 238 (Brow n, R-Mass.) (sheries)

would amend the Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conser vation and Manage-

ment Act to require t hat shery impact

statements be updated each year. 157

Cong. Rec. S359 (daily ed. Ja n. 31,

2011). e bill was referred to the

Committee on Commerce, Science,

and Transportation.

S. 249 (Hatch, R-Utah) (endangered

species) would amend the ESA to

provide that Act shall not apply to any

gray wolf (Canis lupus). 157 Cong. Rec.

S411 (daily ed. Feb. 1, 2011). e bill

was referred to the Committee on Envi-

ronment and Public Works.

S. 258 (Menendez, D -N.J.) (energy

taxe s) would amend the Interna l

Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate

oil and g as company preference s. 157

Cong. Rec . S481 (daily ed. Feb. 2,

2011). e bill wa s referred to the

Committee on Finance.

S. 264 (Cochran, R-Mis s.) (federal

land) would direct the Secretary of the

Interior to convey to the state of Missis-

sippi two parcels of surplus land within

the boundary of the Natchez Trace

Parkway. 157 Cong. Rec. S543 (daily

ed. Feb. 3, 2011). e bill was referred

to the Committee on Energy and Natu-

ral Resources.

S. 265 (Cochran, R-Miss.) (federa l

land) would authorize the acquisition

of core battleeld land at Champion

Hill, Port Gibson, and Raymond for

addition to Vicksburg National Mili-

tary Park. 157 Cong. Rec. S543 (daily

ed. Feb. 3, 2011). e bill was referred

to the Committee on Energy and Natu-

ral Resources.

S. 268 (Tester, D-Mont.) ( National

Forest System) wou ld add certain land

to the National Wi lderness Preserva-

tion System, release certain wilderness

study area s, and designate new area s

for recreation. 157 Cong. Rec. S543

(daily ed. Feb. 3, 2011). e bill was

referred to the C ommittee on Energ y

and Natura l Resources.

S. 270 (Wyden, D-Or.) (federal land)

would direct the Secretar y of the Inte-

rior to convey certain federal la nd to

Deschutes County, Oregon. 157 Cong.

Rec. S543 (daily ed. Feb. 3, 2011). e

bill was referred to the Committee on

Energy and Natural Resources.

S. 271 ( Wyden, D-Or.) (federa l

land) wou ld require the Secretary of

Agricu lture to enter into a property

conveyanc e with the city of Wallowa,

Oregon. 157 Cong. Rec . S543 (daily

ed. Feb. 3, 2011). e bill was referred

to the Com mittee on Energy a nd

Natural Resource s.

S. 275 (Lautenberg, D-N.J.) (oil

spills) would amend Title 49, U.S.

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