Recent Developments

• Date: 01 June 2009

5-2009 NEWS & ANALYSIS 39 ELR 10555

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

In the Congress

ese entries cover activities reported in the Cong ressional Record from April 1, 2009, through April 30, 2009. Entries are

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

duced, reported out of committee, pa ssed by either house, or signed by the President. “In the Congress” also covers all envi-

ronmental treaties ratied by t he Senate. is material is updated monthly. For archived materials, visit http://www.elr.info/

NewsAnalysis/archive.cfm.

CHAMBER ACTION

H.R. 388 (Crane Conservation Act of

2009), which would assist in the con-

servation of cranes by supporting and

providing nancial resources for the

conservation programs of countries t hat

directly or indirectly a ect cranes and

the ecosystems of cranes, wa s passed by

the House. 155 Cong. Rec. H4530 (daily

ed. Apr. 21, 2009).

H.R. 411 (Great Cats and Rare Canids

Act of 2009), which would assist in

the conservation of rare felids and rare

canids by supporting and providing

nancial resources for the conservation

programs of nations within the ra nge of

rare felid and rare canid populations and

projects of persons with demonstrated

expertise in the conser vation of rare felid

and rare canid populations, wa s passed

by the House. 155 Cong. Rec. H4533

(daily ed. Apr. 21, 2009).

H.R. 957 (Green Energy Education Act

of 2009), which would authorize higher

education curriculum development and

graduate training in advanced energy

and green building technologies, wa s

passed by the House. 155 Cong. Rec.

H4610 (daily ed. Apr. 22, 2009).

H.R. 1145 (National Water Research

and Development Initiative Act of 2009),

which would implement a National Wa-

ter Research and Development Initiative,

was passed by the House. 155 Cong.

Rec. H4693 (daily ed. Apr. 23, 2009).

H.R. 1219 (Lake Hodges Surface Water

Improvement and Reclamation Act of

2009), which would make amendments

to the Reclamation Projects Authoriza-

tion and Adjustment Act of 1992, was

passed by the House. 155 Cong. Rec.

H4537 (daily ed. Apr. 21, 2009).

H.R. 1580 (Electronic Waste Research

and Development Act), which would

authorize the Administ rator of EPA to

award grants for electronic waste reduc-

tion research, development, and dem-

onstration projects, was passed by the

House. 155 Cong. Rec. H4606 (daily ed.

Apr. 22, 2009).

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 1145 (National Water Research and

Development Initiative) was reported by

the Committee on Science and Technol-

ogy. H. Rep. No. 111-76, 155 Cong. Rec.

H4579 (daily ed. Apr. 21, 2009). e bill

would implement a National Water Re-

search and Development Initiative.

H.R. 1580 (electronic waste) was re-

ported by the Committee on Science and

Technology. H. Rep. No. 111-75, 155

Cong. Rec. H4579 (daily ed. Apr. 21,

2009). e bill would authorize the Ad-

ministrator of EPA to award grants for

electronic waste reduction research, de-

velopment, and demonstration projects.

BILLS INTRODUCED

S. 766 (Murkowski, R-Alaska) (natural

gas pipelines) would authorize the Secre-

tary of the Interior to issue right-of-way

permits for natural gas pipeline transpor-

tation utility systems in non-wilderness

areas within t he boundary of Denali

National Park and Preserve. 155 Cong.

Rec. S4172 (daily ed. Apr. 1, 2009). e

bill was referred to the Committee on

Energy and Natural Resources.

S. 774(Dorgan, D-N.D.) (energy) would

seek to enhance the energy security of

the United States by diversifying energ y

sources for onroad transport, increa s-

ing the supply of energy resources, and

strengthening energy infrastructu re.

155 Cong. Rec. S4172 (daily ed. Apr. 1,

2009). e bill was referred to the Com-

mittee on Finance.

S. 779 (Lautenberg, D-N.J.) (vehicles)

would amend titles 23 and 49, U.S.

Code, to modify provisions relating to

the length and weight limitations for ve-

hicles operating on federal-aid hig hways.

155 Cong. Rec. S4172 (daily ed. Apr.

1, 2009).  e bill was referr ed to the

Commit tee on Envi ronment and P ub-

lic Works .

S. 782 (Murkowski, R-Alaska) (natural

disasters) would provide for the estab-

lishment of the National Volcano Early

Warning and Monitoring System. 155

Cong. Rec. S4310 (daily ed. Apr. 2,

2009). e bill was referred to the Com-

mittee on Energy and Natural Resources.

S. 783 (Menendez, D-N.J.) (oshore

drilling) wou ld amend the Outer Con-

tinental Shelf Lands Act to permanently

prohibit the conduct of oshore drilling

on the outer continental s helf in the

Mid-Atlantic a nd North At lantic plan-

ning area s. 155 Cong. Rec. S4310 (daily

ed. Apr. 2, 2009). e bill was referred

to the Committee on Energy and Natu-

ral Resourc es.

S. 784 (Murkowski, R-Alaska) (land

clai ms) would provide for t he recogni -

tion of cert ain Native co mmunit ies

and t he settleme nt of certa in claim s

under the A laska Native Cla ims Sett le-

ment Ac t. 155 Cong. Rec. S4310 (dai ly