Recent Developments

• Date: 01 July 2014

7-2014 NEWS & ANALYSIS 44 ELR 10637

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

In the Congress

“In the Congress” entries cover activities reported in the Congressional Record from May 1, 2014, through May 31, 2014.

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://elr.

info/legislative/congressional-update/archive.

Chamber Action

S. 2086 (energy), which would address

current emergency shortages of propane

and other home heating fuels and pro-

vide greater exibility and informat ion

for governors to address such emergen-

cies in the future, was pa ssed by the

Senate. 160 Cong. Rec. S3243 (daily

ed. May 21, 2014).

S. 2198 (water), which would direct the

Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of

Commerce, the Secretary of Agriculture,

and the Administrator of EPA to take

actions to provide additional water sup-

plies to California due to drought, was

passed by the Senate. 160 Cong. Rec.

S3308 (daily ed. May 22, 2014).

H.R. 316 (energy), which would rein-

state and transfer cert ain hydroelectric

licenses and extend the dead line for

commencement of construction of cer-

tain hydroelectric projects, was pa ssed

by the Senate. 160 Cong. Rec. S3307

(daily ed. May 22, 2014).

H.R. 724 (air), which would amend

the CAA to remove the requirement for

dealer certicat ion of new light-duty

motor vehicles, was passed by the Sen-

ate. 160 Cong. Rec. S3307 (daily ed.

May 22, 2014).

H.R. 862 (land us e), which would

authorize the conveyance of two sma ll

parcels of land within t he boundaries

of the Coconino National Forest con-

taining private improvements that were

developed based upon the reliance of

the landowners in an erroneous surve y

conducted in May 1960, was passed

by the Senate. 160 Cong. Rec. S3307

(daily ed. May 22, 2014).

H.R. 2548 (energy), which would

establish a comprehensive U.S. govern-

ment policy to assist countries in sub-

Saharan A frica to develop an appropri-

ate mix of power solutions for more

broadly distributed electricity a ccess,

was passed by the House. 160 Cong.

Rec. H3970 (daily ed. May 8, 2014).

Committee Action

S. 37 (land use) was reported by the

Committee on Energy and Natura l

Resources. S. Rep. No. 113-165, 160

Cong. Rec. S3293 (daily ed. May 22,

2014). e bill would sustain the eco-

nomic development and recreational

use of National Forest System land

and other public land in Montana, add

certain land to the National Wilderness

Preservation System, release certain wil-

derness study areas, and designate new

areas for recreation.

S. 258 (land use) was reported by the

Committee on Energy and Natura l

Resources. S. Rep. No. 113-166, 160

Cong. Rec. S3293 (daily ed. May 22,

2014). e bill would amend FLPMA

to improve the management of grazing

leases and permits.

S. 715 (water) was reported by the

Committee on Energy and Natura l

Resources. S. Rep. No. 113-167, 160

Cong. Rec. S3293 (daily ed. May 22,

2014). e bill would authorize the Sec-

retary of the Interior to use designated

funding to pay for the construct ion of

authorized rural water projects.

S. 839 (water) was reported by the

Committee on Commerce, Science, and

Transportation. S. Rep. No. 113-156,

160 Cong. Rec. S2647 (daily ed. May

12, 2014). e bill would reauthorize the

Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.

S. 1169 (land use) was reported by the

Committee on Energy and Natura l

Resources. S. Rep. No. 113-160, 160

Cong. Rec. S1169 (daily ed. May 14,

2014). e bill would withdraw and

reserve certain public land in Montana

for the Limestone Hills Training Area.

S. 1252 (water) wa s reported by the

Committe e on Energy and Natur al

Resources. S. Rep. No. 113-170, 160

Cong. Rec . S3293 (daily ed. May 22 ,

2014). e bill would a mend the Wild

and Scen ic Rivers Act to d esignate

segments of the Missi squoi River and

the Trout River in Vermont as compo -

nents of the National Wi ld and Scen ic

Rivers Sy stem.

S. 1309 (land use) was reported by

the Committee on Energy and Natura l

Resources. S. Rep. No. 113-161, 160

Cong. Rec. S3028 (daily ed. May 19,

2014). e bill would withdraw and

reserve certain public land under the

jurisdiction of the Secretar y of the Inte-

rior for military uses.

S. 1341 (l and use) was rep orted by

the Comm ittee on Energy a nd Natu-

ral Re sources. S . Rep. No. 113-171,

160 Cong. Rec . S3307 (daily e d. May

22, 2014). e bill wou ld modify the

Forest Ser vice Recreation R esidence

Program a s the program appl ies to

units of t he National Forest System by

implementing a simple, equit able, and

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