Recent Developments

• Date: 01 November 2017

47 ELR 10990 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REPORTER 11-2017

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

In the Congress

“In the Congress” entries cover activities reported in the Congressional Record from September 1, 2017, through September

30, 2017. 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. 396 (wildlife), which would make

technical amendments to certain ma-

rine sh conservation statutes, wa s

passed by the Senate. 163 Cong. Rec.

S6263 (daily ed. Oct. 2, 2017).

H.R. 2582 (natural re sources), which

would amend SMCRA to authorize

partnerships between states and non-

governmental entities for the purpose of

reclaiming and restorin g land and water

resources adversely aected by coa l

mining activities before Aug ust 3, 1977,

was passed by the House. 163 Cong.

Rec. H7645 (daily ed. Oct. 2, 2017).

Committee Action

H.R. 2199 (la nd use) was reported

by the C ommittee on Nat ural Re-

source s. H. Rep. 115-322, 163 Cong.

Rec. H7485 (da ily ed. Sept. 25, 2017).

e bill would d irect D OI to deve lop

and ma intain a cu rrent, accurate

multipur pose inventory of federa l real

propert y to assist w ith federal land

mana gement activitie s.

H.R. 2874 (natural resou rces) was re-

ported by the Committee on Financial

Services. H. Rep. 115-304, 163 Cong.

Rec. H7222 (daily ed. Sept. 11, 2017).

e bill would improve the nancial

stability of the National Flood Insur-

ance Program to enhance t he develop-

ment of more accurate estimates of

ood risk through new technology.

H.R. 3017 (waste) was reported by the

Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H. Rep. 115-303, 163 Cong. Rec.

H7222 (daily ed. Sept. 11, 2017). e

bill would reauthorize the brownelds

program under CERCLA.

Bills Introduced

S. 1794 (Rounds, R-S.D.) (gov-

ernance) would prohibit EPA from

proposing, nalizing, or disseminat-

ing regulations or asses sments based

upon science that is not transparent or

reproducible. 163 Cong. Rec. S5215

(daily ed. Sept. 12, 2017). e bill was

referred to the Committee on Environ-

ment and Public Works.

S. 1823 ( Blunt, R-Mo.) (nat ural

resou rces) wou ld amend the R ob-

ert T. Sta ord Disaster Relief a nd

Emergenc y Assista nce Act to cl arify

that hou ses of worship are el igible for

certa in disaster relief and emer gency

assis tance on terms equal to other

eligible private nonprot fac ilities .

163 Cong. Re c. S5800 (daily ed. Sept .

18, 2017). e bill was referred to the

Commit tee on Homeland Se curity

and Gove rnment Aairs.

S. 1833 (Uda ll, D-N.M.) (la nd use)

would modi fy requirements appli-

cable to loc atable minerals on public

domain land. 163 Cong. Re c. S5860

(daily ed. Sept. 19, 2017). e bill was

referred to the Committee on Energ y

and Natural Resources.

S. 1844 (Inhofe, R-Ok la.) (energy)

would provide for coordination by

FERC of the process for reviewing

certain natural gas projects under its

jurisdiction. 163 Cong. Rec. S5860

(daily ed. Sept. 19, 2017). e bill was

referred to the Committee on Energy

and Natural Resource s.

S. 1851 (Franken, D-Minn.) (energy)

would require the Secretary of Energ y

to establish an energy storage research

program, demonstration, and deploy-

ment program. 163 Cong. Rec. S5886

(daily ed. Sept. 25, 2017). e bill was

referred to the Committee on Energy

and Natural Resource s.

S. 1857 (Capito, R-W. Va.) (air) would

establish a compliance deadl ine of May

15, 2023, for Step Two emissions stan-

dards for new residential wood heaters,

hydronic heaters, and forced-air fur-

naces. 163 Cong. Rec. S6134 (daily ed.

Sept. 26, 2017). e bill was referred to

the Committee on Environment and

Public Works.

S. 1860 (Inhofe, R-Okla .) (energy)

would amend §203 for the Federal

Power Act. 163 Cong. Rec. S6134

(daily ed. Sept. 26, 2017). e bill was

referred to the Committee on Energy

and Natural Resource s.

S. 1874 (Wyden, D-Or.) (energ y)

would direct t he Secretary of Energ y to

establish c ertain demonstration gra nt

programs relating to the demonst ra-

tion of advanced distribution systems,

smart water heaters, vehicle-to-g rid

integration, and g ranular retail elec-

tricity pricing. 163 Cong. Rec. S6187

(daily ed. Sept. 27, 2017). e bill was

referred to the C ommittee on Energ y

and Natura l Resources.

S. 1876 (Wyden, D-Or.) (energy)

would require the Secretary of Energ y

to establish an energy storage research

program, demonstration, and deploy-

ment program. 163 Cong. Rec. S6187

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