Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
june 2014
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congress
House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources holds hearing on energy innovation and jobs
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing on June 12 to discuss how technology and innovation help spur job creation in the energy sector.
Witnesses at the hearing, “American Energy Jobs: Opportunities for Innovation,” testified to the benefits of technological development, including cleaner and more efficient energy resources, as well as growth that leads to job creation in the private and public sector. The committee also examined how advancements from other fields, such as space exploration, have helped contribute jobs to the energy sector in oil drilling and carbon capture.
The subcommittee, tasked with oversight of energy production and mining on federal lands, has hosted a series of hearings on the subjects related to job growth. Chairman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) has called for less regulation in the energy industry, believing that deregulation will increase investment in domestic projects, including offshore drilling, and will generate revenue for federal and state governments.
Sources: E&E News, House Committee on Natural Resources
Updated 7/7/14
House holds hearing to discuss natural gas pipeline approval process
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing on June 20 to discuss regulations related to natural gas pipelines. The Natural Gas Gathering Enhancement Act (H.R. 4293) and the Energy Infrastructure and Improvement Act (H.R. 1587) both seek to expedite the permitting processes for authorizing gas gathering lines from production facilities on federal and Indian lands, including national parks.
H.R. 4293, introduced by Congressman Kevin Cramer (R-ND), would allow the Secretary of the Interior and the National Parks Service (NPS) to expedite the approval process for natural gas pipelines deemed to have no significant environmental impact. Witness Amy Mall from the National Resources Defense Council asserted that the NPS already has this power under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and that this legislation would fix a problem that does not exist.
H.R. 1587, introduced by Congressman Tom Marino (R-PA), seeks to amend the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) to allow the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to issue permits granting right-of-way status to natural gas pipelines on federal lands, including those managed by the NPS. The NPS has requested that this right remain exclusively with Congress.
Both bills will remain in subcommittee for further consideration.
Source: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
House committee approves new standards for EPA air quality permits
In a markup held June 10, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation intended to reduce delays in air quality permitting by a vote of 30-19. The legislation sets a number of directives for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to follow when issuing permits for new manufacturing sites.
The Promoting New Manufacturing Act (H.R. 4795), introduced by Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA), would delay implementation of any new or revised national ambient air quality standard until the EPA publishes final regulations and guidance for the standard. It would also require the EPA to publish an annual report on the number of preconstruction permits issued, the percentage of permits issued within a year of filing, and the average amount of time it takes for the appeals process to take place, and to report to Congress on delays in issuing preconstruction permits.
Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) argued that the legislation would allow facilities to ignore safer standards and “gives new polluters amnesty from the applicable air quality standards.” Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) emphasized that the legislation would cause fewer permitting delays and faster adoption of new guidelines, resulting in more investment in energy infrastructure and manufacturing.
The legislation may move to the full House for further consideration.
Sources: E&E News, House Energy and Commerce Committee