Policy News & Monthly Review

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AGI policy news briefs summarize geoscience policy activities and related events in Washington, D.C. as part of an effort to keep AGI member societies and other audiences informed about relevant federal policy and legislative updates.

To search for news briefs for a specific Monthly Review digest, enter the year and month of the Monthly Review in the search fields below.

Please note that as of April 2019, the publication of news briefs and the monthly review has been suspended. Policy news from April 2019 back to 2010 is available below; to browse Monthly Reviews from 1996 through 2010, please visit the Monthly Review Archive.

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U.S. Supreme Court building
Trump Nominates Gorsuch to fill Supreme Court vacancy

On January 31 President Trump announced his nomination of Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.

 

Natural gas pump
Hearing assesses social cost of carbon

How should the federal government price carbon in its assessments?

 

IES Water Glyph
Executive order directs review of EPA rule

President Trump issued an executive order directing agencies to review the “Waters of the United States” rule.

 

Dynamic Planet glyph
Trio of bills to limit EPA air regulatory power

Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced three bills that would limit the regulatory power of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on February 27.

 

U.S. Capitol with flag
Federal Register - March 2017
A list of notices from the federal register for March 2017 from agencies including the Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, USGS, NOAA, NASA, and more.

 

U.S. Capitol with flag
Federal Register - April 2017
A list of notices from the federal register for April 2017 from agencies including the Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, USGS, NOAA, NASA, and more.

 

U.S. Capitol
House science committee member questions DOE on reports of withholding ARPA-E funds

On April 26, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Energy Rick Perry requesting information regarding program management at the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).

 

The White House
Group of senators urge President Trump to fill key science positions

Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) led a group of senators on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in urging President Donald Trump to appoint well-qualified experts for critical science positions within his administration.

 

Earth
House committee hearing considers nuclear waste legislation

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing on April 26 to examine a discussion draft of a bill that would amend certain provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA) to streamline management and licensing processes for nuclear waste disposal.

 

The Noble John Sandifer jackup rig
Executive order targets offshore leasing plans and regulations

President Donald Trump released an executive order targeting the five-year oil and gas leasing plan finalized under the Obama administration.

 

NASA hurricane satellite image
President signs comprehensive weather research and forecasting bill into law

The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act (H.R.353) was signed into law by President Trump on April 18.

 

Earth
Hazards Caucus briefing conveys the importance of geologic mapping and monitoring

The Hazards Caucus Alliance, a network that supports the Congressional Hazards Caucus, hosted a briefing on April 6 about how geologic and hazards mapping and monitoring are used to prepare and protect communities from natural hazards.

 

Atlean Lake in British Columbia
Early warning and management can minimize impacts of harmful algal blooms

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hosted a briefing on April 4 to discuss the economic and public health impacts of harmful algal blooms.

 

Atlean Lake in British Columbia
Senate EPW committee hearing reviews Clean Water Act rule

On April 26, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) held an oversight hearing to review the Obama Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

 

U.S. Capitol
Congress passes short-term continuing resolution for FY 2017

On April 28, Congress passed a short-term measure to fund the government through May 5, 2017, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown.

 

U.S. Capitol with flag
Federal Register - May 2017
A list of notices from the federal register for May 2017 from agencies including the Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, USGS, NOAA, NASA, and more.

 

U.S. Capitol
Federal Register - June 2017

A list of notices from the federal register for June 2017 from agencies including the Department of the Interior, NOAA, EPA, and more.

 

U.S. Capitol
Federal Register - July 2017

A list of notices from the federal register for July 2017 from agencies including the BOEM, USGS, NOAA, and more.

 

U.S. Capitol
Federal Register - August 2017

A list of notices from the federal register for August 2017 from agencies including the Department of the Interior, EPA, and more.

 

U.S. Capitol
Federal Register - September 2017

A list of notices from the federal register for September 2017 from agencies including the Department of the Interior, EPA, and more.

 

U.S. Capitol
Federal Register - October 2017

A list of notices from the federal register for October 2017 from agencies including the Department of the Interior, EPA, and more.

 

U.S. Capitol
Federal Register - November 2017

A list of notices from the Federal Register for November 2017 from various federal science agencies, including the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, and more.

 

U.S. Capitol
Federal Register - December 2017

A list of notices from the federal register for December 2017 from various federal science agencies, including the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, and more.

 

Drilling rig
House oversight hearing looks at DOI burdens to onshore energy production

On January 18, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing to assess the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) progress on eliminating burdens to domestic onshore energy production. During the hearing, witnesses commented on the regulatory uncertainties, inefficiencies, and inconsistencies that may disproportionately impact small businesses. BLM’s Deputy Director for Programs and Policy Brian Steed affirmed that recent actions to reduce regulatory burdens have created more revenue for the agency.

 

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