November 2006, Newsletter #16
Welcome to THE RED LODGE CLEARINGHOUSE,
the full-service information source for collaborative groups
throughout the Interior West committed to resolving resource-use
conflicts.
This newsletter being distributed as the post election fall-out begins
to momentarily settle has little to report that signals encouragement
for greater public participation in public land and water management.
Energy policy, thus "less dependence" on foreign oil sources and a
more aggressive national stance on climate change dominate; definition
of terms and potential areas of compromise and agreement remain
problematic. The NEPA process
will remain alive and well and thus, public input as to resource decisions
should also remain alive and well.
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'A 180-degree change' as Boxer preps for EPW panel's gavel
BY DARREN SAMUELSOHN, GREENWIRE, 11/09/06
California Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer began preparing to take the helm of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
"As the new chair of the EPW Committee," Boxer said, "I am already planning for vigorous oversight and legislation to make sure that the U.S. Senate is once again an environmental leader . . . and is addressing pressing concerns like global warming."
SEE FULL STORY >>
GLOBAL WARMING ISSUES SPLIT INTO TWO SUBCOMMITTEES >>
EPW chair plans Jan. hearings on emissions legislation
BY DARREN SAMUELSOHN AND LAUREN MORELLO, E&E NEWS PM, 11/14/06
The incoming chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today promised "extensive hearings" on global warming in January when Democrats take control of Congress.
"We are absolutely going to move on two fronts very aggressively," Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told reporters in the Capitol. "On global warming, we need to hear from all colleagues on where they stand."
Boxer said the hearings would be in January. "We're going to hit the ground as early as we can arrange for the rooms," she said.
SEE FULL STORY >>
READ MORE ON GLOBAL WARMING >>
Environmentalists, though winners in the election, warn against expecting vast changes
BY FELICITY BARRINGER, NEW YORK TIMES, 11/14/06
Last week’s election whipsawed the Congressional committees that are crucial battlegrounds for environmental and energy legislation. But even many environmentalists believe that an ambitious new agenda is unlikely.
SEE FULL STORY >>
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CEQ chief urges Congress to avoid 'simpleminded' emissions bills
BY DARREN SAMUELSOHN, GREENWIRE, 11/14/06
Democrats leading the next Congress should avoid "simpleminded" global warming legislation that places mandatory limits on heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions, President Bush's top environmental adviser said today.
Speaking to reporters at an event hosted by the U.S. Energy Association, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairman Jim Connaughton said past measures introduced on Capitol Hill would cause more harm than good for the environment.
SEE FULL STORY >>
U.S. ENERGY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP LIST >>
Sen. McCain pledges push for 'long overdue' emissions bill
BY DARREN SAMUELSOHN, E&E NEWS PM, 11/16/06
Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain said yesterday he "absolutely" would push for a Senate floor vote on global warming legislation during the next session of Congress.
The potential presidential contender also predicted President Bush could be compelled to sign a new law that caps heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions before he leaves the White House in January 2009.
"I think the president is coming around," McCain said. "He made a statement recently where he said that climate change is a significant issue. To tell you the truth, I'm worried more about people in the administration than the president himself."
SEE FULL STORY >>
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Panel's Democratic leader pledges to protect NEPA, end 'royalty relief'
BY DAN BERMAN, GREENWIRE, 11/08/06
West Virginia's Nick Rahall — in line to take the House Resources Committee gavel after the Democratic takeover of the House — vowed today to work to protect environmental laws and curb "royalty relief" for offshore petroleum drilling.
"As Resources Chairman, I will maintain NEPA," Rahall said in a statement to Greenwire.
Rahall said he would also work on natural resources conservation—an issue on which many Democrats and environmentalists have consistently criticized the Bush administration. "Many of our most significant resources are still not properly cared for and protected—whether it be roadless areas in national forests, the crumbling national parks, threatened and endangered species, or the integrity of our oceans and our fisheries," Rahall said.
SEE FULL STORY >>
Effort to overhaul law sinks with its chief sponsor
BY ALLISON A. FREEMAN, GREENWIRE, 11/08/06
With Democrats taking control of the House and Senate, endangered species advocates expect congressional efforts to overhaul the Endangered Species Act have ended.
Attempts at an ESA rewrite sunk in large part with the defeat of House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-Calif.), who made revising the law one of his panel's top priorities the past two years. In his place, the committee is expected to be led by Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall (W.Va.), whose efforts on the act were mostly in reaction to Pombo's.
SEE FULL STORY >>
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What the congressional crystal ball says on the environment
BY BRODIE FARQUHAR, NEW WEST, 11/15/06
In the wake of last week's election results, where the Democratic Party took command of both the House and Senate, any thoughts about what this means to the environment is of necessity, speculative.
While the House Democrats have a fairly comfortable margin, they're far short of the numbers they'd need to override any vetoes by President Bush. For that reason, they can't go too far out on that leftward limb, lest Bush or the more closely matched Senate saw off that limb.
SEE FULL STORY >>
New Congress leans greener, sets sights on warming
BY NOELLE STRAUB, HELENA INDEPENDENT-RECORD, 11/16/06
When Democrats take charge of Congress in January, they will bring a new outlook to legislating environmental issues that impact the Mountain West, from Endangered Species Act reforms to greenhouse gas laws that could affect the energy industry.
SEE FULL STORY >>
Global warming 'a sleeper issue' in midterm election — Zogby poll
BY DARREN SAMUELSOHN, GREENWIRE, 11/17/06
More than half the voters in last week's midterm election said global warming made a difference in their choice of congressional candidates, according to a Zogby International poll released yesterday.
SEE FULL STORY >>
Bush admin 'censorship' key issue in next Congress
BY DARREN SAMUELSOHN, E&E DAILY, 11/17/06
Nearly a year after NASA climatologist James Hansen accused federal officials of censoring his views on global warming, scientific freedom is shaping up as a key issue for the next Congress.
Since Hansen aired his complaint in January, reports have surfaced of additional scientific censorship and suppression at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. EPA, the Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies.
SEE FULL STORY >>
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