Thursday, May 17, 2012

News of Note

GAO and Notre Dame Law Studies Find Major Flaws in Equal Access to Justice Act

Representative Cynthia Lummis
Over the last several weeks, more data has come out indicating problems with how the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) is working.  Studies from both the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Notre Dame Law School show funds are flowing to environmental groups contrary to Congressional intent.   Read More ...

EPA Aide Faulted for Talk

Wall Street Journal
The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday chided a regional official for his harsh description of the agency's enforcement strategy, after Republican lawmakers claimed it was evidence the Obama administration is over-regulating industries. 

Congressional Republicans this week called for the firing of Al Armendariz, who heads the EPA office in Dallas, after a 2010 video surfaced where he likened the agency's enforcement policy to that of Roman conquerors. He apologized and remains in his job.  
Read More ...

High Court Skeptical of Obama’s Use of Power

Bloomberg Businessweek
President Barack Obama faces the specter of twin setbacks at the U.S. Supreme Court in the middle of his re-election campaign with justices questioning his assertion of federal power on both health care and immigration.   Read More ...

CO County Wants Public Lands Opened to Shale Developers

Energywire
The leaders of a northwest Colorado county atop one of the world's largest oil shale reserves have passed a formal resolution chastising an Obama administration proposal dramatically cutting the amount of public land available for research and development.   Read More ...

In The Spotlight

USDA and CO Governor Release Final EIS for CO Roadless Rule

U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper today announced the release of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Colorado Roadless Rule.  The rule will impact an estimated 4.2 million acres of National Forest roadless areas within the state.  Today's announcement is the culmination of a seven-year process.   Read More ...

Bipartisan Bill Curbs EPA Power Under Clean Water Act

Western Farm Press
Legislation was introduced in the House to halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers’ attempts to illegally expand federal power under the Clean Water Act and extend the government’s regulatory reach to every ditch, puddle and pond in the country.   Read More ...

Rehberg Passes Amendment to Prevent Unprecedented Regulatory Expansion of Water

WaterWorld
Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, offered an amendment during markup of the FY13 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill to prevent an unprecedented expansion of authority under the Clean Water Act. The Amendment, which passed and therefore became part of the bill as it advances to the House of Representatives, prohibits the Corps of Engineers from expanding its jurisdiction to include "non-navigable" waters.   Read More ...

House Natural Resources Alaska Hearing Focuses on Obama "Oceans" Policy Implications

U.S. House Natural Resources Committee
This week, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight field hearing in Anchorage, Alaska entitled “Alaska’s Sovereignty In Peril: The National Ocean Policy’s Goal to Federalize Alaska.”  The hearing focused on how President Obama’s plan to mandate ocean zoning through implementation of the National Ocean Policy threatens Alaska’s sovereignty and economic livelihood.

The Alaska Congressional delegation testified.  Joining them were a variety of Alaska-based witnesses, including the Alaska Resource Development Council.  
Read More ...

For Our Members

Roundtable Federal Regulatory Tracking Calendar -- May & June Comment Opportunities

Western Business Roundtable
Welcome to the May, 2012 edition of the Western Business Roundtable's "Federal Regulatory Tracking Calendar."   Read More ...

Capitol Hill Wrap-Up: Key Actions by Congress Impacting Western Energy & Resource Sectors -- May 11th Edition

Western Business Roundtable
Welcome to the May 11th, 2012 Western Business Roundtable's "Capitol Hill Wrap-Up Report," a weekly snap-shot report featuring short summaries regarding some key recent developments in Congress.   Read More ...

Engage Now to Help Stop Finalization of EPA/Corps Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Guidance 

Western Business Roundtable
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) / Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are seeking to finalize guidance that would significantly broaden the scope of federal authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA) by expanding the definition of "waters of the United States."   The proposed guidance is now being considered for finalization by the White House Office of Budget and Management (OMB).   This guidance should be of keen interest to Westerners working in / supportive of the energy, natural resource, transportation and/or construction sectors.   Read More ...

Senate and House Western Caucuses Hold Bicameral Hearing

Senate and House Congressional Western Caucuses
The Senate and House Congressional Western Caucuses recently held a bicameral hearing -- “The Western Economy—Perspectives of Job Creators in the West.”  Members heard testimony from Western business leaders on the specific challenges they face in creating jobs in the West.  A number of Roundtable member organizations were among the witnesses.   Read More ...

 

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