Legislative Concerns  

International and National Government News

EPA: $111.9 Million in Grants for Contaminated Land Cleanup, Economic
Development.  Grant amount bolstered by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds - May 8, 2009

Obama Administration Takes Unprecedented Steps to Reduce Environmental Impacts of Mountaintop Coal Mining - 06/11/2009

Senate Progresses Toward Mining Law Reform at Hearing - July 14, 2009

EPA Administrator Jackson Unveils New Administration Framework for Chemical Management Reform in the United States -  September 29, 2009

CLIMATE LEGISLATION FINALLY INTRODUCED IN SENATE - September 30, 2009

FEDERAL AGENCIES TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE - October 5, 2009

EPA Administrator Announces Plan to Retool and Reinvigorate Clean Water
Enforcement Program - October 15, 2009

Turning the Tide on Aquatic Invaders - November 2009

EPA Issues Rule to Reduce Water Pollution from Construction Sites - November 23, 2009

Statement of Lisa P. Jackson, EPA, Toxic Substances Control Act - December 2, 2009

Remarks of President Barack Obama, As Prepared for Delivery at the Copenhagen Summit,  Copenhagen, Denmark - December 18, 2009

Joint Venture for Bird Habitat Conservation Act of 2009, H.R. 2188, has been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar on December 21, 2009 - Bill Text, USFWS House Testimony

CONGRESS CONTINUES WORK ON FY 2010 APPROPRIATIONS - The House appropriations bill (HR 2996) for the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Forest Service and Related Agencies has been approved and would provide $32.3 billion for these agencies. Within this amount, $849.6 million would be directed to science and technology within EPA, $308.6 million for forest and rangeland research within the Forest Service, $1.105 billion for the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and $1.249 billion for resource management within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Senate recently passed a $32.1 billion version of this bill, which would provide $842.8 million for science and technology within EPA, $307 million for forest and rangeland research within the Forest Service, $1.104 billion for USGS, and $1.244 billion for resource management within FWS. During deliberations on this measure, several amendments were offered in an attempt to limit EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, these amendments were defeated.

Investing in conservation can bring huge financial returns, according to a new report from The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study. The TEEB study, backed by the United Nations, grew from a 2007 meeting of the environment ministers of the G8 nations and five major newly developing countries. The study’s mission was to “analyze the global economic benefit of biological diversity, the costs of the loss of biodiversity and the failure to take protective measures versus the costs of effective conservation.” Based on the principles of ecological economics, TEEB is the first study to evaluate ecosystem services—which are the services that the natural world provides society for free, such as cleaning the air, buffering against storms, or providing materials for growth.

The TEEB study will issue five reports, each targeted to specific categories of decision-makers. On 13 November 2009, the first TEEBS report for policymakers was released. This report focused on the value of halting deforestation, protecting coral reefs, and restoring global fisheries. It also explored the link between ecosystem degradation and rural poverty. The results show that investing in ecosystem protection can be very cost-effective. The natural environment provides a wide variety of services across many economic sectors. In many cases, ecosystem services are cheaper than technological solutions.

The report outlines key challenges confronting policy makers. The reports are available at

http://www.teebweb.org/InformationMaterial/TEEBReports/tabid/1278/language/en-US/Default.aspx

HOUSE PASSES MEASURE TO PREVENT AQUATIC INVADERS

The House of Representatives passed HR 3618 on 17 November 2009 that would require ships operating in U.S. waters that engage in international voyages to use an anti-fouling system on their hulls to control or prevent the attachment of unwanted organisms. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Oberstar (D-MN), would also ban the use of anti-fouling paints that are toxic to marine life. Although HR 3618 is largely aimed at reducing water pollution from chemicals leaching from anti-fouling paint on ships, the bill could help to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species that attach to the hulls of ships.

Oberstar’s bill does not address the transmission of organisms through ballast water. Ballast water, which is carried to improve ship stability, is estimated to transport 3,000 to 10,000 different species, many of which are invasive. The House passed legislation (HR 2830) in 2008 that would have set a national standard of zero living organisms in ballast water discharged in U.S. waters. That measure, also sponsored by Rep. Oberstar, died in the Senate, where concerns over preemption of the right of states to control discharges into their ports and waterways outweighed concerns about aquatic invasive species. Neither chamber has yet acted on the issue this session of Congress.

To learn more about the policy debate over aquatic invasive species read “Turning the Tide on Invaders” in the November 20009 issue of BioScience. The article is currently available for free at http://www.aibs.org/washington-watch/washington_watch_2009_11.html

NEW PRESIDENTIAL BIOETHICS COUNCIL TO TAKE POLICY-BASED APPROACH

On 24 November 2009, President Obama announced the establishment of a new presidential council to advise him on bioethical matters, replacing the sometimes-controversial bioethics council that advised President George W. Bush.

The council under the Bush Administration was designed to be a “philosophically-leaning advisory group” and tended to focus on ideological issues, like the moral implications of biomedical technology, and the consequences of limiting scientific research. The Obama adminstrations’ new 13-member commission is chaired by Amy Gutmann, a political scientist, and the president of the University of Pennsylvania. The new council is widely expected to be more policy-oriented than its predecessor, and will tackle policy issues on intellectual property, the application of neuro- and robotic sciences, health care, and conflicts of interest in scientific research.

News Shorts

Spending by private industry on research and development (R&D) is booming in the developing world. In 2008, corporate R&D spending increased by 40 percent in China and 27 percent in India. Funding in Europe and the U.S. also grew last year, although at much smaller rates (8.1 and 5.7 percent, respectively).

A coalition of university organizations has launched a new website called www.scienceworksforus.org This site is intended to tout the impact of stimulus-funded university research activities across the country. It is designed to allow visitors a state-by-state and agency-by-agency summary of the dollar amounts and numbers of funded grants, as well as a summary of outcomes, where applicable.  Missouri page: http://www.scienceworksforus.org/index.php?option=com_states&state=MO&Itemid=7

Officials representing the United States, Canada, and Mexico have signed the first continent-wide agreement on protecting wilderness. Signed on 7 November 2009, the memorandum of understanding will facilitate collaboration among federal land managers in the three countries to protect and restore wilderness areas in North America.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is providing nearly $650,000 in grants to protect 30 critically endangered species around the world. The 24 grants will help to address the spread of a deadly fungus affecting amphibians, the protection of Siberian cranes and Ethiopian wolves, and the conservation of 9 species of reptiles. “We have a shared responsibility to help safeguard our planet's remarkable biodiversity,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. 

The U.S. Forest Service is accepting public comments on the potential environmental impacts of a new land management plan for the National Forest System. Comments are being accepted through 16 February 2009. More information is available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-30174.htm.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has extended the deadline for public comments on its proposed policy of expanding public access to publications resulting from federally funded research. Comments will be accepted through 21 January 2010. For more information, please visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-29322.htm .

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comments on a draft document entitled “An Assessment of Decision-Making Processes: The Feasibility of Incorporating Climate Change Information into Land Protection Planning.” This document reviews best practices of land planning organizations in planning for the impacts of climate change on protected lands and assesses the feasibility of incorporating climate change impacts information into the evaluation of these programs. Comments are being accepted through 1 February 2010. For more information, please visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-31100.htm .

In 2008, the Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSC Alliance) conducted an online survey to assess how scientific collections were responding to worsening economic conditions. The complete findings of this survey have now been published in the online CLS Journal of Museum Studies. The publication includes the survey results and possible actions for scientific collections and policymakers. This publication and other information about scientific collections are available online at www.nscalliance.org .

US Legislative Concerns

Passed Legislation of Interest

H.R.146 : An act to designate certain land as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-11 [GPO: Text, PDF]
Note: Omnibus land bill.

H.R.1105 : Making omnibus appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Obey, David R. [WI-7] (introduced 2/23/2009)      Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Appropriations; House Budget
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-8 [GPO: Text, PDF]
Note: An explanatory statement was submitted by Mr. Obey, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations "as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference." It appears in two 2/23/2009 Congressional Record documents on pages: H1653-H2088 and H2089-H2599. See also the House Appropriations committee print.

H.R.2996 : Making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6] (introduced 6/23/2009)      Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Appropriations; Senate Appropriations
House Reports: 111-180; Senate Reports: 111-38; Latest Conference Report: 111-316 (in Congressional Record H11871-11983)
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-88 [GPO: Text, PDF]
Note: Division A is the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Division B is the Further Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2010.

H.R.2997 : Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] (introduced 6/23/2009)      Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Appropriations
House Reports: 111-181; Latest Conference Report: 111-279 (in Congressional Record H10358-10402)
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-80 [GPO: Text, PDF]

(Sec. 729) Directs the Natural Resources Conservation Service to provide financial and technical assistance through the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations program to carry out: (1) the Alameda Creek Watershed Project in Alameda County, California; (2) the Hurricane Katrina-Related Watershed Restoration project in Jackson County, Mississippi; (3) the Pidcock-Mill Creeks Watershed project in Bucks County, Pennsylvania; (4) the Farmington River Restoration project in Litchfield County, Connecticut; (5) the Lake Oscawana Management and Restoration project in Putnam County, New York; (6) the Richland Creek Reservoir in Paulding County, Georgia; (7) the Pocasset River Floodplain Management Project in Rhode Island; (8) the East Locust Creek Watershed Plan Revision in Missouri; (9) the Little Otter Creek Watershed project in Missouri; (10) the DuPage County Watershed project in Illinois; (11) the Dunloup Creek Watershed Project in Fayette and Raleigh Counties, West Virginia; (12) the Dry Creek Watershed project in California; and (13) the Upper Clark Fork Watershed project in Montana.

H.R.3183 : Making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] (introduced 7/13/2009)      Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Appropriations
House Reports: 111-203; Latest Conference Report: 111-278 (in Congressional Record H10150-10358)
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-85 [GPO: Text, PDF]

Legislation of Interest Under Consideration

House

H.R.48 : To amend section 42 of title 18, United States Code, popularly known as the Lacey Act, to add certain species of carp to the list of injurious species that are prohibited from being imported or shipped.
Sponsor: Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

H.R.51 : To direct the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a study of the feasibility of a variety of approaches to eradicating Asian carp from the Great Lakes and their tributary and connecting waters.
Sponsor: Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.

H.R.135 : To establish the Twenty-First Century Water Commission to study and develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address future water needs.
Sponsor: Rep Linder, John [GA-7] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (8)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.

H.R.276 : To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to convene a task force to develop recommendations on the proper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

H.R.631 : To increase research, development, education, and technology transfer activities related to water use efficiency and conservation technologies and practices at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sponsor: Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] (introduced 1/22/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Science and Technology; Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 2/12/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

H.R.699 : To modify the requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands, consistent with the principles of self-initiation of mining claims, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] (introduced 1/27/2009)      Cosponsors (39)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.1080 : To strengthen enforcement mechanisms to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] (introduced 2/13/2009)      Cosponsors (15)
Committees: House Natural Resources; Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
House Reports: 111-228
Latest Major Action: 9/23/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R.1584 : To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to extend the authorized time period for rebuilding of certain overfished fisheries, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] (introduced 3/18/2009)      Cosponsors (25)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.

H.R.1612 : To amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to provide service-learning opportunities on public lands, help restore the nation's natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources, train a new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts, and promote the value of public service.
Sponsor: Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (64)
Committees: House Natural Resources; House Agriculture; House Education and Labor
House Reports: 111-312 Part 1
Latest Major Action: 10/23/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 177.

H.R.1914 : To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide for the suspension of each provision of the Act during periods of drought with respect to Federal and State agencies that manage Federal river basins that are located in each region affected by the drought.
Sponsor: Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-9] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 4/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.

H.R.2188 : To authorize the Secretary of the Interior, through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to conduct a Joint Venture Program to protect, restore, enhance, and manage migratory bird populations, their habitats, and the ecosystems they rely on, through voluntary actions on public and private lands, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kratovil, Frank, Jr. [MD-1] (introduced 4/30/2009)      Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Natural Resources; Senate Environment and Public Works
House Reports: 111-201; Senate Reports: 111-111
Latest Major Action: 12/21/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 248.

H.R.2565 : To conserve fish and aquatic communities in the United States through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation, to improve the quality of life for the people of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 6/16/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.2807 : To sustain fish, plants, and wildlife on America's public lands.
Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 6/10/2009)      Cosponsors (32)
Committees: House Natural Resources; House Agriculture
Latest Major Action: 6/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.

H.R.3086 : To coordinate authorities within the Department of the Interior and within the Federal Government to enhance the United States' ability to conserve global wildlife and biological diversity and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] (introduced 6/26/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Natural Resources; House Foreign Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.3173 : To amend section 42 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation and shipment of certain species of carp.
Sponsor: Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] (introduced 7/10/2009)      Cosponsors (37)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 8/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

H.R.3381 : To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to establish additional prohibitions on shooting wildlife from aircraft, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, George [CA-7] (introduced 7/29/2009)      Cosponsors (126)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 8/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.

H.R.3618 : To provide for implementation of the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] (introduced 9/22/2009)      Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Science and Technology; Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
House Reports: 111-331 Part 1
Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R.3650 : To establish a National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program, to develop and coordinate a comprehensive and integrated strategy to address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, and to provide for the development and implementation of comprehensive regional action plans to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.
Sponsor: Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] (introduced 9/25/2009)      Cosponsors (38)
Committees: House Science and Technology; House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 10/7/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

H.R.3671 : To promote Department of the Interior efforts to provide a scientific basis for the management of sediment and nutrient loss in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 9/29/2009)      Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.

H.R.3946 : To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit the sale of dishwashing detergent in the United States if the detergent contains a high level of phosphorus, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] (introduced 10/27/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Senate

 S.462 : A bill to amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to prohibit the importation, exportation, transportation, and sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, of any live animal of any prohibited wildlife species, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] (introduced 2/24/2009)      Cosponsors (7)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.655 : A bill to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to ensure adequate funding for conservation and restoration of wildlife, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.675 : A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit the sale of dishwashing detergent in the United States if the detergent contains a high level of phosphorus, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Levin, Carl [MI] (introduced 3/24/2009)      Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 3/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.696 : A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to include a definition of fill material.
Sponsor: Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (9)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.787 : A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify the jurisdiction of the United States over waters of the United States.
Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (24)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.796 : A bill to modify the requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain land, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-116.

S.854 : A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to update a program to provide assistance for the planning, design, and construction of treatment works to intercept, transport, control, or treat municipal combined sewer overflows and sanitary sewer overflows, and to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to update certain guidance used to develop and determine the financial capability of communities to implement clean water infrastructure programs.
Sponsor: Sen Voinovich, George V. [OH] (introduced 4/22/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 4/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.937 : A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to ensure that sewage treatment plants monitor for and report discharges of raw sewage, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] (introduced 4/30/2009)      Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

S.952 : A bill to develop and promote a comprehensive plan for a national strategy to address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia through baseline research, forecasting and monitoring, and mitigation and control while helping communities detect, control, and mitigate coastal and Great Lakes harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events.
Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 5/1/2009)      Cosponsors (14)
Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Major Action: 8/5/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

S.1005 : A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in the United States.
Sponsor: Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] (introduced 5/7/2009)      Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Senate Reports: 111-47
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 109.

S.1122 : A bill to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with State foresters authorizing State foresters to provide certain forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration and protection services.
Sponsor: Sen Barrasso, John [WY] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 10/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held.

S.1214 : A bill to conserve fish and aquatic communities in the United States through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation, to improve the quality of life for the people of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] (introduced 6/9/2009)      Cosponsors (12)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 12/10/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

S.1421 : A bill to amend section 42 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation and shipment of certain species of carp.
Sponsor: Sen Levin, Carl [MI] (introduced 7/9/2009)      Cosponsors (9)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 12/10/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

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