united states senate committee on environment and public works 109th congress accomplishments

59 Pages·2008·0.28 MB·English

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Commitment to Oklahoma

• H.R. 3, SAFETEA: (cid:59) Signed into Law, August 10, 2005
• Commitment to Tar Creek Remediation
• H.R. 6, Energy Policy Act of 2005: (cid:59) Signed into Law, August 8, 2005
• S. 728 – Water Resources Development Act: (cid:59) Approved by the Senate, July 19, 2006
• Field Hearing on S. 260, The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act Tulsa, Oklahoma
• S. 260, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act: (cid:59) Signed into Law, October 3, 2006
• S. 1017 Water Resources Research Act Amendments of 2005: (cid:59) The House companion bill
(HR4588) was sent to the White House for signature on December 9, 2006.

Gulf Coast Hurricane Response

• Four Committee Oversight Hearings
• S. 1711, To Allow the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to Waive or
Modify the Application of Certain Requirements
• S. 1714, Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program
• S. 1708, The Emergency Lease Requirements Act of 2005
• S. 1709, The Gulf Coast Water Infrastructure Emergency Assistance Act of 2005: (cid:59)
Approved by the Senate, September 27, 2005
• S. 728 – Water Resources Development Act: (cid:59) Approved by the Senate, July 19, 2006
• Field hearing to oversee the ongoing rebuilding and restoration efforts of hurricane and flood
protection by the Army Corps of Engineers’ in preparation for next hurricane season in
Louisiana and examine taking a comprehensive approach to hurricane protection New
Orleans, Louisiana
• Hearing on the Stafford Act: A Path Forward for the Nation’s Emergency Preparedness and
Response System
National Security and Energy Independence

• H.R. 6, Energy Policy Act of 2005: (cid:59) Signed into Law, August 8, 2005
• S. 1772, The Gas Petroleum Refiner Improvement & Community Empowerment Act (Gas
PRICE ACT)
• S. 926, Natural Gas Production Act of 2005
• S.864, Nuclear Security Act of 2005 (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee, June 8, 2005
• S.858, Nuclear Fees Reauthorization Act of 2005 (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee, June
8, 2005
• S.865, Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2005 (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee, June
8, 2005
• S. 3880, The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (cid:59) Signed into Law, November 27, 2006
• Chemical Security - Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations conference bill.
• S. 830, To Amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to Insert a New Definition
Relating to Oil and Gas Exploration and Production. Signed into law as part of the National
Energy Policy Act.
• Hearing: Transportation Fuels of the Future
• Hearing: Gas PRICE Act
• Hearing: Energy Project Permitting
• Hearing: Eco-terrorism: ELF and ALF
• Hearing: Eco-terrorism: SHAC
• White Paper: Energy and the Environment: The Future Of Natural Gas In America
• Hearing on the Status of the Yucca Mountain Project
• Hearing on the Impact of the Elimination of MTBE
• Hearing on Inherently Safer Technology in the Context of Chemical Site Security
• Hearing on the Stafford Act: A Path Forward for the Nation’s Emergency Preparedness and
Response System
• Oversight on Federal Renewable Fuels Programs
• Speech: Democrat Obstructionism and High Energy Prices

National Infrastructure and Public Works Accomplishments

• H.R. 3, SAFETEA: (cid:59) Signed into Law, August 10, 2005
• S. 728 – Water Resources Development Act: (cid:59) Approved by the Senate, July 19, 2006
• S. 1400 Water Infrastructure Bill (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee, July 20, 2005
• Field hearing to conduct oversight of the Army Corps of Engineers' management of the ACT
and ACF River Basins

Environmental Accomplishments

• Defeated S. J. Res. 20, A Resolution to Roll Back the First-ever Regulation of Mercury
Emissions From Power Plants
• S. 260, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act: (cid:59) Signed into Law, October 3, 2006
• H.R. 5539, North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act: (cid:59) Signed into
Law, October 11, 2006
• S. 2430, Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act: (cid:59) Signed into Law, October 11,
2006
• S. 1869, Costal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act: (cid:59) Signed into Law, May 25, 2006
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• S. 1496, Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2005: (cid:59) Signed into Law, August 3, 2006
• S. 1339, Junior Duck Stamp Reauthorization: (cid:59) Signed into Law, January 10, 2006
• H.R. 4957, Wildlife Conservation Reauthorizations: (cid:59) Signed into Law, October 17, 2006
• H.R. 5381, National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act: (cid:59) Signed into Law, October 16,
2006
• H.R. 138, Coastal Barrier Resource System Boundary Revision: (cid:59) Signed into Law, October
16, 2006
• H.R. 479, Coastal Barrier Resource System Boundary Revision: (cid:59) Signed into Law, October
16, 2006
• H.R. 3682, Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge Renaming Act: (cid:59) Signed into Law,
August 12, 2006
• S. Res. 301, Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the National Audubon Society: (cid:59)
Approved by the Senate, July 11, 2006
• S. Res. 301 commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the National Audubon Society.
• S. 1415, Lacey Act Technical Corrections: (cid:59) Approved by the Senate, September 9, 2005
• S. 1509, Captive Primate Safety Act, (cid:59) Approved by the Senate, July 11, 2006
• S. 1250, Great Ape Conservation Reauthorization: (cid:59) Approved by the Senate, September 9,
2005
• S. 606, Reliable Fuels Act: (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee, May 26, 2005
• S. 1340, Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization: (cid:59) Signed into Law, September 29, 2005
• S. 158, Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2005: (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee,
December 8, 2005
• S. 1409, Alaska Native Villages reauthorization: (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee,
October 24, 2005
• S. 1410, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2005: (cid:59) Approved
by the EPW Committee, September 6, 2005
• S. 1165, James Campbell Wildlife Refuge: (cid:59) Approved by the Senate, December 16, 2005
• S. 1869, Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2005: (cid:59) Approved by the Senate,
December 16, 2005
• H.R. 1428, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2005: (cid:59) Approved
by the EPW Committee, August 31, 2005
• S. Res. 255, Recognizing the achievements of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
and the Waterfowl Population Survey: (cid:59) Approved by the Senate, October 31, 2005
• S. 1265, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2005, (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee,
September 7, 2005.
• S. 1848, Good Samaritan mining legislation (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee,
September 13, 2006.
• S. 3868, Clean Air Attainment Enforcement Act
• Hearing on S. 131, Clear Skies Act of 2005
• Field Hearing on S. 260, The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Hearing: The Role of Science in Environmental Policy-Making
• Hearing: Kyoto Protocol: Assessing the Status of Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
• Hearing on Great Lakes Regional Collaboration’s Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great
Lakes
• Hearing to Consider Whether Potential Liability Deters Abandoned Hard Rock Mine Clean-
Up
• Hearing on the Science and Risk Assessment Behind the EPA’s Proposed Revisions to the
Particulate Matter Air Quality Standards
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• Hearing on Federal Renewable Fuels Programs
• Hearing Examining Approaches Embodied in the Asia Pacific Partnership

Commitment to Independent and Verifiable Science

• S. 1205, Ratepayers Protection Act of 2005
• Defeat of the McCain-Lieberman Climate Change Amendment to the Energy Policy Act of
2005
• Defeated S. J. Res. 20, A Resolution to Roll Back the First-ever Regulation of Mercury
• Hearing: The Role of Science in Environmental Policy-Making
• Hearing: Kyoto Protocol: Assessing the Status of Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
• Speech: An Update on the Science of Climate Change
• Speech: Four Pillar Speeches
• Speech: On Bringing Integrity Back to the IPCC Process
• Letter to Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chairman of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC)
• Hearing on the Science and Risk Assessment Behind the EPA’s Proposed Revisions to the
Particulate Matter Air Quality Standards
• Oversight Hearing on the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Chemicals Management
Program at EPA
• Speech: America Reacts To Speech Debunking Media Global Warming Alarmism
• Speech: Hot & Cold Media Spin: A Challenge To Journalists Who Cover Global Warming

Commitment to Cost-Benefit Analysis

• H.R. 3, SAFETEA: (cid:59) Signed into Law, August 10, 2005
• S. 1265, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2005, (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee,
September 7, 2005.
• White Paper: Energy and the Environment: The Future of Natural Gas in America

Improving the Service of the Federal Bureaucracy

• S.837 Hydraulic Fracturing Bill
• Storm Water Bill
• S. 1400 Water Infrastructure Bill (cid:59) Approved by the EPW Committee, July 20, 2005
• S. 1269. Pest Management And Fire Suppression Flexibility Act, Introduced June 20, 2005
• Hearing: EPA’S Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Program
• GAO Report on EPA Grants
• Oversight Hearing on EPA Regional Inconsistencies

Hearings

Nominations

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“No other state leader has achieved such a feat in modern Oklahoma history.”

“Highways Win”
Tulsa World
August 1, 2005

H.R. 3, SAFETEA: (cid:59) Signed into Law, August 10, 2005

“This bill is historic for Oklahoma. I am extremely proud of the increase in funding the state will
receive from this legislation. Under the formulas, our bill includes about 32 percent more
funding over the previous highway authorization bill. As I’ve often said, one of my top priorities
as Chairman of the EPW Committee has been to increase the rate of return for donor states such
as Oklahoma. This highway bill increases Oklahoma’s formula rate of return to 92 cents per
dollar in 2008.”

- Senator James M. Inhofe
In Oklahoma:

• Provides $244 billion in guaranteed spending over the 2005-2009 period ($286.4 billion
including 2004) for maintenance, and improvement of the nation’s roads, bridges, mass
transit, and safety that creates millions of job opportunities across the country.

• Includes over 30 percent more (about 32 percent more for Oklahoma) funding over TEA-
21 levels (current law).

• Provides a rate of return phased in to 92 percent by 2008 for donor states, including
Oklahoma.

• Provides more than a 39 percent average annual increase over TEA-21 levels for Indian
reservation roads and bridges, including new funding categories and increased flexibility,
for which Oklahoma tribes are among the largest recipients.

• Consolidates existing safety programs into a new core Highway Safety Improvement
Program (HSIP) to provide increased funding and greater flexibility to states. The HSIP
is designed to meet the growing safety needs and fatality and injury rates in each state
through a strategic highway safety plan.

• Senator Inhofe restored Congress’ original intent by inserting language correcting
ambiguous wording in past legislation that has been at issue surrounding the Oklahoma
Loyal Shawnee tribe’s ability to place land into trust.

• Provides more than $2.8 billion for the State of Oklahoma, including funding for a
variety of important projects:

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(cid:190) $220 million for improvements to Interstates 40 and 44

(cid:190) $50 million to improve bridges in the State

(cid:190) $35 million to widen and make improvements to the Ports-to-Plains Corridor

(cid:190) $10.8 million to widen Highway 60 between Ponca City and Bartlesville

(cid:190) $7 million for the University of Oklahoma to conduct research in global tracking
methods for intermodal containerized freight

(cid:190) $2 million to complete and extend trails along Mingo Creek in Tulsa

(cid:190) $2.2 million to update traffic signals with LED illumination technology

(cid:190) $2 million for reconstruction of State Highway 20 in Owasso

(cid:190) $1 million for the control of outdoor advertising

(cid:190) $1.6 million for improving I-35 Interchange at Milepost 1 Near Thackerville

(cid:190) $6.4 million to widen SH-33 from the Cimarron River East to US-177

(cid:190) $2.4 million to reconstruct the I-44 193rd street interchange

(cid:190) $1.6 million to widen US-60 from approximately 2 miles east of the US-60 - US-75
interchange east approximately 5.5 miles

(cid:190) $800,000 to widen US-54 from North of Optima Northeast to Kansas State Line

(cid:190) $2.4 million for transportation enhancements for Hwy-19 from Ada to Stratford

(cid:190) $800,000 for improvements to Hereford Lane and US-69 Interchange

(cid:190) $1.6 million for construction of rail crossing in Claremore at Blue Star Drive and SH-
66

(cid:190) $3.2 million to complete reconstruction of the I-35 - SH-9 West Interchange

(cid:190) $800,000 for Texanna Road Improvements around Lake Eufaula

(cid:190) $3.6 million for improvements to SH-412P at 412 interchange

(cid:190) $800,000 to construct vehicular bridge over the Burlington Northern Railroad at War
Bonnnet Crossing, Manford

(cid:190) $2.4 million for Construction of Duncan Bypass Grade Separation

(cid:190) $5 million for improvements to SH-3 from Antlers to Broken Bow

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(cid:190) $16 million for reconstruction of the I-40 cross-town Expressway from I-44 to I-35 in
downtown Oklahoma City

(cid:190) $8.8 million to construct and widen six lanes on I-44 from the Arkansas River
extending east approximately 3.7 miles to Yale Avenue

(cid:190) $800,000 for the Navajo Gateway Improvements Project, US-62 in Altus

(cid:190) $800,000 to reconstruct the I-44 Fort Still Key Gate Interchange

(cid:190) $800,000 for the realignment of US-287 around Boise City

Oklahomans Praise Senator Inhofe’s Leadership on the Highway Bill:

• “The federal money was acquired through the efforts of the state’s congressional delegation, but
especially because of the work of Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. His seniority allowed him to obtain a
much larger highway construction bill than the president wanted. In addition to I-44 work, there
is another $200 million-plus in highway improvements for Oklahoma in the bill. For the first
time, Oklahomans will get back a little more in highway funds than they pay out in federal fuel
taxes. When it comes to federal funds for highways, it’s “hats in the air” time in Tulsa.”

“No more obstacles”
Tulsa World
August 13, 2005

• “Jim Inhofe has waged a hard, perhaps even lonely, battle to get Congress to face up to
transportation needs. Even the amounts he pushes for are small compared to the massive needs
of the transportation system. Fortunately, it appears the majority of the U.S. Senate agrees with
him.”

“Road work”
Tulsa World
May 13, 2005

• “Oklahoma is certainly going to fare better than we ever have in the past. I’ve always felt
good with Chairman Inhofe running the show and the other members of the delegation.”

Gary Ridley, director of the state’s Transportation Department

Commitment to Tar Creek Remediation

Chairman Inhofe continues to lead the effort to clean up Tar Creek. Since he became Chairman, the
vast majority of the obstacles that were preventing progress at Tar Creek have been addressed.
Federal Departments and Agencies are finally working with each other and with the states, locals
and tribes.

The State Department of Environmental Quality and Oklahoma University continue to implement
the projects set out in the Oklahoma plan. EPA is making good progress on the RIFS to clean up
the chat; the Army Corps continues their work on subsidence. The most recent development is that
of Indian chat sales. The majority of chat at Tar Creek is on tribal or allotee property. Because of
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legal restrictions involving the Department of the Interior, that chat could not be sold or moved.
With a recent agreement, the chat will begin to be sold early this fall. A marketing/sales plan is
being developed in order to move the maximum amount of chat.

Praise for Senator Inhofe’s Commitment to Tar Creek Remediation:

“And the ongoing efforts of U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, who has made Tar Creek a high priority, could
help lead to that long-awaited comprehensive plan, Osborn believes. ‘It is only with his (Inhofe)
leadership and effort that this mess will be cleaned up and, I believe, it will be one of his lasting
legacies,’ Osborn said.”

Dr. Mark Osborn of Miami, Okla. received the Champion of Oklahoma Health presented by Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Hospital Association, the Oklahoma
Osteopathic Association and the Oklahoma State Medical Association.

“…U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, who as chairman of the important Senate Environment and Public
Works Committee, has achieved notable success on such major needs as the state's transportation
system and the lingering Tar Creek environmental disaster. Inhofe was able to steer about $19
million in federal funds toward buying out properties in the Tar Creek Superfund site, an Ottawa
County region devastated by decades of lead and zinc mining. Inhofe quickly arranged for the
buyout funding after a study he commissioned showed that possible cave-ins resulting from
undermining in the area were a continuing threat.”

Editorial: Buyout concerns,
Tulsa World
November 14, 2006 Tuesday

H.R. 6, Energy Policy Act of 2005: (cid:59) Signed into Law, August 8, 2005

“Our nation has been in need of a comprehensive national energy policy since the Reagan era.
The Energy Bill, while not perfect, is an important step forward in fulfilling that need.
Specifically, we need to enhance our energy reliability and improve the nation’s energy security.
This bill will help accomplish that. I am very pleased that the bill’s conferees saw fit to include a
number of provisions I had requested. With these additions, we’ll be able to expand refinery
capacity, expand the use of nuclear energy and strengthen security at nuclear facilities, and
improve permitting processes so we can explore our domestic resources in an environmentally-
conscious manner. These provisions will benefit Oklahoma and the nation as a whole.”

- Senator James M. Inhofe

Key Provisions Requested by Senator Inhofe Include:

• Tax incentives for the expansion of refinery capacity and to encourage new facility
construction;

• Improvement of the environmental permitting process on federal lands; Clarification of
Congressional intent with regard to uncontaminated stormwater runoff from oil and
natural gas sites;

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• Clarification of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s exclusive jurisdiction to
site LNG infrastructure and improvements in the permitting process under the National
Environmental Policy Act;

• LUST program reforms to ensure proper inspection of tanks and operator training to
prevent tanks from leaking and contaminating groundwater;

• Language from three bills recently passed by the EPW Committee that will strengthen
nuclear security and safety, and help expand the use of nuclear power.

S. 728 – Water Resources Development Act: (cid:59) Approved by the
Senate, July 19, 2006

In Oklahoma:

• RAMS Program: WRDA authorizes the Corps of Engineers to spend $45 million per
year across the country for planning, technical assistance and the remediation of
abandoned hard rock mines. Abandoned non-coal mines resulting from mining activities
that occurred over the past century and a half are scattered throughout the western United
States. Most of the sites were mined and abandoned prior to modern environmental
regulations being enacted over thirty years ago.

• McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation Channel: The bill directs the Corps to
continue construction of the12 foot navigation channel to the Port of Catoosa. The bill
authorizes the Corps to convene a blue ribbon panel on the pallid sturgeon to avoid any
unnecessary delay. The bill would also authorize the construction of low water dams and
islands on the Arkansas River to provide habitat for the interior least tern in the area of
Tulsa County. These mitigation activities will result in features similar to those found at
Zinc Lake.

• Codification of a Consent Decree between Corps of Engineers and the City of
Edmond regarding Arcadia Lake: The City of Edmond became a cost share partner
with the Corps in 1979 for recreational development and water storage facilities on
Arcadia Lake. In 1987 a dispute arose with the Corps over cost overruns on the recreation
facilities. That dispute was settled in 1992 through a Consent Decree. Included in that
Consent Decree was a provision that the City of Edmond thought would clarify a
potential future dispute regarding the requirement to pay storage on future water use. Per
the terms of the Consent Decree, the City was not liable for payment of future use water
until such time that City decided to actually use the water. The cost of the future use
water was set at $27 million, which the City paid in October 1999. In November 1996,
the City was notified by the Corps that they had to beginning paying interest on the future
use water storage because the 10 year interest free period following the project’s
completion had expired (projected was completed in 1986). However, the City believes
that the Consent Decree clearly stated that they were not liable for the future water until
such time as they made use of it which occurred in 1999 when the City paid $27 million.
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The Corps continues to charge the City interest from November 1996 to present. This
would clarify that City is not liable for the interest from November 1996 to October 1999.

• Waurika Lake Project: In WRDA 99 language was added to overrule $2.9 million in
fees the Corps of Engineers was insisting Waurika had to pay. The fees were assessed to
the Waurika Project Master Conservancy District WPMCD by the Corps after the Corps
lost a negligence lawsuit filed by Travelers Insurance following the completion of the
lake in the 1980s. The Senator believes that WPMCD should not be held financially
responsible for negligence by the Corps. After WRDA 99 the Corps discovered an
accounting error, and claimed it had inadvertently undercharged the WPMCD for costs
associated with a land purchase related to the water project in the early 1980s. Under the
terms of the construction contract, the WPMCD is required to pay all costs associated
with building the project, including the full cost of the land purchases. WRDA 04
clarifies that Waurika is obligated to pay the amount that they agreed to pay when the
project was completed.

• Oklahoma Lake Demonstration: This bill would remove reversionary interest language
on land previously conveyed to the State of Oklahoma at Lake Texoma. The reversionary
clause is hindering local plans for further recreational development.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife

“The ‘Partners’ program has proven results in Oklahoma habitat conservation and today we have
added stability to this effective program’s future. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife program is
a responsible and true partnership between land owners and the government as projects in the
program are financed primarily by the landowner, not the federal government. These on-the-
ground initiatives are the programs that actually succeed in protecting and recovering species, as
opposed to the endless and expensive litigation that has become the hallmark of the Endangered
Species Act. All conservation programs should create positive incentives to protect species and,
above all, should hold the rights of private landowners sacred. We have taken a positive step
toward those aims with the enactment of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act.”
- Senator James M. Inhofe

Field Hearing, Oklahoma State University

In April 2005, Chairman Inhofe held a field hearing at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa on S.
260, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act. During the hearing, the Committee received
testimony from Mr. H. Dale Hall, the Southwest Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Mr. Verlene Chervanka, a Partners participant from Sayre, Oklahoma, Dr. Terry
Bidwell, a Partners participant, wildlife biologist, and professor at Oklahoma State University,
Mr. Jeff Neal, a Partners participant from Indianola, Oklahoma, Mr. Hal McKnight, a Partners
participant from Duncan Oklahoma, and Ms. Debbie Straughn, Principal of Deer Creek
Elementary School in Edmond, Oklahoma.

The hearing was held on the 35th Anniversary of Earth Day and focused on Chairman Inhofe’s
bill to provide, for the first time ever, specific congressional authorization for the Partners for
Fish and Wildlife Program, which has demonstrated environmental results through full voluntary
cooperation with private landowners.
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