WASHINGTON, D.C. –Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Senate and House Colleagues, and stakeholders met today to sound the alarm about the looming expiration of America’s most important and successful conservation and recreation program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
“We love the land, and we love what it does for America. It may actually be the antidote to the information age that we live in, where we are so frenetic every day. The treasures that we have, to be able to go and find refuge in the outdoors, whether you are a hunter, fisherman, recreationist, or just communing with friends, it is one of the greatest treasures of our country,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Today I would say that it [LWCF] has become one of the most successful programs for preserving open space that we have in our nation. That is why we cannot allow it to continue to flounder in uncertainty for its future.”
Sen. Cantwell has long supported LWCF. One of the key accomplishments of the Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017 (ENRA) introduced in June by Sen. Cantwell is the permanent authorization of LWCF. In May 2017, a bipartisan coalition of Senators, led by Maria Cantwell, wrote a letter urging the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies to support the LWCF. Senators Cantwell, Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and 20 other senators introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in March 2017.
Sen. Cantwell has also noted the economic benefits of the LWCF, which have increased significantly since her September 2016 statement. “The Land and Water Conservation Fund is the country’s most successful conservation law, supporting an outdoor economy of more than $600 billion annually and 6 million American jobs,” said Sen. Cantwell. “The LWCF is essential to preserving America’s public outdoor spaces, which improve our quality of life and provide important recreational and cultural opportunities.”
About the Land and Water Conservation Fund
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is America’s most important conservation program, responsible for protecting parks, trails, wildlife refuges and recreation areas at the federal, state and local level. For over 50 years, it has successfully provided critical funding for land and water conservation projects, access to recreation including hunting and fishing, and the continued historic preservation of our nation’s iconic landmarks from coast-to-coast.
The LWCF also funds important projects that protect drinking water resources, sensitive habitat for fish and wildlife, and private forestland. The state component of the program provides matching grants to states and localities for investments in outdoor recreation facilities, such as parks and playfields.
LWCF does not use any taxpayer dollars – it is funded using a small portion of revenues from offshore oil and gas royalty payments. Outdoor recreation, conservation and historic preservation activities contribute more than a trillion dollars annually to the U.S. economy, supporting 9.4 million jobs.
In Washington State, popular recreation sites such as Olympic National Park, Lake Chelan and Riverside State Park have been preserved through the LWCF. Washingtonians have benefitted from access to trails and outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as clean air and water preservation, which would not have been possible without this fund.
About the LWCF Coalition
The LWCF Coalition is comprised of more than 1,000 state and regional conservation and recreation organizations of all sizes, land owners, small businesses, ranchers, sportsmen, veterans, the outdoor recreation industry and conservationists working together to protect America’s public lands and safeguard our shared outdoor heritage for future generations.
The Coalition is united in its advocacy for the permanent reauthorization and full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which will ensure the continued conservation of our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, wilderness, civil war battlefields, working lands and state and local parks.
OUR PARKS AND FOREST...
US INTERIOR DEPT: First Meeting Marks Significant Step Toward Restoring Public Trust, Collaborative Development of Federal LandsPRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 4/ 17 (link source)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy Vincent DeVito welcomed new members of the Royalty Policy Committee, which was re-chartered on March 29 by the Secretary after an 8 year absence.
After introductions by the Secretary, new members were briefed on a variety of topics from their ethical responsibilities as appointees under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, to a detailed account of economic considerations the Department uses when offering public lands for lease.
The Committee was re-chartered in an effort to provide a continuous forum for interested stakeholders to debate and deliberate recommendations to the Secretary on ensuring the public receives full value of natural resources produced on federal and Indian lands, including renewable energy sources. The Committee may also advise on the potential impacts of proposed policies and regulations related to revenue collection, including whether a needs exists for regulatory reform.
Topics presented at the meeting ranged from ways to promote the expansion of American energy development, to providing greater input for local communities affected by leasing activities, to reassessing the economic models used by the Department.
Another topic discussed was valuation of oil, gas, and coal for royalty purposes. Long-standing regulations governing valuation were amended by the Consolidated Federal Oil and Gas and Federal and Indian Coal Valuation Reform Rule, which was to take effect on January 1, 2017, but was stayed, then repealed, after discovery of certain difficulties in implementation. The Committee has been tasked with determining the need for regulatory change that is consistent with this administration's goals of increasing domestic energy production and revenues while reducing regulatory burdens.
After the members were briefed on these issues, three subcommittees were formed: the Subcommittee on Fair Return and Revenue, which will review fair market return from resources produced on public lands; the Subcommittee on Planning, Analysis, and Competitiveness, which will assess the economic modeling used by the Department, present and future royalty rates, and ways to increase revenues and competition; and the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs, which will address issues specific to Tribal lands and trust.
The Committee is composed of 28 state, Tribal, and other stakeholder representatives. This is the first time the Committee has featured a member from the renewable energy sector. The Chairman is Vincent DeVito, Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy, and the Executive Director is James Schindler.
Interior Department Supported $254 Billion in Economic Activity and Nearly 1.7 million Jobs in FY 2016
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 29/ 17 (link source)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today released the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Economic Report for Fiscal Year 2016. The report highlights that Interior activities supporting conventional and renewable energy, recreation, conservation, water energy supported $254 billion in economic output and nearly 1.7 million jobs during the year.
National parks, refuges, monuments and other public lands managed by Interior hosted an estimated 473 million recreational visits in 2016—up from 443 million in 2015—these visits supported $50 billion in economic output and about 426,000 jobs nationwide.
The Department’s diverse portfolio includes the management of some 500 million acres of public lands, and another 1.7 billion acres offshore on the Outer Continental Shelf. In addition, the Department is the Nation’s largest supplier and manager of water in 17 Western states. It oversees cutting-edge scientific research in the areas of geology, hydrology and biology and serves as Trustee for 567 federally-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.
Highlights from the report include:
Fossil Fuel Energy: In FY 2016, Interior-managed lands and waters produced 768 million barrels of crude oil, 4.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 310 million tons of coal, supporting $68.3 billion in value added, $117.7 billion in economic output, and 582,000 jobs.
Renewable Energy: In FY 2016, Interior lands and facilities produced 36.7 million MWh of hydropower (enough to power 3.4 million homes). Renewable energy projects on Interior lands – solar (6,859MW), wind (3,568 MW), and geothermal energy (1,543 MW) -- supported $3.8 billion in economic output and 17,000 jobs in FY 2016.
Non-fuel Minerals: In FY 2016, Interior lands produced a wide variety of non-fuel minerals, supporting value added of $6.1 billion, economic output of $11.4 billion, and 39,000 jobs.
Recreation: In FY 2016, Interior’s lands hosted an estimated 473 million visits, supporting $28.1 billion in value added, $50.0 billion in economic output, and 426,000 jobs.
Water: Interior stores and delivers water for irrigation, municipal and industrial (M&I), and other uses supporting $28.9 billion in value added $49.7 billion in economic output, and 399,000 jobs in FY 2016. Interior also delivers water to support in-stream flows, wildlife refuges, and other uses that not typically reflected in economic contribution estimates.
Forage and Grazing: In FY 2016, Interior lands provided access to 8.6 million animal unit months (AUMs) of forage, supporting $2.4 billion in economic output and 41,000 jobs.
Timber: In FY 2016, about 673,000 mbf of sawtimber was harvested on BLM and tribal lands, supporting $0.48 billion in value added, $1.4 billion in economic output, and 6,200 jobs.
Grants/Payments: Activities related to grant and payment programs administered by Interior supported $6.4 billion in value added, $9.1 billion in economic contributions, and 84,000 jobs in FY 2016.
Conservation: Conservation is a component of recreation, restoration, water management, and even some mineral development activities. The value of these activities is not typically reflected in economic contribution estimates.
Scientific Data: Interior’s data collection and research promote economic growth and innovation and play a role in promoting American competitiveness in a global marketplace. The value of these activities is not typically reflected in economic contribution estimates.
The report is paired with a web-based data visualization tool that lets the user customize the contribution analysis by bureau, activity or State. You can access the tool and download the full economic report, with a discussion of the analysis and methodology applied on the internet at https://doi.sciencebase.gov/doidv/.
STATE LEVEL
WDFW: Most popular hunting seasons of the year open Oct. 14PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 3/ 17 (link source)
OLYMPIA – Some of Washington's most popular hunting seasons will get underway Oct. 14, when modern firearm deer hunters and waterfowl hunters take to the field.
The harsh winter of 2016-17 appears to have taken a toll on some elk and deer populations—especially in parts of eastern Washington, said Jerry Nelson, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) deer and elk section manager.
Still, hunting prospects in many areas look promising as hunts get underway this fall, he added.
"Winter conditions in recent years, wildfires, fall green-up and weather during the hunting season are just some of the factors that can influence deer numbers and distribution," said Nelson. "That is why we are encouraging hunters to review the Hunting Prospects on WDFW's website to find location-specific forecasts."
WDFW's 2017 Hunting Prospects reports (http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/prospects/) include local information on what upcoming seasons may hold.
Hunters will also take to the field for waterfowl. Last season, nearly 550,000 waterfowl were harvested in Washington. Duck, goose, coot and snipe seasons open Oct. 14.
The exceptions include dusky Canada goose hunting, which is closed in Goose Management Area 2. Brant season, determined by the midwinter waterfowl survey, is also currently closed, but may open on selected dates in January. Scaup season is also currently closed, but opens on Nov. 4.
"Washington can anticipate a strong fall flight," said WDFW waterfowl manager Kyle Spragens. "With exceptional habitat conditions in Washington this past spring, and strong numbers of birds spotted during surveys in Alaska and Canada, things are looking fantastic."
WDFW has already received reports of early arriving cackling, white-fronted, and snow geese, he added.
Information on access to more than 1 million acres of private land can be found at the Private Lands Hunting Access page (http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/hunting_access/private_lands/).
Hunters can also find information on public or private lands open to hunting by visiting GoHunt, WDFW's interactive mapping program (http://apps.wdfw.wa.gov/gohunt/).
Hunters can purchase their licenses at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, at any WDFW license dealer (http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors/) or by calling WDFW's licensing customer service number at (360) 902-2464.
WDFW to host meeting on options for 2018 halibut season
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 3/ 17 (link source)
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will host a public meeting Oct. 12 to discuss management options for the 2018 halibut season.
The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 12, at Montesano City Hall, 112 N. Main St.
State halibut managers will provide an overview of options under consideration by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) for recreational and commercial fisheries during next year's fishing 2018 season.
WDFW will then invite public comments on those options and consider that input in developing recommendations to the PFMC before the federally established council meets in November.
"All of these options are based on suggestions made by anglers to improve the state's halibut fishery," said Heather Reed, coastal policy coordinator for WDFW. "We know there is a lot of interest in upcoming halibut seasons, and we encourage the public to participate in this meeting."
Reed said one key option under consideration is to structure the state's recreational halibut fisheries on the north coast, south coast and Puget Sound marine areas around common dates, as was done this year. Within that structure, the PFMC has proposed two new options:
Maintain area-specific quotas where those waters would remain open to halibut fishing until their quotas are reached.
Manage the first four days of the season under a shared quota, then distribute any remaining quota to each area according to its established allocation. Additional fisheries for each area would then depend on whether there is sufficient quota to support them.
Other options under consideration include:
Establishing an annual catch limit of two to six fish for individual anglers.
Change the days of the week the Columbia River all-depth fishery is open to allow anglers to fish Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Lower the cap on the amount of halibut allocated to the commercial sablefish fishery, which incidentally harvests halibut while targeting sablefish. This option would be in effect when the overall quota for Washington, Oregon and California is less than 1.5 million pounds.
More information about these options can be found online at http://www.pcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/G1b_Sup_WDFW_Rpt2_SEPT2017BB.pdf.
OUR ENVIRONMENT...
EPA to Discharge Wastewater, Implement Hurricane Response Plan at the Mississippi Phosphates Corporation Site in Pascagoula, Miss., as Tropical Storm Nate AdvancesPRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 5/ 17 (link source)
ATLANTA (October 5, 2017) In anticipation of heavy rainfall and storm surge associated with Tropical Storm Nate, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that a discharge of wastewater will begin today at the Mississippi Phosphates Corporation (MPC) Site in Pascagoula, Miss. This intentional discharge of wastewater, known as a bypass, is being conducted because rain and associated storm surge from the advancing storm is forecasted to exceed storage capacity of the on-site phosphogypsum stacks and wastewater treatment system. Prior to Tropical Storm Nate making landfall as a hurricane, EPA is also implementing the Hurricane Response Plan for the Site and will be installing the hurricane storm surge gates.
Maintaining site safety is EPA’s top priority in order to protect workers, nearby residents and the surrounding environment. EPA is coordinating closely with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and local officials to closely monitor the weather forecast and determine appropriate next steps.
Over the past 36 hours, Tropical Storm Nate has tracked further westward and is currently forecasted to make landfall near coastal Mississippi. Between three to five inches of rain are forecasted for the Pascagoula area. Based on the uncertainty of the final landfall and potential increase of rainfall and storm surge, EPA plans to discharge approximately 40 million gallons of wastewater to ensure there is adequate storage on-site for additional rainfall and reduce risks of uncontrolled releases.
EPA will keep potentially impacted stakeholders informed of site conditions and of any additional public precautionary measures needed.
Wastewater bypasses authorized by the EPA must follow strict guidelines laid out in the Contingency Plan for Bypass and Spill Response for the facility. Discharged wastewater is partially treated and there are no anticipated impacts to the environment. EPA will continue sampling and monitoring of Bayou Casotte per the Contingency Plan.
MPC is a former diammonium phosphate fertilizer plant that began operation in the 1950s. The facility ceased operations in December 2014 under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, leaving more than 700,000,000 gallons of low-pH, contaminated wastewater stored at the facility.
On Feb. 11, 2017, EPA assumed temporary control of wastewater treatment operations at the former MPC fertilizer facility once the MPC Environmental Trust, which owns the property, ran out of funds. Currently, EPA is overseeing wastewater treatment at a rate of approximately 2 million gallons per day. EPA will continue to oversee wastewater treatment operations at the MPC Site until the facility is sold or cleaned up and closed. EPA proposed listing the Site on the Superfund National Priorities List on August 8, 2017.
EPA awards $32 million for tribal environmental programs in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 5/ 17 (link source)
SEATTLE – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is awarding $32 million in Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) grants to tribes and tribal consortia in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
GAP funding helps tribes develop environmental protection programs and make informed decisions about issues that impact the health of their people and the quality of their environment. Since its inception, EPA's GAP program has played a critical role in achieving environmental progress and facilitating government-to-government relationships between tribes and the EPA.
“Tribes continue to make great strides in environmental protection and improving public health,” said Scott Pruitt, EPA Administrator. “EPA’s Indian Environmental General Assistance Program empowers tribes to build the capacity to support successful environmental programs to protect public health and their air, water and lands.”
“The GAP program is vitally important in this region because about half of the federally recognized tribes in the nation are in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Michelle Pirzadeh. “Many tribes in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest have small governments and these funds assist tribes to establish and sustain environmental protection programs.”
Federally recognized tribes in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest use these capacity building grants for staff development, creating environmental plans, seeking technical assistance, developing partnerships and collaboration, and community outreach and education – the building blocks for successful environmental programs.
In recent years, tribes in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest have used the funds for fish consumption studies, watershed protection, emergency response planning, shoreline erosion monitoring, and documenting traditional ecological knowledge to inform environmental program actions. GAP grants have helped tribes with challenging conditions in rural Alaska by reducing harmful road dust produced from driving on unpaved dirt roads, encouraging proper ventilation to improve air quality in homes tightly-sealed for cold weather, and by advancing recycling and proper management of household hazardous waste.
The EPA’s Pacific Northwest Region 10 serves communities and administers federal environmental laws in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington in partnership with the region’s 271 federally recognized tribes, states, and other federal agencies.
The GAP program was created by Congress in 1992 to provide grants for federally recognized tribes to plan, develop, and establish the capability to implement core environmental programs administered by EPA. EPA technical experts and tribal coordinators share their expertise with tribal environmental staff to guide and inform strategy development, research, technical needs, and compliance and enforcement.
ON THE STATE LEVEL...
DOE: Ecology proposes new rule for managing public funds
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 4/ 17 (link source)
LACEY – Nearly $250 million of the Washington Department of Ecology’s budget is awarded to local communities through grants and loans. Ecology has drafted a new rule that will govern how the agency manages some of those funds, and is looking for public review and comment on it.
The new rule applies to grant and loan programs that the Legislature authorized to use Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) funds. It will not change how grants and loans are currently managed but put existing best practices into rule to meet the agency’s legal obligation.
“We’ve been entrusted by the Legislature to responsibly manage public funds,” said Chief Financial Officer Erik Fairchild. “Our goal is to give grant and loan recipients clarity about the state’s expectations for spending these funds.”
State law requires Ecology to adopt rules for grant and loan programs that are funded by MTCA. Several grant programs funded by MTCA accounts already have detailed rules that outline distribution and performance standards. This new rule will not affect those grants and loans.
Public comments on the proposed rule are being accepted until Nov. 14, 2017.
WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS from REUTERS
North Korea preparing long-range missile test: RIA cites Russian lawmaker
MOSCOW (Reuters) - North Korea is preparing to test a long-range missile which it believes can reach the west coast of the United States, RIA news agency cited a Russian lawmaker as saying on Friday.
U.N. fears 'further exodus' of Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar
GENEVA/YANGON (Reuters) - The United Nations braced on Friday for a possible “further exodus” of Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar into Bangladesh six weeks after the world’s fastest-developing refugee emergency began, U.N. humanitarian aid chief said.
In meeting with military, Trump talks of 'calm before the storm'
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After discussing Iran and North Korea with U.S. military leaders on Thursday, President Donald Trump posed for a photo with them before dinner and declared the moment “the calm before the storm.”
Republicans move on tax reform; Fed officials see economic threats
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Republicans moved to hasten an overhaul of the U.S. tax code on Thursday, while Federal Reserve officials warned in rare public remarks that President Donald Trump’s tax plan could lead to inflation and unsustainable federal debt.
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Isaiah 26:4 NKJV
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