Recent Federal Bills

Below are summaries of Bills Introduced, Committee Reports, Chamber Actions, and Public Laws reported in the most recent issue of ELR's Weekly Update.

would establish a program to generate dependable economic activity for counties and local governments containing National Forest System land through a management-focused approach.

would designate and expand wilderness areas in Olympic National Forest in the state of Washington and designate certain rivers in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park as wild and scenic rivers.

would exempt certain water transfers by the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Greater Texoma Utility Authority from the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981.

would promote the development of renewable energy on public lands.

would amend the National Trails System Act to revise the route of the North Country National Scenic Trail in northeastern Minnesota to include existing hiking trails along Lake Superior's north shore and in Superior National Forest and Chippewa National Forest.

would amend the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 to require recordkeeping and authorize investigations and enforcement actions for violations of such Act.

would amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to improve the response to insect infestations and related diseases and change the funding source for the Healthy Forests Reserve Program, codify the stewardship end result contracting and good neighbor authorities, and amend the emergency watershed protection program to improve post fire rehabilitation.

would place a moratorium on permitting for mountaintop removal coal mining until health studies are conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services.

would amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to improve energy programs.

would prohibit the Secretary of Energy from enforcing regulations pertaining to certain battery chargers.