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 reduce the heat island effect and associated ground-level ozone pollution from federal facilities.

would reauthorize the African Elephant Conservation Act, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, and the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997.

would direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement an oil and gas leasing program for the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas resources of the Coastal Plain of Alaska.

would designate certain federal lands in San Diego County, California, as wilderness.

would delist the polar bear as a threatened species under the ESA.

would provide for the reforestation of forest landscapes, protection of old growth forests, and management of national forests in the eastside forests of the state of Oregon.

would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require oil polluters to pay the full cost of oil spills.

would amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to require oil polluters to pay the full cost of oil spills.

would amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to permit funds in the Oil Spill Liability Trust to be used by NOAA, the Coast Guard, and other federal agencies for certain research, prevention, and response capabilities with respect to discharges of oil; for environmental studies; and for grant programs to communities affected by oil spills on the outer continental shelf.

would direct the Administrator of NOAA to institute research into the special circumstances associated with oil spill prevention and response in Arctic waters, including assessment of impacts on Arctic marine mammals and other wildlife, marine debris research and removal, and risk assessment.