OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE NOT FOR SALE
Tomorrow two pieces of legislation go before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Rob Bishop. Both strip federal control of public lands.
One allows energy proposals to be permitted by each state – and excludes consideration through NEPA, the Endangered Species Act and the Historic Preservation Act.
The other – filed by Congressman Amodei and cosponsored by Hardy and Heck – moves federal lands in Nevada into state ownership. Note, there are exemptions for national parks, wilderness areas, refuges and tribal lands but everything else would be moved under state ownership “without consideration.”
Please be prepared. Check out the details. I have provided links below.
Link to the agenda provides links to both pieces of legislation: http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=401321
· H.R. 866 (Rep. Diane Black), To achieve domestic energy independence by empowering States to control the development and production of all forms of energy on all available Federal land. “Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015.” Rep Diane Black is from Tennessee. Won by 71 percent of vote, incumbent Republican. Note these parts of the legislation.
Effect of State action.—Any action by a State to lease, permit, or regulate oil and gas exploration and development pursuant to subsection (b) shall not be subject to, or considered a Federal action, Federal permit, or Federal license under—
(1) subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Administrative Procedure Act’’);
(2) the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.);
(3) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or
(4) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
· H.R. 1484 (Rep. Mark Amodei), To direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal lands to the State of Nevada in fulfillment of the Nevada Statehood Enabling Act, and for other purposes. “Honor the Nevada Enabling Act of 1864 Act.”
Get language through this link –
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1484/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22hr+1484%22%5D%7D&r=1
Both bills were filed in spring 2016. But, as you undoubtedly know, many filed bills do not necessarily get a committee hearing. The timing on both bills is interesting – given Congress is just getting back to work and following the acquittals regarding the Malheur Refuge.
