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 prohibit the Corps of Engineers from taking any action to establish a restricted area prohibiting public access to waters downstream of a dam.

would authorize pedestrian and motorized vehicular access in Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area.

would provide for the partial settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

would exempt National Forest System land in Alaska from the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

would amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of Illabot Creek in Skagit County, Washington, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

would address the bark beetle epidemic, drought, deteriorating forest health conditions, and high risk of wildfires on National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management land by expanding authorities in the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003.

would provide exclusive funding to support fisheries and the communities that rely upon them, clear unnecessary regulatory burdens, and streamline federal fisheries management.

would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the Battery Conservancy to construct and operate a performance facility at Castle Clinton National Monument.

would require the Administrator of EPA to use the commercially available volume of cellulosic biofuel in setting requirements for the renewable fuel program under the CAA.

would prevent excessive speculation in energy commodities.