Energy and Environment
Information regarding my stance on Energy and Environment issues.
July 17, 2018
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a twelve-hour public hearing on July 17 to hear oral comments on the proposed rule entitled "Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science." The proposed rule would require the EPA to only use scientific studies with publicly available data in developing regulations, unless the EPA administrator exempts these requirements on an individual case-by-case basis for significant regulatory decisions that a
The highly anticipated — and controversial, for many — Salmonberry Trail project has finally begun, with one of the first small "catalyst" projects in the extensive project showing progress earlier this month in Tillamook.
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici visited a proposed restoration project Tuesday at South Tongue Point, highlighting the importance of the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund in aiding local habitat projects.
The Columbia Land Trust recently secured federal and state grants to purchase 90 acres of South Tongue Point. The Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce will oversee the restoration. Afterwards, the property will be transferred to Clatsop Community College for use as a living laboratory in a new environmental sciences program.
A new EPA-backed proposal could end up limiting the role science plays in creating public regulations on environmental activity. Back in April, the now ex-head of the EPA Scott Pruitt introduced a piece of legislation aimed at increasing the "transparency" of regulatory science.
The new bill would allow the EPA to disregard scientific research if the raw data underlying that research is not made publicly available. Although Pruitt is no longer head of the EPA, the agency is still planning to introduce the bill to congress come August.
Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed S. 756, the Save Our Seas Act, a bill to assist local communities and states in removing garbage and debris from our oceans and shores. House Oceans Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced the bill, H.R. 2748, last year.