Issues: U.S. Law & Policy

To receive this bulletin by email, subscribe to our mailing list. If you'd like to take action on these and other environmental issues, subscribe also to Earth Action, our biweekly activist bulletin, or visit NRDC's Earth Action Center.

Congress returned from its August recess after Labor Day and immediately began debate on comprehensive energy legislation. Key environmental issues such as offshore drilling and other types of energy development were the subject of intense debate.

Appropriations

On 9/24, by a vote of 370-58, the House passed a continuing resolution (H.R. 2638) to keep the government funded until all appropriations bills are passed. The bill failed to renew the 27-year moratorium on offshore drilling that lapses on September 30th, meaning all Pacific and Atlantic coast states will be open to offshore drilling as near as three miles from their shorelines. The continuing resolution also failed to renew a moratorium on oil shale development. Oil shale is a sedimentary rock with deposits of kerogen (an oil-like substance) trapped between its layers. The process of removing the kerogen from the shale requires large quantities of water and energy -- both in short supply where the oil shale deposits are located -- and contaminates both surface and groundwater. Oil shale also has a huge carbon footprint -- double that of gasoline -- and is inconsistent with moving to a clean energy economy that uses alternative fuels resulting in lower global warming emissions. The environmental community strongly opposes lifting this moratorium.

Energy

On 9/24, the Senate voted 93-2 for a $17 billion energy tax package (H.R. 6049) that extends credits for wind and solar energy, as well as energy efficiency and other projects. It also, however, includes incentives for the production of dirty fuels such as oil shale, tar sands and liquid coal. President Bush has indicated he will sign the bill, but disagreements between the House and Senate over how to pay for the bill must first be resolved.

On 9/16, the House voted 236-189 for a bill (H.R. 6899) to increase offshore oil and gas exploration and expand renewable energy incentives. An alternative measure to allow more drilling and give states a share of the revenues failed 191-226. The environmental community strongly opposed this alternative measure, in particular because revenue sharing gives coastal states an incentive to allow drilling.

Environmental Education

On 9/18, the House voted 293-109 to pass legislation (H.R. 3036) to fund environmental education. The bill would encourage individuals from under-represented backgrounds to pursue careers in the environmental field. It also would support interaction between educators and working professionals.

Water

On 9/18, the House voted 371-20 to increase cleanup funding for the Great Lakes from $50 million to $150 million annually through 2013. The legislation (H.R. 6460) would reauthorize the 2002 Great Lakes Legacy Act to eliminate contaminant hot spots where PCBs, heavy metals and other pollutants poured from industrial sources into the Great Lakes and its tributaries.

last revised 9.29.08