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Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress

This report provides background and analysis on several issues related to the Clean Air Act, including: Clear Skies / Multi-Pollutant Legislation, Mercury from Power Plants, New Source Review (NSR), MTBE and Ethanol, Ozone Nonattainment Area Deadlines, and Conformity of Transportation Plans and SIPs. It also discusses the most recent developments.
Date: February 22, 2005
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress

In the Summer of 2005, Congress focused on several Clean Air Act Issues before the August recess. Although the Congressional agenda stated that attention would be given to the needed amendments of the Clear Skies/Multi-Pollutant Legislation, this progress was stalled, and the committee failed to approve the bill due to a tied vote. This otherwise stagnated debate was given some attention due to the discussions over mercury regulations as they apply to power plants. The outcome of the decision concerning these regulations has stirred controvery in at least fifteen states. Perhaps the most debated issue that Congress covered concerned MTBE and Ethanol, which have been used to meet the Clean Air Act requiremnets that reformulated gasoline(RFG), sold in the nation’s worst ozone nonattainment areas, contain at least 2% oxygen, to improve combustion. Air quality standard deadlines and provisions, specifically in the most severe ozone nonattainment areas, were discussed by Congress. Dsicussions over the Clean Air Act also sparked discussions over environmental regulations concerning related issues, including the Conformity of Transportation Plans and SIPs, and Hurricane Katrina.
Date: September 22, 2005
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress

In the Summer of 2005, Congress focused on several Clean Air Act Issues before the August recess. Although the Congressional agenda stated that attention would be given to the needed amendments of the Clear Skies/Multi-Pollutant Legislation, this progress was stalled, and the committee failed to approve the bill due to a tied vote. This otherwise stagnated debate was given some attention due to the discussions over mercury regulations as they apply to power plants. The outcome of the decision concerning these regulations has stirred controversy in at least fifteen states. Perhaps the most debated issue that Congress covered concerned MTBE and Ethanol, which have been used to meet the Clean Air Act requirements that reformulated gasoline (RFG), sold in the nation’s worst ozone nonattainment areas, contain at least 2% oxygen, to improve combustion. Air quality standard deadlines and provisions, specifically in the most severe ozone nonattainment areas, were discussed by Congress. Discussions over the Clean Air Act also sparked discussions over environmental regulations concerning related issues, including the Conformity of Transportation Plans and SIPs, and Hurricane Katrina.
Date: September 22, 2005
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress

Major amendments to the Clean Air Act were among the first items on the agenda of the 109th Congress, with S. 131 (the Clear Skies Act) scheduled for markup by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee March 9. The most prominent air quality issues discussed in this report are; Clear Skies / Multi-Pollutant Legislation, Mercury from Power Plants, New Source Review (NSR), MTBE and Ethanol, Ozone Nonattainment Area Deadlines, and Conformity of Transportation Plans and SIPs.
Date: April 22, 2005
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clean Water Act Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Clean Water Act Issues in the 109th Congress

Congress has recently focused legislative attention on narrow bills to extend or modify selected Clean Water Act (CWA) programs, rather than taking up comprehensive proposals. In the 109th Congress, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has approved S. 1400, a bill authorizing $20 billion in federal grants to capitalize state clean water infrastructure loan programs. Also, a House committee has approved bills to reauthorize several Clean Water Act programs: H.R. 624 would provide $1.5 billion in grants over six years for sewer overflow projects; H.R. 1359 would extend a pilot program for alternative water source projects; H.R. 1721 would reauthorize coastal water quality programs; and H.R. 3963 would extend the Long Island Sound Program.
Date: June 22, 2005
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress (open access)

Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress

Climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are a continuing issue in the 109th Congress. Bills directly addressing climate change issues range from those focused primarily on climate change research to comprehensive emissions cap-and-trade programs. Additional bills focus on GHG reporting and registries, or on power plant emissions of carbon dioxide, as part of wider controls on pollutant emissions. The bills vary in their approaches to climate change issues. This report briefly discusses the basic concepts on which these bills are based and compares major provisions of the bills in each of the following categories: climate change research, technology deployment, GHG reporting and registries, and emissions reduction programs.
Date: February 22, 2006
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 109th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices (open access)

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 109th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices

None
Date: April 22, 2005
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.; Corn, M. Lynne; Sheikh, Pervaze A.; Baldwin, Pamela & Meltz, Robert
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy Policy: Comprehensive Energy Legislation (H.R. 6) in the 109th Congress (open access)

Energy Policy: Comprehensive Energy Legislation (H.R. 6) in the 109th Congress

The House passed H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, on April 21, 2005 (249-183). The legislation includes a “safe harbor” provision to protect methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) refiners from product liability suits, which was retained after a close vote on an amendment to drop the language (213-219). In the 108th Congress, there was opposition to this provision in the Senate. It is unclear how its inclusion may affect Senate passage of an energy bill in the 109th Congress. House Republicans have indicated that a compromise will be sought to satisfy the other body. Language in the House-passed bill would also authorize opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to exploration and development. An amendment to delete the ANWR provisions from H.R. 6 was defeated (200-231).
Date: April 22, 2005
Creator: Bamberger, Robert L. & Behrens, Carl E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy Policy: Comprehensive Energy Legislation (H.R. 6, S. 10) in the 109th Congress (open access)

Energy Policy: Comprehensive Energy Legislation (H.R. 6, S. 10) in the 109th Congress

Conferees on H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, began meeting July 14, 2005, and are predicting that the conference will be completed July 25. The Senate passed its version of the bill June 28, and the House passed its version April 21. The Senate and House bills are similar, but major differences exist, including the following areas: ethanol and methyl tertiary-butyl ether, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, electricity restructuring, renewable energy, climate change, tax provisions, outer continental shelf, and the siting of LNG terminals
Date: July 22, 2005
Creator: Bamberger, Robert L. & Behrens, Carl E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy Policy: Comprehensive Energy Legislation (H.R. 6, S. 10) in the 109th Congress (open access)

Energy Policy: Comprehensive Energy Legislation (H.R. 6, S. 10) in the 109th Congress

Conferees on H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, began meeting July 14, 2005, and are predicting that the conference will be completed July 25. The Senate passed its version of the bill June 28, and the House passed its version April 21. The Senate and House bills are similar, but major differences exist, including the following areas: ethanol and methyl tertiary-butyl ether, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, electricity restructuring, renewable energy, climate change, tax provisions, outer continental shelf, and the siting of LNG terminals
Date: July 22, 2005
Creator: Bamberger, Robert L. & Behrens, Carl E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy Tax Policy (open access)

Energy Tax Policy

This report discusses the history, current posture, and outlook for federal energy tax policy. It also discusses recent energy tax proposals, focusing on the major energy tax provisions that were debated as part of omnibus energy legislation in the 108th Congress (e.g., H.R. 6), which may be reintroduced in the 109th Congress.
Date: April 22, 2005
Creator: Lazzari, Salvatore
System: The UNT Digital Library
Environmental Protection Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Environmental Protection Issues in the 109th Congress

Environmental protection concerns span a wide variety of issues, including clean air, water quality, chemical security, and environmental aspects of other major issue areas such as transportation and defense. This issue brief provides an overview of key environmental issues that are receiving or may receive attention in the 109th Congress. The sections on specific issues contain references to more detailed and extensive CRS reports on the subjects covered.
Date: May 22, 2006
Creator: Fletcher, Susan R. & Isler, Margaret M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 (H.R. 1360, 109th Congress) (open access)

Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 (H.R. 1360, 109th Congress)

None
Date: March 22, 2005
Creator: Cohen, Henry & Brooks, Nathan
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Research and Development: Budgeting and Priority-Setting Issues, 109th Congress (open access)

Federal Research and Development: Budgeting and Priority-Setting Issues, 109th Congress

None
Date: March 22, 2005
Creator: Knezo, Genevieve J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 109th Congress (open access)

Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 109th Congress

Fish and marine mammals are important resources in open ocean and nearshore coastal areas. Many laws and regulations guide the management of these resources by federal agencies. This report contains information on commercial and sport fisheries, aquaculture, and marine mammals and issues related to the 109th Congress.
Date: February 22, 2006
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 109th Congress (open access)

Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 109th Congress

This report provides the information related to the fishery, aquaculture, and marine mammal issues in the 109th Congress
Date: April 22, 2005
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments: 109th Congress (open access)

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments: 109th Congress

Enacted in 1966, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was designed to enable any person -- individual or corporate, regardless of citizenship -- to request, without explanation or justification, presumptive access to existing, identifiable, unpublished, executive branch agency records on any topic. The statute specified nine categories of information that may be permissibly exempted from the rule of disclosure. Disputes over the accessibility of requested records could be ultimately settled in court. The statute has become a somewhat popular tool of inquiry and information gathering for various quarters of American society. This report details the history of the Act, as well as relevant legislation and incidences and the efforts to amend the Act.
Date: September 22, 2006
Creator: Relyea, Harold C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Issues for Congress (open access)

Intelligence Issues for Congress

This report gives an overview of current intelligence issues of interest to the 112th Congress. It includes background and analysis including most recent development, ongoing Congressional concerns, specific issues for the 112th Congress, and a summary of related legislation from the 109th through the 112th Congresses.
Date: January 22, 2010
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Methamphetamine: Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Methamphetamine: Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress

This report provides a brief overview of illicit methamphetamine (MA) abuse, production, trafficking, the federal methamphetamine-specific programs, and anti-MA legislation introduced in the 109th Congress. MA abuse has implications for public health, child welfare, crime and public safety, border security, and international relations.
Date: May 22, 2006
Creator: Franco, Celinda
System: The UNT Digital Library
Methamphetamine: Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Methamphetamine: Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress

None
Date: May 22, 2006
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Natural Resources: Selected Issues for the 109th Congress (open access)

Natural Resources: Selected Issues for the 109th Congress

None
Date: August 22, 2005
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Presidential Succession: An Overview with Analysis of Legislation Proposed in the 109th Congress (open access)

Presidential Succession: An Overview with Analysis of Legislation Proposed in the 109th Congress

None
Date: March 22, 2007
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposals in the 109th Congress to Split the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (open access)

Proposals in the 109th Congress to Split the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

None
Date: November 22, 2006
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Research Tax Credit: Current Status, Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress, and Policy Issues (open access)

Research Tax Credit: Current Status, Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress, and Policy Issues

None
Date: September 22, 2006
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library