In the News
Lawmakers set for another run at overhauling fisheries law
by Rob Hotakainen
The House Natural Resources Committee plans to meet again this week to consider a proposed reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, a 1976 law that sets the rules for fishing in all federal waters. If approved, the law would include a mention of climate change for the first time in history. The panel last week began a debate on H.R. 4690, the "Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act," a bill that would require NOAA to create plans for … Continue Reading
September 26, 2022
Yurok Tribe to host inaugural summit on missing, murdered Indigenous people
by Sonia Waraich
Tribes have been limited in how they can respond to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people in their communities, but the Yurok Tribe is leading an effort to find solutions that will empower tribes across the state and the country. Next week, the Yurok Tribe is set to host the inaugural Northern California Tribal Summit on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, where the topics of discussion will include the root causes of the crisis, ways to reduce the risks to Indigenous … Continue Reading
September 24, 2022
Caltrans favors elevating Highway 37 to address flood risks
by Will Houston
In an effort to protect Highway 37 from rising sea levels, a new state study calls for elevating the route onto a causeway within the next two decades. Presenting its findings this month, Caltrans said its preferred solution is to build a 30-foot-high, four-lane causeway along the current alignment of the highway, a 21-mile corridor connecting Highway 101 in Marin County to Interstate 80 in Vallejo. The plan would include a pedestrian and bicycle path and might include an extension of SMART … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Vote on climate-focused fisheries overhaul goes into overtime
by Rob Hotakainen
The House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday moved toward approving an overhaul of the nation's premier fishing law but ultimately decided it needed more time to do so, postponing a final vote. The panel planned to advance H.R. 4690, the "Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act," a bill that would require NOAA to create plans for "climate ready fisheries" to manage the nation's shifting stocks. But after spending hours debating a series of controversial amendments - on issues … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
'Not a crisis': Panel hosts heated debate on climate bill
by Heather Richards
Legislation to tether oil and gas drilling on public lands to national climate targets sparked a fight Tuesday over whether climate change is a "crisis." A Natural Resources subcommittee met to probe the "Public Lands and Waters Climate Leadership Act of 2022," H.R. 8802, from Chair Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.). The bill would have the Interior Department and the Forest Service to suspend coal, oil and gas leasing and permitting while the agencies develop a strategy to align fossil fuel … Continue Reading
September 19, 2022
Alaska Democrat’s arrival signals change in fisheries debate
by Rob Hotakainen
As the first Alaska native elected to Congress, Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola will bring a new twist to a long-running fisheries debate when the House Natural Resources Committee votes on a proposed overhaul of the nation’s premier fishing law this week. It’s a top issue for Peltola, who was sworn in last week and promptly won a seat on the committee. It’s also an issue that Peltola knows well, having served as director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
With Peltola on board, Dems revive fisheries law overhaul
by Rob Hotakainen, Timothy Cama
House Democrats on Thursday revived a long-delayed overhaul of the nation’s primary fisheries law with one big change: Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat who was sworn in this week as Alaska’s newest member of Congress, is backing the effort. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, had put his bill to reauthorize the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act on hold after the death of Alaska … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
Yurok, Karuk chairs testify in support of House bills returning land
by Sonia Waraich
North Coast tribes have been working for years on restoring their ancestral land, and the federal government seems poised to return some of that land to the Yurok and Karuk tribes in the near future. At a hearing of the U.S. Natural Resources’ Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States on Wednesday, Yurok Chairman Joseph L. James and Karuk Chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery spoke about the ecological and cultural significance of the U.S. Forest Service land … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
California Lawmaker Unveils Bill To Legalize Direct-To-Consumer Marijuana Sales Nationwide
by A.J. Herrington
A California lawmaker on Wednesday introduced a federal bill that would allow small, licensed cannabis operators to sell and ship their products directly to consumers, including across state lines. Known as the Small and Homestead Independent Producers (SHIP) Act, the legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday by Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman of California. If passed, the SHIP Act would allow small cannabis farmers to send marijuana purchases to … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
Small Marijuana Growers Could Sell Directly To Consumers Across State Lines Under New Congressional Bill
by Kyle Jaeger
A pair of congressmen filed a bill on Wednesday that’s intended to help small marijuana growers compete against large corporations when cannabis is federally legalized, proposing to give them the ability to ship and sell products directly to consumers within and across state lines. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) is leading the legislation—titled the “Small and Homestead Independent Producers (SHIP) Act”—alongside Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). As Congress continues to … Continue Reading
September 13, 2022
‘Sleazy backroom deal’: Progressives tangle one more time with Manchin
by Sarah Ferris and Burgess Everett
After nearly two years of watching Joe Manchin tank some of their biggest priorities, House progressives finally have sway over one of his. And they have every intention of using it. Dozens of House Democrats are now threatening Manchin’s proposal to streamline energy project permits — even if it breaks a commitment that paved the way for the party’s massive climate, tax and health care victory earlier this summer. Now that President Joe Biden has signed that … Continue Reading
September 12, 2022
Progressive opposition grows ahead of permitting bill release
by George Cahlink
Congress could unveil stopgap spending legislation this week that could carry a contentious permitting reform overhaul and aid to address the water crisis in Jackson, Miss. The House will return from August recess with progressives eager to derail a plan to attach permitting overhaul legislation to stopgap spending legislation that Congress needs to pass by the end of this month to avert a government shutdown. The funding measure will likely last until mid-December to give lawmakers time to … Continue Reading
September 08, 2022
Commentary: Federal grant allows Petaluma to expand recycled water use
by David Rabbitt
I’m thrilled to share the news that the North Bay Water Reuse Program (NBWRP) has been awarded a federal grant of $6.9 million to help expand the capacity, distribution and use of recycled water produced at Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility in Petaluma. This is wonderful news, as the grant provides over 25% of the anticipated cost of three key projects, which are crucial as we work to build resiliency in our water delivery system — especially in this time of historic … Continue Reading
September 08, 2022
Noyo Center for Marine Science awarded $825,230 grant from American Rescue Plan
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding an $825,230 grant to the Noyo Center for Marine Science, Fort Bragg, California, to boost tourism in Mendocino County through the development of new visitor infrastructure. The American Rescue Plan funds this grant. This grant will support design work and a feasibility study for the Noyo Center for Marine Science’s Ocean Science Center, a planned marine research and visitor center. The EDA … Continue Reading
September 06, 2022
What to expect on permitting reform as Congress returns
by Jeremy Dillon, Nick Sobczyk
Congress returns from its recess this week to face major questions over a promised vote on permitting reform. Progressives and their activist allies have been grumbling for weeks over a deal struck between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). allowing a vote to streamline environmental reviews of energy infrastructure projects. That deal was crucial to winning Manchin’s vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, … Continue Reading
August 31, 2022
Three House Democrats call for tighter carbon offset standards
by ZACK BUDRYK
Three House Democrats in environmental leadership positions on Tuesday called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to strengthen standards for voluntary carbon offsets. In the letter, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee; Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Natural Resources Water, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee; and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), the chairwoman of the House Select … Continue Reading
August 26, 2022
Democrats clash over Manchin side deal, raise shutdown risk
by Rachel Frazin
Liberal lawmakers are pressing Democratic leaders in the House to not include a side deal undercutting environmental reviews worked out with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) in a short-term measure funding the government. House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is circulating a letter asking leadership to separate the Manchin deal out from a continuing resolution that would temporarily avert a government shutdown. “Don’t … Continue Reading
August 26, 2022
FERC releases final environmental statement on Klamath dam removal
by Sonia Waraich
The federal agency that regulates hydroelectric dams has issued its final environmental impact statement for the removal of the dams on the Klamath River a month earlier than expected and that could mean dam removal would begin early next year. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Friday issued its final environmental impact statement with staff recommending the commission approve the Klamath River Renewal Corporation’s application to remove the J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. … Continue Reading
August 25, 2022
Climate Activists Plot Way Out of Manchin’s Oil Lease Mandate
by Jennifer Dlouhy
Climate activists have developed plans to foil a provision Senator Joe Manchin wedged into the new climate law that ties renewable energy projects to more oil and gas drilling. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, new wind and solar leases on federal lands and waters are contingent upon the sale of drilling rights in the same territory within a specific timeframe. Environmentalists initially dubbed it a “climate suicide pact” and warned the requirement would hold green projects … Continue Reading
August 23, 2022
Rep. Huffman announces $1.6 million grant for Tolowa Dee-ni' nation road project
by Austin Castro
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — On Tuesday, Congressman Jared Huffman announced that $1.6 million in funding will go towards the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity Project. The project funding will be used to create pedestrian and bicycle paths around Highway 101. The funds were allocated through a federal funding package for the fiscal year 2022 that Rep. Huffman voted to pass. “The 1.5-mile stretch of Highway 101 the … Continue Reading