Report No.28 - Energy

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Miles

Report No.28 covers Senate committee and House committee actions tied to energy and natural resources, with attention to the Alaska LANDS legislative effort. It summarizes mark-up and voting results, describes objections by conservationists to provisions affecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and reductions in park, refuge, and wilderness acreages, and explains how fragmentation in S.9 complicates wildlife management. It also details compromises affecting Misty Fjords and other designated areas, plus additional related bills on energy infrastructure and water use for pipeline projects.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

ENERGY

FIREARMS

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Report No.28 ALASKA LANDS ## ENERGY PARK SERVICE 96th Congress lst Session The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee completed its mark-up of AlasikaLands legislation on October 30,voting to report s.9 by 17-1.The dissenting vote wascast by Sen.Paul Tsongas(Mass.),a long-time supporter of strong conservation measuresin Alaska.Conservationists are displeased with various sections of the bil1,especiallyprovisions which allow oil and gas exploration in the proposed Arctic National Wi1d11feRefuge and substantially reduce acreages in several proposed parks,refuges,andwilderness areas of the House-passed bi11 last Yay.Because of a heavy Senate schedule,there is a good chance that the bil1 will not reach the floor unti1 next year. Whereas the House bil1,H.R.39,designates entire ecosystems as "conservation units,"the Senate Committee version fragments these areas,complicating wildlife managementefforts.S.9 reduces National Wi1dlife Refuges allocated in the House bi11 by about 40million acres,opening up Important wildlife habitat to mining,timbering,and oil and gasleasing. The Senate Committee also deleted valuable sections of severa1 Refugesdesignated in H.R.39,such as Yukon Flats and Yukon Delta National W11dlife Refuges,whichprovide essential waterfowl nesting habitat. The Committee was able to report the b1l1 upon completion of negotiations betweenconservationists and mining interests over the future status of Misty Fjords NationalMonument.In the compromise,Misty Fjords was designated a National Forest Monument witha wilderness overlay,a change from the Natfonal Park Monument status granted by PresidentCarter last December.This new management designation will allow U.S. Borax Company tocontinue mining exploration and discovery on current claims,as well as on cla1ms made ondeposits found within three-fourths of a mile from an existing site.The company w111also be able to build access roads into the nountains after approval of an in-depthEnvironmental Impact Statement. H.R.4370,a jointly-referred bi1l promoting construction of coal slurry pipelines,now is before the House Committee on Public Works after gaining approval October 24 ofthe House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs by a 24-14 vote. H.R.4370 authorizes construction of pipelines to carry pulverized coal mixed withwater from western mines to Texas,Arkansas,and other pofnts in the southwest.Pipelinecompanies would be given power of eminent domain to cross all but state,federal,andIndian Trust lands,Including those owned by competing railroads,The b111,as orderedreported by the Committee,contain an amendment offered by Rep.Dan Marriott(Utah)which assures a state veto over the use of water for the pipelines. A similar bi11 was defeated in the House last year when it encountered intenseopposition from environmentalists and railroad interests, This year,however,theproposal has strong Administration support. Rep.Bob Stump(Ariz.)and 37 colleagues introduced H.R.5712 which would prohibitthe National Park Service from 11miting the number of commerclal motorized boat tripsthrough the Grand Canyon.On October 25,the bi11 was referred to the House Commfttee onInterior and Insular Affairs. November 2,1979 AGRICULTURE Sen.George McGovern(S.D.)on October 25 introduced s.1942,to provide for aresource conservation and development program in the Department of Agriculture.The bi11would encourage and assist State and local units of government and local non-profitorganizations in rural areas to plan,develop,and carry out programs for resourceconservation and development.It provides for up to $60 mi11ion in annual appropr1-ations.The Secretary of Agriculture would evaluate the program and report to Congressat the end of 1986.Sen.McGovern said the b1111s necessary because the Administrationis trying to phase out the program,which affects one-third of American countles. Thebi1l was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture,Nutrition and Forestry.

FAQs

What was the Senate committee’s action on the Alaska LANDS legislation, and what did the vote decide?

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee completed its mark-up of the Alaska LANDS legislation on October 30 and voted to report S.9 by 17-1.

Why are conservationists dissatisfied with sections of the bill?

Conservationists oppose provisions allowing oil and gas exploration in the proposed Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and criticize reductions in acreages in several proposed parks, refuges, and wilderness areas.

How did the committee’s negotiations affect the status of Misty Fjords National Monument?

Through a compromise, Misty Fjords was designated a National Forest Monument with a wilderness overlay, changing from its prior National Park Monument status and enabling continued mining exploration under specified conditions.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Miles