Legislative Action

Comprehensive Energy Bill

While the House has voted to go to conference on comprehensive energy legislation and has already appointed its conferees, the Senate has yet to do the same. Work continues in the Senate to clear potential obstacles to agreeing to a conference with the House and appointing conferees. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), would like Congress to produce a conference report prior to the summer recess.

This Week’s Hearings:

Tax

• On Tuesday, June 14, the Senate Committee on Finance will hold a hearing titled “Energy Tax Policy in 2016 and Beyond.”

Oil and Gas

• On Tuesday, June 14, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing to examine oil and gas pipeline infrastructure and associated economic, permitting and construction considerations.

Solar

• On Wednesday, June 15, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Energy, will hold a hearing titled “Innovation in Solar Fuels, Electricity Storage, and Advanced Materials.”

Interior

• On Tuesday, June 14, the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, will hold a markup on its FY 2017 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

• On Wednesday, June 15, the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, will hold an oversight hearing titled “State Perspectives on BLM’s Draft Planning 2.0 Rule.”

Superfund

• On Tuesday, June 14, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, will hold a hearing to examine the Environmental Protection Agency’s progress with implementing Inspector General and Government Accountability Office recommendations.

National Parks

• On Tuesday, June 14, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold an oversight hearing on the National Park Service.

• On Wednesday, June 15, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on National Parks, will hold a legislative hearing to examine several bills including S. 2807, which would amend title 54 of the United States Code to require State approval before the Secretary of the Interior restricts access to waters under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service for recreational or commercial fishing.

Regulatory Action

Oil and Gas Royalty Valuation

The Department of Interior has issued a request for comment concerning “Federal Oil and Gas Valuation.” The agency’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONNR) intends to use the information “to ensure that “lessees accurately value and appropriately pay royalties on oil and gas produced from federal onshore and offshore leases.” Comments on or before August 5.