The full committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. to receive testimony concerning offshore hydrocarbon production and the future of alternate energy resources on the outer Continental Shelf. Issues to be discussed include: recent technological advancements made in the offshore exploration and production of traditional forms of energy, and the future of deep shelf and deepwater production; enhancements in worker safety, and steps taken by the offshore oil and gas industry to meet environmental challenges. Participants in the hearing will also address ways that the federal government can facilitate increased exploration and production offshore while protecting the environment. New approaches to help diversify the offshore energy mix will also be discussed.
Invited Witnesses Include:
Panel 1
Admiral James D. Watkins (USN, Ret.) President Emeritus Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education Washington, D.C.
Ms. Rejane “Johnnie” Burton Director Minerals Management Service Department of the Interior
Dr. Robert Thresher Director, National Wind Technology Center National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden, CO
Panel 2
Mr. Scott A. Angelle Secretary Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Baton Rouge, LA
The Honorable Frank W. Wagner Senator, State of Virginia Virginia Beach, VA
Charles D. Davidson Chairman, President and CEO Noble Energy, Inc. Houston, TX
Ms. Debbie Boger Deputy Legislative Director Sierra Club Washington, D.C.
The water and power subcommittee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, April 19 at 2:30 p.m. to receive testimony on S. 166, to amend the Oregon Resource Conservation Act of 1996 to reauthorize the participation of the Bureau of Reclamation in the Deschutes River Conservancy; S. 251, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a water resource feasibility study for the Little Butte/Bear Creek Subbasins in Oregon; S. 310, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Newlands Project Headquarters and Maintenance Yard Facility to the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District in the State of Nevada; S. 519, to amend the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000 to authorize additional projects and activities under that Act; and S. 592, to extend the contract for the Glendo Unit of the Missouri River Basin Project in the State of Wyoming.
Invited Witnesses Include:
Panel 1
The Honorable John W. Keys III Commissioner Bureau of Reclamation Department of the Interior
Panel 2
Wayne Halbert General Manager Harlingen Irrigation District Harlingen, TX
Tod Heisler Executive Director Deschutes River Conservancy Bend, OR
Jim Hill City of Medford Water Reclamation Division Administrator Chair, WISE Project Advisory Committee Medford, OR
Ernie Schank President, Board of Directors TCID Fallon, NV
The full committee will hold the second half of the Future of Coal Conference on Thursday, April 21 at 3:00 p.m. in Dirksen 366. The first half of the conference was held on March 10, but cut short due to conflicting Senate votes.
The committee staff selected 25 groups to present and discuss their proposed solutions to the challenge of developing and using coal in an environmentally-friendly manner to help meet the growing U.S. demand for electricity.
The conference participant list, guidelines and proposals can be found on the Energy Committee website at http://energy.senate.gov/.
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