Washington, D.C. – The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today approved  two nominations and 10 bills in an 11:15 a.m. business meeting. The nominations and bills were approved by unanimous consent.
 
The items reported out of committee are as follows:

To consider the nomination of Jeffrey D. Jarrett to be Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Department of Energy.

To consider the nomination of Edward F. Sproat III to be Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of Energy.

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 after: (1) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and applicable cultural resources requirements have been complied with; and (2) any required environmental site assessment, remediation, or removal has been completed.

Directs that amounts received by the United States for the lease and sale of Newlands Project lands comprising the Fallon Freight Yard be treated as consideration for the conveyed property.

Requires the Secretary to report to Congress if the conveyance has not been completed within one year after this Act's enactment. Shields the United States from liability for damages arising out of any act or omission by the District or its employees, agents, or contractors relating to the property conveyed.

S. 435 as amended - To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System with a technical amendment to clarify the time allowed for DOI to complete the study.

S. 648 -  To amend the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 to extend the authority for drought assistance.

S. 1025 - Wichita Project Equus Beds Division Authorization Act of 2005 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to assist in the funding and implementation of the Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Component of the Integrated Local Water Supply Plan, Wichita, Kansas (referred to as the Equus Beds Division). Requires that construction of the Division be in substantial accordance with the plans and designs. Makes operation, maintenance, and replacement of the Division, including funding for those purposes, the sole responsibility of the City of Wichita.

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into or agree to amendments of cooperative or other appropriate agreements; and (2) charge an appropriate share related to administrative costs.

Directs the Secretary: (1) before obligating funds for design or construction, to work cooperatively with the City to use plans, designs, and engineering and environmental analyses that have already been prepared by the City for the Division; and (2) to assure that such information is used in a manner consistent with applicable Federal laws and regulations, including principles and guidelines used in preparing feasibility level project studies. 

The amendment deletes the provision requiring the Secretary of Interior to comply with ‘principles and guidelines used in preparing feasibility level project studies’.

S. 1096 -  To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate portions of the Musconetcong River in the State of New Jersey as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage those segments in accordance with the Musconetcong River Management Plan (dated April 2002), which establishes goals and actions to ensure long-term protection of the outstanding values of the river segments and compatible management of land and water resources associated with such segments. Considers the management plan as satisfying the requirements for a comprehensive management plan for those river segments. Directs the Secretary, in determining whether a proposed water resources project would have a direct and adverse effect on the values for which a river segment is designated as part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, to consider the extent to which the project is consistent with the management plan.

Authorizes the Secretary to manage the river segments in cooperation with appropriate Federal, State, regional, and local agencies.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide planning, financial, and technical assistance to local municipalities and nonprofit organizations to assist in the implementation of actions to protect the natural and historic resources of the river segments.

Provides for the designation of an additional river segment if there is adequate local support.

S. 1310 as amended - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Natural Gas Pipeline Enlargement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant an easement to the Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation to enlarge the diameter of a specified pipeline from 14 inches to not more than 20 inches, consistent with the recreational values and protection of the resources of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania with a technical amendment to correct a right of way number; also adds a new title to extend the National Park Service Advisory Board for 2 years.

S. 1552 - To amend Public Law 97-435 to extend the authorization for the Secretary of the Interior to release certain conditions contained in a patent concerning certain land conveyed by the United States to Eastern Washington University until December 31, 2009.

S. 1578 - Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act of 2005 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to undertake capital projects for the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program through FY2010. Limits to $126 million the total costs of such projects.

S. 1760 - To authorize early repayment of obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within Rogue River Valley Irrigation District or within Medford Irrigation District.

S. 1860 as amended - To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to improve energy production and reduce energy demand through improved use of reclaimed waters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

The substitute amendment to S. 1860 does the following:

Removes the designation of Sandia, Lawrence Livermore and Oak Ridge National Laboratories as program lead laboratories.  The amendment directs the Secretary of Energy (hereinafter “Secretary”) to designate the lead laboratory or lead laboratories.  In designating the lead laboratories, the Secretary is directed to take into account the amount of appropriations made available to carry out the program.

Directs the lead laboratory or lead laboratories to partner with a water agency in carrying out the program. 

Directs the Secretary, not the lead laboratory or lead laboratories, to carry out the technology assessment and roadmap.

Directs the Secretary to submit a report on the findings of the technology assessment and roadmap within 18 months, not 24 months.  

Directs the Secretary to establish an independent third party review of the activities carried out under the program.  As introduced, S. 1860 provided that the National Academy of Science to carry out the review. 

Provides that not more than 25% of the funding be provided to the lead laboratory or laboratories.  As introduced, S. 1860 provided that at least 40% of the funding would go to the lead laboratory or lead laboratories.

Provides that at least 60% of the funding would go to competitive grants.  Of this amount, at least 20% shall be provided for demonstration projects.  As introduced, S. 1860 provided that at least 40% of the funding would be provided for competitive grants.