{"id":13177,"date":"2017-07-25T09:48:08","date_gmt":"2017-07-25T13:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/?p=13177"},"modified":"2017-07-25T09:48:08","modified_gmt":"2017-07-25T13:48:08","slug":"policy-news-july-25-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/2017\/07\/25\/policy-news-july-25-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Policy News: July 25, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>In This Issue:<\/strong><\/h1>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#policy_forum\">Member Input Requested: Special Policy Forum at Portland Annual Meeting<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">We want to hear from you. Send us questions today or by the end of this week that you would like the panelists to answer.<\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#action_alert\">Action Alert: Comment on Marine National Monuments and National Marine Sanctuaries by July 26<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#climate_science\">Climate Science: Pruitt and Perry Endorse \u201cRed Team\u2013Blue Team\u201d Review<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#appropriations\">Budget Update: Appropriations Progress in the House and Senate<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#quick\">Quick Reads<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Trump selects climate change skeptic for USDA science post, Interior employee files whistleblower complaint, three national monuments no longer under review, GAO to examine EPA advisory board selection process, no additional Asian carp found past barriers<\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#get_involved\">Get Involved<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Opportunities to provide comments and input to federal agencies, respond to requests for committee nominations, and review assessments<\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#congress\">Congressional Updates<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Climate change roundtables, Climate Solutions Caucus adds new members<\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#legislation\">Legislative Updates<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">House rejects amendment to strike military climate study, Senate hearing on bipartisan conservation bill, controversial water bill passes House, other legislation of interest<\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#fedreg\">Federal Register<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Upcoming meetings and other opportunities for public\u00a0involvement<\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #008080\"><a href=\"#correspondence\">ESA Correspondence to Policymakers<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a name=\"policy_forum\"><\/a>Member Input Requested: Special Policy Forum at Portland Annual Meeting<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em><strong>***We want to hear from you. Send us questions\u00a0by the end of this week that you would like the panelists to answer. Email them to <a href=\"mailto:alison@esa.org\">alison@esa.org <\/a>with \u201cSpecial Policy Forum Question\u201d in the subject line.***<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In response to ecologists\u2019 increased motivation to effectively engage in the political scene, ESA\u2019s Annual Meeting this year will <a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esa\/esa-to-hold-new-special-policy-forum-at-annual-meeting\/\">feature a new event to examine the current national political landscape<\/a> from the ecological science perspective. This <strong>Special Policy Forum<\/strong> will take place on <strong>Monday evening, August 7<\/strong> at 7:15 pm, at the Society\u2019s 102<sup>nd<\/sup> Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon. The forum will begin with the presentation of ESA\u2019s 2017 Regional Policy Award to Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), who will give brief remarks.<\/p>\n<p>Following the award presentation, a panel of key scientific and policy figures will explore the national political environment and ways for ecologists to constructively engage with the administration and with Congress. Distinguished ESA members will serve on the panel:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Frank Davis, <\/strong>Professor, Bren School of Environment, Science and Management, UC Santa Barbara; Director, Long Term Ecological Research Network Communications Office; ESA Vice-president for Public Affairs<\/li>\n<li><strong>David M. Lodge, <\/strong>ESA President and Director of the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell University<\/li>\n<li>The Honorable<strong> Dr. Jane Lubchenco<\/strong>, University Distinguished Professor and Advisor in Marine Studies, Oregon State University; U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean, Department of State; Past ESA President<\/li>\n<li><strong>Richard Pouyat, <\/strong>National Program Lead for Air and Soil Quality Research for Research &amp; Development at the USDA Forest Service; ESA President-elect<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/portland\/plenary-speakers\/\"><strong>Regional Policy Award and Special Policy Forum ESA Annual Meeting<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong>Monday, August 7, 2017, 7:15 PM \u2013 8:45 PM, Oregon Ballroom, Oregon Convention Center.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a name=\"action_alert\"><\/a>Action Alert: Comment on National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments by July 26<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is leading a review of Marine National Monuments and National Marine Sanctuaries in accordance with the president\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/the-press-office\/2017\/04\/28\/presidential-executive-order-implementing-america-first-offshore-energy\">executive order implementing an America-first offshore energy strategy<\/a>. Five Marine National Monuments and six National Marine Sanctuaries are being reviewed and could be reduced in size and opened to oil and gas exploration. NOAA is accepting public comments until 11:59 PM ET on July 26. Submit comments online <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regulations.gov\/docket?D=NOAA-NOS-2017-0066\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>ESA submitted <a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/2017_07_24_National-Marine-Monument-and-Sanctuary-Review-ESA-Comments_FINAL.pdf\">comments<\/a> on July 24 in support of existing protections for the marine national monuments and national marine sanctuaries listed for review.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a name=\"climate_science\"><\/a>Climate Science: Pruitt and Perry Endorse \u201cRed Team\u2013Blue Team\u201d Review<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Rick Perry each have encouraged a \u201cred team\u2013blue team\u201d review of climate science. This approach entails a debate where red team expert climate skeptics would systematically challenge mainstream blue team climate scientists. Administrator Pruitt, in a June 5 interview with <em>Breitbart News<\/em>, said he favors setting opposing red \u2013 blue teams, explaining that \u201cWhat the American people deserve, I think, is a true, legitimate, peer-reviewed, objective, transparent discussion about CO2.\u201d Both Pruitt and Perry justify the exercise by pointing to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/a-red-team-exercise-would-strengthen-climate-science-1492728579\">April 2017 <em>Wall Street Journal <\/em>editorial by physicist Steven Koonin<\/a>, professor at New York University and former Dept. of Energy undersecretary for science for President Obama, where he suggests that the federal government use a<u> \u00a0<\/u>red team-blue team exercise to debate climate science.<\/p>\n<p>Climate scientists and the broader scientific community are largely rejecting a \u201cred team-blue team\u201d exercise.<\/p>\n<p>Secretary Perry also pointed to Koonin\u2019s editorial when he was questioned by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) during a June 22 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. Advocating a red \u2013 blue team review, Perry said, \u201c[Koonin] said that the science isn\u2019t settled yet . . . \u00a0and I\u2019ll ask you, don\u2019t you think it\u2019s OK to have this conversation about the science of climate change? Why don\u2019t we have a red team approach?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Franken replied to Perry, \u201cResearchers collect data and make arguments, peer reviewers poke holes in the argument, the researchers respond, and it goes back and forth until consensus is reached. Every peer reviewed climate study goes through that red-team\/blue-team treatment. And then thousands of studies are gathered into reports, and those reports themselves go through rigorous red team\/blue team. And this is, that\u2019s the scientific process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a June 21 <em>Washington Post<\/em> op-ed, climate scientists Ben Santer of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University science historian Naomi Oreskes rejected Koonin\u2019s claims that important uncertainties are being neglected in the climate change debate by noting, \u201cScientists have spent many decades kicking the tires of climate science, identifying and quantifying key uncertainties, and trying to reduce those uncertainties. Critical examination of models, data and theory is not a fringe activity.\u201d The op-ed\u2019s concluding sentence summarized their viewpoint: \u201cIn the case of climate science, we choose to place our trust in peer review and in the scientific community \u2014 not in teams appointed by Koonin or Pruitt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a June 28, 2015 letter, the Ecological Society of America and thirty other major science societies reaffirmed the consensus view that climate change is occurring and that human activities are the primary driver (<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/2016_6_27-Societys-Climate-Letter.pdf\">Societies Reaffirm Climate Position<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Kelly Levin, senior associate on climate change at World Resources Institute, in a June 20 article, argues that \u201cgiving equal, 50-50 weight to both the red and blue teams in the exercise would mislead the public into thinking there is a debate when there isn\u2019t one.\u201d PBS Newshour host Hari Sreenivasan pointed out that a truly proportionate \u201cred team\/blue team\u201d approach, reflecting scientific consensus, would be \u201cred team: three, and blue team: 97.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Before Americans \u201cconsume\u201d a red-blue team review, members of Congress have questions.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, including Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), directly challenged Pruitt\u2019s climate change assumptions, purpose, and sanity in a joint July 21 letter, saying he is \u201cdivorced from reality and reason\u201d in light of the \u201coverwhelming agreement on the basic fact of human-caused climate change.\u201d The letter continues, \u201cThis only reinforces our skepticism of [Pruitt\u2019s] motives in engaging in a clearly unnecessary, and quite possibly unscientific, red team-blue team exercise to review climate science.\u201d They closed by pressing Pruitt with an August 11 deadline for providing basic information on the review\u2019s prospective format and procedure, timetable, purpose, selection criteria, end-products, and outcomes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reexamining EPA\u2019s \u201cendangerment finding\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Some have suggested the red-blue team review as a proxy for reexamining EPA\u2019s 2009 \u201cendangerment finding,\u201d which provides the foundation for virtually all federal regulation of greenhouse gases. The endangerment finding came in response to a 2007 Supreme Court decision in a state-led lawsuit compelling EPA regulation of CO2 and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Energy executives, such as Robert Murray, CEO of Murray Energy Corp, in a June 30 interview with <em>E&amp;E News<\/em>, said that Pruitt assured him \u201cthey\u2019re going to start addressing it later this year.\u201d Adding, \u201cThey\u2019re going to start getting a lot of scientific people in to give both sides of the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sites\/production\/files\/2016-08\/documents\/endangerment_tsd.pdf\">EPA\u2019s endangerment finding<\/a> identifies greenhouse gases as a threat to public health and welfare and is considered a very well-established examination of the science and law relevant to greenhouse gas emissions. It has been repeatedly reviewed by the EPA, most recently in 2015, and upheld in two different U.S. Supreme Court rulings.<\/p>\n<p>Revoking the endangerment finding would be a heavy lift, both on the merits and procedurally, but central to overturning federal regulation of greenhouse gases. Myron Ebell, of the Competitive Enterprise Institute and leader of President Trump\u2019s EPA transition team, has long advocated a direct attack on the endangerment finding.<\/p>\n<p>Administrator Pruitt has continually denied that he plans to move against endangerment, consistent with his comments during his confirmation hearings and elsewhere. Nonetheless, many climate deniers see a red-blue review as an ideal opportunity to test attacks and rebuttals of mainstream climate science with an eye toward upending the finding. However, most lawyers and policy analysts see the upending of the endangerment finding as unlikely and suggest that revisiting the policy and federal regulation of greenhouse gases would yield new, stronger standards based on maturing climate science and new, better technologies that reduce emissions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a name=\"appropriations\"><\/a>Budget Update: Appropriations Progress in the House and Senate<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Congress is making progress on appropriations for FY 2018, advancing spending bills in both the House and the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>Congress is tasked with developing and passing the 12 appropriations bills that fund the government. After holding hearings on the budgets of the agencies under their jurisdiction, subcommittees draft the appropriations bills that are then marked up and reported to the full committee. Normally, prior to the release of these appropriations bills, Congress agrees on a budget resolution that sets total new budget authority and outlay levels and allocates federal spending. This year, the House has yet to pass a spending plan for FY 2018. However, last week the House Budget Committee agreed to and passed a budget resolution, or spending blueprint, for FY 2018. The budget proposal next needs to be passed by the full House. Appropriators have been working with topline numbers capping nondefense spending at $511 billion.<\/p>\n<p>In the House, after subcommittee markups, the full Appropriations Committee has approved all twelve of the funding bills. Below are highlights from the bills.<\/p>\n<p><strong>House spending bills: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/appropriations.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/bills-115hr-sc-ap-fy2018-agriculture-agriculture.pdf\">Agriculture<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Largely rejects the deep cuts proposed in the president\u2019s budget.<\/li>\n<li>Reduces funding for agriculture by about 5 percent to $144.9 billion.<\/li>\n<li>Rejects the president\u2019s budget proposal to close 17 USDA research centers.<\/li>\n<li>$2.8 billion for agricultural research through the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).<\/li>\n<li>Provides $904 million for conservation programs to help farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners conserve and protect their land.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/appropriations.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/bills-115hr-sc-ap-fy2018-cjs-commercejusticescience.pdf\">Commerce, Justice, and Science<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provides $54 billion total.<\/li>\n<li>NSF funding cut by $133 million to $7.3 billion \u2013 this reduction is for Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (research vessel), not a cut to research or education funds.<\/li>\n<li>NSF Research and Related Activities funded at the current level of $6 billion, rejecting the steep cuts proposed by the president\u2019s budget.<\/li>\n<li>Provides $4.97 billion for NOAA, $710 million below FY 2017.<\/li>\n<li>NOAA funding prioritizes weather programs and fisheries management over climate research \u2013 climate research cut by 19 percent.<\/li>\n<li>Rejected the administration\u2019s proposal to cut certain NOAA programs, including Sea Grant and Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund.<\/li>\n<li>Amendment prohibits funds from being used to designate Chesapeake Bay watershed as critical Atlantic sturgeon habitat.<\/li>\n<li>Cuts NASA\u2019s Earth Science program by $217 million.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/appropriations.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/bills-115hr-sc-ap-fy2018-energywater-energyandwater.pdf\">Energy and Water<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provides flat funding for DOE Office of Science ($5.4 billion), rejecting the steep $900 million cut proposed in the president\u2019s budget.<\/li>\n<li>Biological and Environmental Research within the Office of Science cut by 4.9 percent.<\/li>\n<li>Cuts DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by $1 billion, while increasing funding for fossil fuel research and development.<\/li>\n<li>Eliminates DOE\u2019s Advanced Research Projects Agency \u2013 Energy (ARPA-E), which had been targeted for elimination in the president\u2019s budget.<\/li>\n<li>Includes a rider authorizing the EPA administrator to withdraw the Waters of the U.S. rule.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/appropriations.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/fy18_interior_xml.pdf\">Interior and Environment<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provides $31.4 billion for Interior and Environment, $800 million below FY 2017.<\/li>\n<li>Cuts EPA by over $500 million; this 7 percent cut is much less than the administration\u2019s proposed 31 percent reduction.<\/li>\n<li>Reduces DOI funding from $12.3 billion to $11.9 billion.<\/li>\n<li>USGS cut by $46 million, or 4.3 percent.<\/li>\n<li>Bill includes many environmental riders:\n<ul>\n<li>Language delaying Endangered Species Act rulemakings for sage-grouse;<\/li>\n<li>Provision prohibiting federal protections for gray wolves;<\/li>\n<li>Rider directing DOI to reissue final rules removing wolves from the endangered species list in Wyoming and the Great Lakes region;<\/li>\n<li>Language extending the authorization of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the Senate, subcommittees have begun marking up their spending bills and have advanced several. Below are highlights from the bills that have been advanced.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Senate spending bills:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/FY2018%20Agriculture%20Appropriations%20Bill%20-%20S16031.pdf\">Agriculture<\/a> (approved by full committee)<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Like the House version, largely rejects the president\u2019s proposed cuts to agriculture.<\/li>\n<li>Provides $145.4 billion total to agriculture.<\/li>\n<li>Provides $500 million more in discretionary spending than the House version ($20.5 billion as opposed to $20 billion).<\/li>\n<li>Rejects the president\u2019s budget proposal to close 17 USDA research centers.<\/li>\n<li>Like the House bill, provides $2.8 billion for agriculture research, including $1.18 billion for ARS and $1.4 billion for NIFA.<\/li>\n<li>Flat funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (at $375 million).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/FY2018%20Energy%20and%20Water%20Development%20Appropriations%20Act%20-%20S1609.pdf\">Energy and Water<\/a> (approved by full committee)<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rejects the steep cuts proposed in the president\u2019s budget, as well as many of the cuts in the House version.<\/li>\n<li>Provides $38.4 billion total energy and water spending, an increase of $629 million over FY 2017.<\/li>\n<li>Provides $5.55 billion for DOE Office of Science, an increase over FY 2017 and the House version ($5.4 billion).<\/li>\n<li>Funds ARPA-E at a record high of $330 million (House version would eliminate ARPA-E).<\/li>\n<li>DOE energy efficiency and renewable energy programs funded at $1.9 billion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the House, the spending bills now need to be approved by the full House. In the Senate, subcommittees, followed by the full Appropriations Committee, will continue marking up and advancing spending bills.<\/p>\n<p>View ESA testimony on FY 2018 appropriations for relevant federal agencies on the ESA <a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esa\/public-affairs\/esa-policy\/letters-from-esa-president\/\">Correspondence to Policymakers page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><a name=\"quick\"><\/a><strong>Quick Reads<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Trump Selects Climate Change Skeptic for Top USDA Science Post<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On July 19, President Trump announced his nomination of Sam Clovis to be USDA\u2019s undersecretary for research, education, and economics, a position that also serves as USDA\u2019s top scientist. Clovis has been serving as a senior adviser at USDA since soon after the inauguration. He has a bachelor degree in political science, an MBA, and a doctorate in public administration. The undersecretary position has traditionally been held by people with advanced science or medical degrees. Clovis, whose nomination to this position was expected, has expressed skepticism about climate change, claiming that \u201ca lot of the science is junk science. It\u2019s not proven.\u201d This position requires Senate confirmation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Former Interior Office of Policy Analysis Director Files Whistleblower Complaint<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On July 19, an Interior employee filed a whistleblower complaint, claiming that he was reassigned in retaliation for speaking out publicly about the dangers of climate change to Alaska Native communities. Joel Clement, a scientist who has been at Interior for almost seven years, was the director of the Office of Policy Analysis until he was reassigned in June to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, which collects royalty fees from fossil fuel companies. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/opinions\/im-a-scientist-the-trump-administration-reassigned-me-for-speaking-up-about-climate-change\/2017\/07\/19\/389b8dce-6b12-11e7-9c15-177740635e83_story.html?utm_term=.dd2cec3fd2ad\"><em>Washington Post<\/em> op-ed<\/a>, Clement explains his belief that the reassignment was done in retaliation and with the intent to prompt him to leave Interior.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Zinke Removes Three National Monuments from Review<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On July 13, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/pressreleases\/secretary-zinke-announces-recommendation-idahos-craters-moon-and-washingtons-hanford\">Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced<\/a> that two national monuments\u2014Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho and Hanford Reach National Monument in Washington\u2014are no longer under review. In making the announcement, Zinke also recommended that no changes be made to either of the monuments. On July 21, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/pressreleases\/monument-review-secretary-zinke-recommends-no-modifications-canyons-ancients\">removed one other monument<\/a>\u2014Colorado\u2019s Canyons of the Ancients\u2014from review and recommended no modifications. The other 24 national monuments and marine national monuments are still under review by the Department of the Interior. A report summarizing Interior\u2019s findings from the review, in which Zinke could recommend reversing or reducing certain monuments, is due to the president on August 24. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esa\/public-affairs\/esa-policy\/letters-from-esa-president\/\">ESA and AAAS comments to DOI<\/a> on the review of national monuments.<\/p>\n<p><strong>GAO Will Examine EPA Science Advisory Panel Selection Process<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In response to a request from several Senate Democrats, led by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Tom Carper (D-DE), the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carper.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm\/pressreleases?ID=DCD9BD43-5CBE-46BA-8D44-71B1E731C950\">Government Accountability Office has agreed to review<\/a> the EPA\u2019s process for selecting members for its federal advisory committees.<\/p>\n<p><strong>No Additional Asian Carp Discovered Past Electric Barriers <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In late June, an invasive Asian carp was found in the Calumet River, only nine miles from Lake Michigan and past electric barriers intended to stop invasive species from entering the Great Lakes. Following this discovery, officials conducted intensive sampling to determine whether the fish are reproducing closer to Lake Michigan. After two weeks of searching, they have found no additional Asian carp and no evidence that more made it past the barriers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-admin\/post.php?post=13111&amp;action=edit#top\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a name=\"get_involved\"><\/a>Get Involved<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>NOAA Seeking Editors for 4th National Climate Assessment <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is currently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-15235\">requesting public nominations<\/a> for review editors for the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) report on behalf of the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The deadline to apply is Sept. 8.<\/p>\n<p><strong>EPA Seeking Scientific Experts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The EPA is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-13332\">seeking nominations for scientific experts<\/a> to serve on the agency\u2019s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), the Science Advisory Board (SAB), and six SAB committees, including the Ecological Processes and Effects Committee. The CASAC provides advice and recommendations to the EPA on the scientific and technical aspects of air quality criteria and National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The SAB provides independent scientific and technical peer review, advice, consultation, and recommendations on the scientific bases for EPA\u2019s actions and programs. Nominations must be submitted by July 27. While the SAB has been the subject of recent controversy, it is still important for ecologists to serve.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nominate Experts for Report on Biotechnology to Address Forest Health<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have announced a new study on the potential for biotechnology to address forest health. The director of the study is seeking nominations for experts to serve on the committee that will write a report in response to the study\u2019s statement of task. Read the full statement of task and nominate experts <a href=\"http:\/\/www.surveygizmo.com\/s3\/3621187\/Call-For-Nominations-Potential-for-Biotechnology-to-Address-Forest-Health?utm_source=GE+Crops&amp;utm_campaign=e0e8fdf4c9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_06_12&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_9401205dbb-e0e8fdf4c9-227251709&amp;mc_cid=e0e8fdf4c9&amp;mc_eid=155c6c763e\">here<\/a>. Nominations are being accepted through July.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Input Requested from the Land Imaging Community<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is requesting information from the land imaging community for user requirements for future Landsat systems.\u00a0To respond to the\u00a0RFI, go to\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fedconnect.net\/\">www.fedconnect.net<\/a>, click on \u201cSearch Public Opportunities Only\u201d, then choose search by \u201cReference Number\u201d which is\u00a0G17PS00634. Click on the\u00a0right side of the screen to view\u00a0RFI\u00a0document.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Review IPBES Assessments <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is seeking experts and scientists to conduct external reviews of regional assessments, a land degradation and restoration assessment, and a global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The regional assessments cover biodiversity and ecosystem services for Europe and Central Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. The review period for the regional and land degradation and restoration assessments is open now. More information on how to participate can be found <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ipbes.net\/article\/external-review-ipbes-assessments-governments-and-experts\">here<\/a>. The review period for the global assessment opened on June 15 and lasts until August 15. Read more <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ipbes.net\/article\/first-external-review-now-open-ipbes-global-assessment\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NSF Accepting Nominations for Honorary Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The National Science Foundation is accepting nominations for its 2018 Vannevar Bush and Public Service awards recognizing remarkable contributions in public service in science and engineering. Nominations are being accepted through Oct. 1. Eligibility and selection criteria and nomination guidelines are available on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/nsb\/awards\/bush.jsp\">Vannevar Bush Award website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Comment on BLM Land-Use Planning<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Since the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s land-use planning rule known as Planning 2.0 was overturned with the Congressional Review Act earlier this year, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has directed the agency to begin the process for a possible new rulemaking. In accordance with this direction, the BLM is asking for public input on land-use planning and environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act. Submit feedback through the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSeLo66QO8mm0Jme-O-KQ7S6Wfxrn7VYCzN-jQH1zR49F6cQfg\/viewform?c=0&amp;w=1&amp;fbzx=6477480931769456000\">BLM Streamlining Planning &amp; NEPA \u2013 Input Form<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Provide Input on DOI Regulations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Department of the Interior is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/pressreleases\/interior-announces-regulatory-reform-initiative-make-government-work-america-0\">seeking public comments<\/a> on regulations for repeal, replacement, or modification. The president\u2019s February executive order on reducing regulatory burdens directed federal agencies to address outdated or unnecessary policies. DOI is seeking input from the public on policies of Interior agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-13062\">Submit comments online or by mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apply for an OSTP Internship<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is accepting applications for the OSTP Internship Program. OSTP offers both policy internships and legal internships. Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/ostp\/internship\">on the White House website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recommend Members for NSF Directorate and Office Advisory Committees <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The National Science Foundation is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-06853\">requesting recommendations for membership<\/a> on its scientific and technical federal advisory committees, including the Advisory Committee for Biological Sciences. These external advisory committees provide advice on program management, discuss current issues, and review and provide advice on the impact of policies, programs, and activities of the directorate or office of NSF.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>For more opportunities to get involved, go to the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-admin\/post.php?post=13111&amp;action=edit#fedreg\">Federal Register<\/a><\/strong> section.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><a name=\"congress\"><\/a><strong>Congressional Updates<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>House Climate Change Roundtables<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Minority members of House committees have held multiple roundtables in recent weeks to examine the impacts of climate change. On July 12, Democrats of the Science Committee, led by Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), held a <a href=\"http:\/\/democrats.science.house.gov\/hearing\/science-and-policy-perspectives-national-security-implications-climate-change\">roundtable<\/a> to examine the national security implications of climate change. The panel of former military and government officials discussed the direct and indirect threats that the Department of Defense is dealing with as a result of climate change. On July 13, Democrats of the Natural Resources Committee, led by Ranking Member Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ), held a hearing titled \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/democrats-naturalresources.house.gov\/hearings\/the-new-sea-around-us-assessing-the-impacts-of-climate-change-on-our-oceans\">The New Sea Around Us<\/a>.\u201d With a panel of scientific experts and stakeholders, they discussed the impacts of climate change on oceans and coasts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Climate Solutions Caucus Adds Two New Members<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Reps. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ) recently joined the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus, which uses the \u201cNoah\u2019s Ark\u201d model for new members who must join in pairs composed of one Democrat and one Republican. There are now 48 members of the Climate Solutions Caucus.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><a name=\"legislation\"><\/a><strong>Legislative Updates<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>House Rejects Amendment to Block Climate Change Study <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On July 13, the House voted to keep language in the National Defense Authorization Act that requires the Department of Defense to study the impacts of climate change on national security. An amendment from Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) would have removed language from the authorization bill that directed a long-term study of the threats of climate change and a report on efforts to mitigate the impacts. The House voted 185-234 to strike the amendment and keep the language in the bill.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Senate Hearing Examines Bipartisan Conservation Bill<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On July 19, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epw.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm\/2017\/7\/legislative-hearing-on-s-1514-the-hunting-heritage-and-environmental-legacy-preservation-help-for-wildlife-act\">legislative hearing<\/a> to consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/115th-congress\/senate-bill\/1514\">S.1514<\/a>, the Hunting Heritage and Environmental Legacy Preservation (HELP) for Wildlife Act. This bill was introduced on June 29 by a bipartisan group of senators led by Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY).<\/p>\n<p>This legislation includes a package of measures that would reauthorize or establish several federal wildlife conservation programs, including the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Chesapeake Bay Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Act, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, and others. However, it would also prohibit judicial review of the Fish and Wildlife Service\u2019s de-listing of the gray wolf in Wyoming and would mandate the reissuance of the final rule de-listing the wolf in the western Great Lakes region, while also prohibiting judicial review. These provisions, along with others, are meant as protections for sportsmen to provide regulatory clarity for hunting on public lands.<\/p>\n<p>The bill\u2019s provision on gray wolves was the subject of criticism at the hearing, with several Democrats raising concerns about its implications for both wolves and the Endangered Species Act.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Controversial Water Bill Passes House <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On July 12, the House passed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/115th-congress\/house-bill\/23\">H.R.23<\/a>, the Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017. This bill, introduced Rep. David Valadao (R-CA), aims to provide drought relief in California. Cosponsored by twelve other California Republicans and one Democrat, this legislation would reduce the cost of water delivery contracts and amend the Central Valley Project Improvement Act to give users more authority over how restoration funds are spent.<\/p>\n<p>The bill is controversial because several California Democrats argue that it would interfere with the state\u2019s right to manage its water and would harm fisheries by eliminating existing biological opinions required under the Endangered Species Act and preventing state environmental protections for fish in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.<\/p>\n<p>In a joint statement opposing the bill, California Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris stated, \u201cScience should be at the center of all decisions affecting California\u2019s water supply\u2026Congressman Valadao\u2019s bill would set back the progress made to find a balanced solution to California\u2019s drought.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The bill now goes to the Senate.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Other Legislation\u00a0Introduced<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Carbon Pollution Transparency Act (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/115th-congress\/house-bill\/3287\">H.R.3287<\/a><\/strong><strong>).<\/strong> Introduced July 18 by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), this bill would require the director of the Congressional Budget Office to calculate a carbon score for each bill or resolution.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/115th-congress\/senate-bill\/1586\">S.1586<\/a><\/strong>. Introduced July 19 by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), this bill would require the undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere to update periodically the environmental sensitivity index products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of the Great Lakes.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/115th-congress\/house-bill\/3314\">H.R.3314<\/a><\/strong>. Introduced July 19 by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), this bill would transition away from fossil fuel sources of energy to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2050.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/115th-congress\/house-bill\/3316\">H.R.3316<\/a><\/strong>. Introduced July 19 by Rep. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), this bill would direct the National Science Foundation to award grants to encourage young girls to participate in computer science and other STEM activities.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/115th-congress\/house-bill\/3344\">H.R.3344<\/a><\/strong>. Introduced July 20 by Rep. James Langevin (D-RI), this bill would amend the STEM Education Act of 2015 to require the National Science Foundation to promote the integration of art and design in STEM education.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><a name=\"fedreg\"><\/a><strong>From the Federal Register<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h4><strong>Public Meetings:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-14413\">USFS National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule Meeting<\/a> (August 2-3)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-14797\">NOAA \u2013 National Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Meeting<\/a> (August 9)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-13029\">NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Public Meeting<\/a> (August 11)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/events\/event_summ.jsp?cntn_id=189559&amp;org=NSF\">National Science Foundation \u2013 National Science Board Meeting<\/a> (August 15-16)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-14486\">NOAA Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee Meeting<\/a> (August 30)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-10798\">NOAA \u2013 Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Science Advisory Board Meeting<\/a> (August 31)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-14700\">NSF Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education Meeting<\/a> (August 31)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>Opportunities for Public Comment:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-11305\">USFWS Draft Texas Multi-Species Recovery Plan<br>\n<\/a>The Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking review and public comments on the draft Texas Coastal Bend Shortgrass Prairie Multi-Species Recovery Plan that includes the slender rush-pea and South Texas ambrosia, two species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Submit comments by July 31.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-13701\">NOAA NMFS Five-Year Review for North Pacific Right Whale<br>\n<\/a>The National Marine Fisheries Service is initiating a 5-year review of the North Pacific right whale, listed under the Endangered Species Act. The review takes into account the best scientific and commercial data available. NMFS is requesting information on the whales that has become available since 2012 by July 31.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-13758\">USFWS Five-Year Reviews of 23 Species under the Endangered Species Act<br>\n<\/a>The Fish and Wildlife Service is initiating five-year status reviews of 23 threatened or endangered species of southeastern wildlife and plants (list in Federal Register <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-13758\">notice<\/a>). The agency is requesting information that has become available in the last five years by August 29.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2017-13762\">USFWS Mexican Wolf Draft Recovery Plan, First Revision<br>\n<\/a>The Fish and Wildlife Service released proposed updates to its recovery plan for the endangered Mexican wolf. This revision updates a recovery plan that was completed in 1982 and includes specific recovery criteria to be met in order to remove the species from the endangered list. The agency is requesting public comments on the revised plan by August 29 and is also accepting any new information on the Mexican wolf\u2019s status to inform finalization of the recovery plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a name=\"correspondence\"><\/a>ESA Correspondence to Policymakers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>View letters and testimony from ESA <a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esa\/public-affairs\/esa-policy\/letters-from-esa-president\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><em>ESA\u2019s policy activities work to infuse ecological knowledge into national policy decisions through activities such as policy statements, Capitol Hill briefings, Congressional Visits Days and coalition involvement. Policy News Updates are bi-monthly summaries of major environmental and science policy news. They are produced by the Public Affairs Office of the Ecological Society of America.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Send questions or comments to\u00a0 Alison Mize, director of public affairs, <a href=\"mailto:alison@esa.org\">Alison@esa.org<\/a>, or Julia Marsh, public affairs officer, <a href=\"mailto:Julia@esa.org\">Julia@esa.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esa\/\">ESA website<\/a>\u00a0 to learn more about our activities and membership.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In This Issue: Member Input Requested: Special Policy Forum at Portland Annual Meeting We want to hear from you. Send us questions today or by the end of this week that you would like the panelists to answer. Action Alert: Comment on Marine National Monuments and National Marine Sanctuaries by July 26 Climate Science: Pruitt and Perry Endorse \u201cRed Team\u2013Blue&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":12399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,91],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ecology-in-policy","category-policy-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}