3-28-2017 TODAY: Congress Investigates ESA Delays & Failures

Washington Monument. Northern Gas Pipelines file photo. Copyright Dave Harbour 2012

This Morning On The Hill

From Molly Block:

This morning the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is looking into serious economic and environmental implications as a result of massive delays due to Section 7’s consultation requirements under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Ironically, many of these unnecessarily-hamstrung projects would improve conditions for threatened or endangered species – not to mention public health, safety and economic growth. Save your ink for the hearing’s Q&A, in the meantime here are several takeaways from written testimony you don’t want to miss:

“In many cases, project approval would improve conditions for a threatened species while also bringing much needed economic development to rural America. Instead of providing these multifaceted societal benefits, these projects are mired in a 30-year + permitting process.” –Doug Stiles, General Manager, Hecla Mining Company, Idaho.

“[N]early 100,000 projects had to undergo time-consuming and expensive consultation even though none of them would likely jeopardize a listed species or its habitat…When necessary infrastructure maintenance and upgrades are put-off because of these delays and costs, that can significantly harm species and the environment.”- Jonathan Wood, Staff Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation.

“We need a better balance between the protection of endangered species and the ability to implement important public works and infrastructure projects — especially when public safety and health is threatened by a lack of water supply,” – Mr. Ronald J. Calkins, President, American Public Works Association.

“There is no compelling argument that legislation is needed to resolve a specific conflict under section 7 or to make section 7 more effective for wildlife and people,” – Ya Wei Li, Vice President, Defenders of Wildlife.

Tune in here at 10:00 AM EST to learn more.

Click here for the hearing memo.

Best, Molly

Molly Block

Press Secretary

House Committee on Natural Resources

About the Author: wpnorthern

Dave Harbour, publisher of Northern Gas Pipelines, is a former Chairman of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, a Commissioner Emeritus of NARUC, NARUC's Official Representative to IOGCC and Vice Chairman of NARUC's Gas Committee. He served as Gas Committee Chairman of the Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners. He also served as commissioner of the Anchorage Bicentennial Commission and the Anchorage Heritage Land Bank Commission. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree: English, at Colorado State University, a Master of Science Degree: Communications-Journalism at Murray State University and graduated from Utility Regulatory School for Commissioners at Michigan State University. He served as a Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs at Alaska Pacific University, taught bank marketing classes at the University of Alaska and was an English teacher at Los Alamos High School. Harbour served in ranks of Private - Captain during a 4-year assignment with the Army in Korea, Idaho, Georgia and Fort Meade and received the Meritorious Service Medal among other commendations. Harbour is also a past Chairman of the Alaska Council on Economic Education, the Alaska Oil & Gas Association Government Affairs Committee, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, the Export Council of Alaska and the Department of Commerce's District Export Council. He is a past President of the Alaska Press Club, American Bald Eagle Foundation, Consumer Energy Alliance-Alaska and Common Sense for Alaska. Harbour was instrumental in founding the American Bald Eagle Research Institute (UAS), the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, the Downtown Anchorage Business Partnership, and Arctic Power. He also served as CEO of several small Alaska organizations, including the Anchorage Parking Authority and Action Security, Inc. Harbour is also Chairman Emeritus of the Alaska Oil & Gas Congress. Harbour's wife, Nancy, is a professional, performing arts administrator and his three boys, Todd, Benjamin and William work in the fields of environmental management, energy marketing and medicine.