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Tag: Environment

Daines Slams Senate Democrats’ Failure to Protect Americans from Obama Administration WOTUS Power Grab

November 3, 2015

Senator Steve Daines today slammed Senate Democrats after all but four members of the Democrat caucus blocked legislation that would have directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “Today the Senate came just a few votes shy of passing legislation to protect our farmers, ranchers and small business owners from major new costs and regulatory burdens. I appreciate the bipartisan support demonstrated today by four key Senate Democrats and am disappointed that others chose instead to put President Obama’s agenda ahead of doing what’s right. Montanans know that this power

Daines Fights to Protect Montana Coal Jobs

October 27, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today went to bat for Montana coal jobs by formally introducing measures to block implementation of new rules on coal-fired power plants and calling the Obama administration’s myriad of anti-coal regulations a direct attack on Montana energy. This afternoon, Daines and 48 other Senators introduced two bipartisan resolutions disapproving of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan regulations on new and existing power sources.  The Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval will block the Obama administration’s regulations on new and existing coal-fired power plants. Daines joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues including, Majority

Daines: Nationwide WOTUS Stay is a Victory for States’ Rights

October 9, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision to issue a nationwide stay on Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) misguided Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “The Sixth Circuit Court’s nationwide stay on the EPA’s misguided WOTUS rule is a victory for states’ rights, local governments, farmers, ranchers and landowners. This ruling pushes back on the extreme overreach of the Obama administration, which threatened Montana agriculture and natural resources, Montana jobs and Montanans’ property rights. While this is welcome news, it is not the end of the Obama administration’s egregious power grabs. I will continue

Daines: Democrats Blocking Funding for Water, Infrastructure Projects is Shameful

October 8, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today slammed Senate Democrats for blocking the FY2016 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, which funds critical infrastructure projects administered by the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation – including Montana rural water projects.  “Despite the vast majority of Democrats supporting this bill during an Appropriations Committee vote this summer, once again Democrats have chosen to block legislation that protects Montanans’ interests and strengthens our national security through increased energy and water security,” Daines stated. “This legislation works to enhance our energy efficiency while funding important projects that modernize our nation’s energy and water infrastructure. It’s

Daines Rallies Senators in Support of LWCF Reauthorization

September 30, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today led a coalition of Senators in support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), an important tool for increasing public access to public lands, on the Senate floor. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Richard Burr (R-NC) joined Daines on the Senate floor to urge their House and Senate colleagues to reauthorize LWCF and not allow authorization to lapse. “We’re not going to let this conversation die. We’re going to continue to fight for the permanent reauthorization of LWCF. It is a tool for public access to ensure that Montanans

Daines Statement on Department of Interior’s Sage Grouse Announcement

September 22, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the Department of the Interior’s sage grouse announcement:  “While it is good news that the sage grouse is not listed as an endangered species, I remain concerned that the Obama administration’s land-use plans will have a harmful impact on Montana’s economy, our land users and Montanans’ way of life. The fact remains, sage grouse numbers have increased in the west by nearly two-thirds since 2013. Montana needs to continue take the lead on sage grouse conservation and I hope BLM can revise their plans to allow Montana to do so. Because a sage

Daines Leads Montana, North Dakota Congressional Delegations in Urging Army Corps of Engineers to Prioritize the Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam

September 21, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today led the Montana and North Dakota congressional delegations in urging the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to prioritize concerns at the Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam.  In a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy and BOR Commissioner Estevan Lopez, the bipartisan delegations emphasized the economic benefit that the dam provides to both Montana and North Dakota.  On September 8, a federal judge blocked construction of the planned dam along the Yellowstone River near the Montana-North Dakota border due to environmental concerns. “We urge ACE and BOR to address the

Daines Investigates Pipeline Safety, PHMSA Reauthorization at Montana Field Hearing

September 18, 2015

BILLINGS, Mont. — Senator Steve Daines today held a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation field hearing in Billings, Montana to discuss the upcoming reauthorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The hearing examined current issues and challenges relating to the inspection and safe management of the nation’s pipeline network, as well as the importance of safely transporting our natural resources through pipelines, highways and rail lines. Daines and witnesses also examined the upcoming reauthorization of PHMSA and its efficacy in overseeing and enforcing federal regulations in light of recent pipeline ruptures in eastern Montana. “I’m thankful that we were

Daines, 46 Additional Senators Introduce Resolution to Nullify Expanded WOTUS Definition

September 17, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines, along with 46 Senate cosponsors, today introduced a joint resolution disapproving the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greatly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which directly threatens Montana agriculture and energy production, Montanans’ property rights and Montana jobs. The resolution would nullify the EPA’s WOTUS rule, which greatly expands the scope of federal authority over land and waterways in the United States under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. “The EPA’s latest power grab is a direct threat to Montanans’ livelihoods and must be stopped,” Daines stated. “This ill-conceived rule provides the EPA

Daines Works to Expand Access to Public Lands

September 17, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today sought to improve and expand access to public lands in Montana and throughout the country for sportsmen, outfitters and guides.  During an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the reauthorization of the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), Daines sought answers on how to streamline and improve access by cutting down red tape on public access to public lands. Additionally, Daines emphasized his work to end fire borrowing and reform federal forest management in light of one of the worst fire seasons for Montana and other western states in recent memory. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download