Selected Environmental Issues Related to the Omnibus Energy Bill (H.R. 6), 109th Congress

Publication Date: May 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Energy

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Abstract:

In response to high energy prices, increasing energy imports, and concerns over environmental quality, the 109th Congress is currently considering omnibus energy legislation. The debate over a national energy policy has been ongoing since the 107th Congress. Both the 107th and 108th Congresses were unable to complete action on an omnibus energy bill.

In the 109th Congress, the House version of an omnibus energy bill (H.R. 6) was introduced April 18, 2005. H.R. 6 passed the House April 21, 2005. As of this writing, a comprehensive energy bill has not been introduced in the Senate. As passed by the House, H.R. 6 contains various provisions involving environmental protection and regulation. This report briefly reviews the following environmental provisions: limits on the use of MTBE; a renewable fuel mandate for gasoline; stricter regulation of underground storage tanks; Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act exemptions for oil and gas exploration and production (related to stormwater runoff and hydraulic fracturing); incentives and R&D funding for alternative fuels and vehicles; hydroelectric relicensing; ozone compliance deadlines; and streamlining of environmental regulations. In addition, two issues of continuing interest that were addressed by failed committee amendments were a renewable portfolio standard and more stringent fuel economy standards.

This report will be updated as events warrant.