Issue #2019 January 25, 2013 Western States Water

Addressing Water Needs and Strategies for a Sustainable Future

5296 So. Commerce Drive / Suite 202 / Murray, UT 84107 / (801) 685-2555 / Fax 685-2559 / www.westernstateswater.org

Chairman - Phil Ward; Executive Director - Tony Willardson; Editor - Nathan Bracken; Subscriptions - Julie Groat

ADMINISTRATION UPDATE/ENERGY will serve as Ranking Member, succeeding Norm Dicks BLM/Hydraulic Fracturing (D-WA), who has retired. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Rep. (D-CA) will serve as the Chair and On January 18, the Department of the Interior Ranking Member of the Agriculture Subcommittee, while announced that it will revise a draft Bureau of Land Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) will chair the Commerce, Management (BLM) rule that would regulate hydraulic Justice, Science Subcommittee, with Rep. Chaka Fattah fracturing on federal lands. BLM intends to send the (D-PA) serving as Ranking Member. Rodney changes to the White House for review, with a new Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) will be proposed rule to be released for comment in the first the Chair and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water quarter of 2013. The changes are intended to maximize Subcommittee. The Interior and Environment flexibility, facilitate coordination with state practices, and Subcommittee will be led by Chair Mike Simpson (R-ID) ensure that operators implement best practices. and Ranking Member Jim Moran (D-VA).

BLM’s current draft rule would require disclosure of Western Representatives on the full Appropriations the hydraulic fracturing chemicals used on federal Committee include Ed Pastor (D-AZ), (R- lands. It is also intended to improve well-bore integrity CA), Michael Honda (D-CA), (D-CA), Lucille and ensure that water management plans are in place Roybal-Allard (D-CA), (D-CA), Kevin Yoder to handle fracturing fluids that flow back to the surface. (R-KS), Tom Cole (R-OK), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), The Republican Governors Association and the energy John Carter (R-TX), (D-TX), John Abney industry have argued that the draft rule could conflict Culberson (R-TX), (R-TX), Jaime Herrera with state water right systems and that the states are Beutler (R-WA), and (R-CA). best positioned to regulate hydraulic fracturing processes, among other concerns. (WSW #2014) Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-MI) will keep his post, as with Ranking Member CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE (D-CA). The Energy and Power House Committee Assignments Subcommittee will be led by Chair Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Ranking Member Bobby Rush (D-IL), while Rep. House Committees with jurisdiction over water- John Shimkus (R-IL) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) will related issues have finalized their membership and serve as the Chair and Ranking Member for the subcommittee assignments for the 113th Congress. Environment and the Economy Subcommittee. Western Representatives on the full Committee include Lois On the Agriculture Committee, Representatives Capps (D-CA), (D-CA), (D- Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Collin Peterson (D-MN) will CA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA),Diana DeGette (D-CO), remain as the Chair and Ranking Member. Rep. Glenn Cory Gardner (R-CO), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), Ben Ray Thompson (R-PA) will chair the Conservation, Energy, Luján (D-NM), Lee Terry (R-NE), Greg Walden (R-OR), and Forestry Subcommittee, along with Ranking (R-TX), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Gene Member Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN). Western members on Green (D-TX), Ralph Hall (R-TX), (R-TX), the full Committee include Representatives Jeff Jim Matheson (D-UT), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R- Denham (R-CA), (D-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R- WA). CA), Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-CA), (D- CA), Scott Tipton (R-CO), (D- Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) will stay on as Chair of NM), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Kristi Noem (R-SD), the Natural Resources Committee, with Rep. Ed Markey Michael Conaway (R-TX), (D-TX), Randy (D-MA) continuing as Ranking Member. Representatives Neugebauer (R-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX), and Suzan Tom McClintock (R-CA) and (D-CA) DelBene (D-WA). will also remain in their posts as the Chair and Ranking Member of the Water and Power Subcommittee. Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) will continue as Chair of the Don Young (R-AK) will retain his chairmanship over the House Appropriations Committee. Nita Lowey (D-NY) Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, while Ranking Member Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) will succeed (R-TX), (R-TX), Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK), who chose not to run for re- Marc Veasley (D-TX), (R-TX), Chris election. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) will chair the newly Stewart (R-UT), and Derek Kilmer (D-WA). renamed Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation, which has new jurisdiction Committee and subcommittee assignments are still over National Environmental Policy Act matters. Rep. being finalized in the Senate. (WSW #2017 and #2014) Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) will be the Ranking Member. Farm Bill Other westerners on the full Natural Resources Committee include (R-AZ), Tony Cardenas On January 22, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), (D-CA), (D-NV) introduced a measure (S. 10) that mirrors the Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), (D-CA), Raul five-year Farm Bill (S. 3240) the Senate passed last year. Ruiz (D-CA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Scott Tipton (R- The prior bill would have authorized about $500B over CO), Raúl Labrador (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mark five years. In addition, the bill would have consolidated Amodei (R-NV), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Kevin Cramer 23 conservation programs into 13, and cut conservation (R-ND), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Markwayne Mullin (R- program funding by $6.3B. Reid introduced the bill along OK), (R-TX), (R-TX), Chris with ten other “high priority” measures the Senate passed Stewart (R-UT), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). during the 112th Congress, but failed to pass the House. The bill will serve as a placeholder until the Agriculture On the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee produces an updated version. Committee, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) will succeed Rep. John Mica (R-FL) as Chair due to Republican term- Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie limits on committee leadership posts. Rep. Nick Rahall Stabenow (D-MI) said she is committed to convening a (D-WV) will stay as Ranking Member. Representatives Committee mark-up as soon as possible to update the Bob Gibbs (R-OH) and Tim Bishop (D-NY) will continue bill. “I applaud Sen. Reid’s leadership and commitment as the Chair and Ranking Member of the Water to getting a five-year farm bill done to provide certainty to Resources and Environment Subcommittee. Western the 16 million Americans working in agriculture,” she Representatives on the full Committee include Don said. “Last year we were able to pass a farm bill with Young (R-AK), (D-AZ), (R- overwhelming bipartisan support, saving more than $23B CA), (D-CA), (D-CA), in taxpayer money and reforming farm bill programs to Duncan Hunter (R-CA), (R-CA), Grace be more cost-effective and market-oriented. Napolitano (D-CA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Dina Titus (D- Unfortunately, the House didn’t bring the [bill] to the floor. NV), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Majority Leader Reid has demonstrated that the Senate (R-TX), (D- will once again make supporting our nation’s agriculture TX), Roger Williams (R-TX), and Rick Larsen (D-WA). economy while cutting spending a top priority.” See: http://www.ag.senate.gov/newsroom/majority-news. Lastly, Rep. (R-TX) will chair the (WSW #2017). Science, Space, and Technology Committee, taking the gavel from Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX), who is stepping PEOPLE down as Chair due to term limits but will continue as a member of the Committee. Rep. Eddie Bernice On January 18, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead Johnson (D-TX) will continue as Ranking Member. The named Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Subcommittee on Energy and Environment will be split (WDEQ) Director Todd Parfitt to the WSWC. Todd will into two new committees. Representatives Cynthia succeed former WDEQ Director and WSWC member Lummis (R-WY) and (D-CA) will be the John Corra, who has retired. Mead also named Senior Chair and Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Assistant Attorney General Chris Brown to the WSWC, Energy, while Representatives Andy Harris (R-MD) and and designated Wyoming Water Development Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) will serve as Chair and Commission Director Harry LaBonde as an alternate Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on member to replace Mike Purcell, who retired last year. Environment. Rep. Steve Palazzo (R-MS) will chair the Subcommittee on Space, with Rep. Donna Edwards (D- Wyoming State Engineer Pat Tyrrell will remain as a MD) serving as Ranking Member. WSWC member, while Wyoming Interstate Stream Administrator Sue Lowry and Wyoming Water Quality Other western Representatives on the full Science Division Administrator John Wagner will remain as Committee include (R-AZ), alternate members. We thank John and Mike for their (D-CA), (D-CA), (D-CA), service and congratulate Todd, Chris, and Harry on their Scott Peters (D-CA), (R-CA), Mark appointments to the WSWC. We look forward to Takano (D-CA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jim Bridenstine working with them and to continuing our relationship with (R-OK), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Pat, Sue, and John. (WSW #1985)

The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors of Alaska, , , Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, , Oregon, South Dakota, , Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.