Don’t surface mine Livingston Mountain


We strongly urge the Board of Commissioners to accept the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission to remove Livingston Mountain from the proposed update to the Surface Mining Overlay. The residential density of Livingston Mountain, along with unsuitable roads for this type of operation, makes this area a completely inappropriate area for mining.

The negative impacts to residents in an area around a mining operation include dangerous traffic conditions; loss of peace and tranquility due to the use of noisy, heavy trucks; damage to structures from shockwaves caused by mining explosions; and health hazards from silica-rich gravel dust.  Additionally, mining operations have a severe impact to the surrounding area’s surface water runoff, as well as the underground aquifers, wells, and wetlands in the area.

Given that there is already a mining concession on Livingston Mountain which is detrimental to this part of Clark County, we implore the Commissioners to take the necessary steps to ensure proper monitoring and enforcement of standards that protect public safety, water quality, noise, and traffic concerns that hurt the public good.  We support appointing a mining ombudsman to oversee the current mining operation to ensure compliance with appropriate public safety standards.

Finally, we insist that if there be any future proposals for mining on Livingston Mountain that they continue to be subjected to the legislative type IV land use review standards since these standards offer the greatest opportunity for public input.

                   Clark County Commissioners : Remove Livingston Mountain from the proposed update to the Surface Mining Overlay. 

  By Friends of Livingston Mountian
                                                Estacada, Oregon

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 5/7 ~~ the House


capitol21

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Wednesday, May 7th.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, post-cloture. The 30 hours of post-cloture debate on the motion to proceed to S.2262 would expire at 5:45pm tomorrow. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled.

This afternoon, Senator Vitter again asked unanimous consent the Veterans Affairs’ Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R.3521 and pass H.R.3521, Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013, as amended by a Vitter amendment (pay-for through price controls for prescription drugs in the Department of Defense). Senator Sanders objected.

 

Senator Sanders then asked the Senate take up and pass S.1950, as amended by the Sanders substitute amendment, which is the text of S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act which includes H.R.3521 along with many other provisions. Senator Vitter objected.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that after up to 3 hours for debate, the Senate proceed to vote on passage of S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act; and if S.2262 is passed, the Senate vote on S.2280, a bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, before the end of this work period, with each bill being subject to a 60-affirmative vote thresholds. Senator McConnell objected.

 

Senator McConnell then asked consent that there be 5 Republican amendments in order prior to a vote on passage of S.2262, as amended, if amended. Senator Reid objected.

 

The Senate adopted the motion to proceed to S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, by voice vote; filled the amendment tree; and filed cloture on the bill. The cloture vote would occur upon disposition of Executive Calendar #690, Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit. Senator Reid also moved to proceed to Calendar #366, S.2260, Tax Extenders.

 

Senators should expect 2 procedural votes at 3:45pm today. We expect Senator McConnell or designee to make 2 motions to table with respect to S.2262, for the purpose of offering an amendment. The time until 3:45pm is equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 3:47pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Thune motion to table Reid amendment #3023. Another procedural vote similar in nature is expected following this vote.

 

Prior to the vote, Senator Thune asked consent to set aside the pending amendments in order to call up Thune amendment #3002 (ground level ozone standards). Senator Durbin objected.

 

Senator Thune then asked unanimous consent to call up amendment #3013 (establishment of standards for emissions of any greenhouse gas from fossil fuel-fired electric utility generating units). Senator Durbin.

 

Senator Thune then moved to table Reid amendment #3023 (date change).

3:47pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Thune motion to table Reid amendment 3023 (date change);

Not Tabled: 45-52

4:14pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Barrasso motion to table Reid amendment #3025 (date change);

Not Tabled: 45-51

 

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in up to 4 votes at 11:15am and up to 5 votes at 1:45pm tomorrow, Thursday, May 8, and up to 3 votes on Monday, May 12. All votes after the first vote in each series will be 10 minutes in duration. There will be 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote in this agreement. Below you will find the vote schedule.

 

Thursday, May 8

11:15am-up to 4 roll call votes:

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #655, Indira Talwani, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #656, James D. Peterson, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin
  3. Cloture on Executive Calendar #657, Nancy J. Rosenstengel, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois
  4. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #526, Pamela K. Hamamoto, of Hawaii, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, with the rank of Ambassador

 

1:45pm—up to 5 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #655, Indira Talwani, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #656, James D. Peterson, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #657, Nancy J. Rosenstengel, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois
  4. Cloture on Executive Calendar #690, Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
  5. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #615, Theodore Reed Mitchell, of California, to be Under Secretary of Education

 

Monday, May 12

5:30pm—up to 3 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #690 Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #560 Steven Croley, of Michigan, to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy
  3. Cloture on S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014

 

Unanimous consent

Reid:    I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding Rule 22, on Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 11:15 a.m., the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Cal# 655 (Talwani), Cal#656 (Peterson),  and 657 (Rosenstengel), and proceed to consideration of  Cal# 526 (Hamamoto); further, that if cloture is invoked on any of those nominations, all post cloture time be expired and at 1:45 p.m., the Senate proceed to vote on the nominations in the order listed; further, that following disposition of Cal.#657 (Rosenstengel), the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Cal.# 690 (Rosenbaum) and confirmation of Cal #615 (Mitchell), and that if cloture is invoked, all post cloture time be expired and on Monday, May 12, 2014, at 5:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of Cal #690 (Rosenbaum); further that upon disposition of Cal. #690 (Rosenbaum), the Senate proceed to the consideration and vote on confirmation of Cal #560 (Croley), further, that there be 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote, equally divided in the usual form, that any roll call votes, following the first in each series, be 10 minutes in length; further, that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nominations; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

 

Chair:  Without objection

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Thune motion to table Reid amendment #3023 to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act; Not Agreed To: 45-52

2)     Barrasso motion to table Reid amendment #3012 to S.2262; Not Agreed To: 45-51

 

Additional Legislative Items

Discharged the Judiciary committee and passed H.R.3627, the Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act.

 

Began the Rule 14 process of the following bills in order to place them on the Legislative Calendar:

–        H.R.2824, the Protecting Coal Mining Jobs Act (Republican request) and

–        H.R.3826, the Electricity Security and Affordability Act (Republican request).

 

No Executive Items

=========================================

Last Floor Action: 10:01:05 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate.

At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

================================================

Support NMAAHC


National Museum of African American History and Culture

Help us ensure that we meet our goal and stay on schedule.

You’ll be surprised to see all that’s been done since we broke ground for the National Museum of African American History and Culture on February 22, 2012.

The concrete has been poured. We’ve begun building some of the exhibition galleries. We installed two signature objects: a Southern Railway railroad car (segregated) and a 1930s guard tower from the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. And we have acquired more than 25,000 items.

But there’s much more to do. And to accomplish this work, we need your support to ensure that we open in late 2015.

To make this museum a reality, we were charged with raising $250 million from individuals and private resources. To date, we have raised approximately $160 million and need to raise an additional $90 million to meet our goal.

That’s why we urgently need your help to build this important cultural addition to the American landscape.

None of this is possible without support from friends like you. Your tax-deductible gift today will ensure that we keep our construction timetable on schedule and ensure that other elements of this grand project stay on track, too.

Together, you and I are creating a center of learning and inspiration that will attract millions of visitors from across the country and around the world. It is here they will come to understand the African American story in full — the moments of great pain and the moments of soaring triumph.

We’re moving closer to reality with each passing day!

Thank you for your support.

Lonnie G. Bunch All the best,
Signature
Lonnie G. Bunch
Founding Director

Washington​: Tell the EPA to ban bee-killin​g pesticides


save-the-bees200Honeybees, native bees, and other pollinators are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat. Many fruits and vegetables, including apples, blueberries, strawberries, carrots, and broccoli, as well as almonds and coffee, rely on bees. These beneficial insects are critical in maintaining our diverse food supply. 

U.S. beekeepers have been consistently losing 40-100% of their hives. Widespread use of a new class of toxic pesticides, neonicotinoids, is a significant contributing factor. In addition to killing bees outright, research has shown, even low levels of these dangerous pesticides impair bees’ ability to learn, to find their way back to the hive, to collect food, to produce new queens, and to mount an effective immune response.

Already, 15 countries have imposed a two-year restriction on the use of several of these chemicals. However, the EPA continues to ignore scientists—even those employed by the EPA—and has delayed action until 2018.

We request an immediate moratorium on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. Bees can’t wait five more years—they are dying now. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has the power and responsibility to protect our pollinators. Our nation’s food system depends on it.

Europe has already fought back against powerful chemical companies and took a big step to protect bees by putting into effect a ban of the top bee-killing “neonic” pesticides. Now it’s our turn!

Bees are critical in producing the majority of our food crops, and the evidence is mounting that Bayer and Syngenta’s pesticides are a key contributor to mass bee die-offs. However, the EPA continues to ignore scientists—even those employed by the EPA—and has delayed action until 2018. 

But the bees can’t wait—and neither can we!

U.S. beekeepers have been consistently losing 40-100% of their hives, and are likely facing yet another season of historic bee die-offs.

We can’t let the EPA wait another five years to address this crisis. Please take action today and tell the EPA to ban bee-killing pesticides.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Peter Stocker

This petition was created on MoveOn’s online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Friends of the Earth didn’t pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

 

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 5/6 ~~ the House


budgetblow2climate

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, May 6, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the time until 11:00am will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

 

At 11:00am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

 

The Senate will recess subject to the call of the Chair at 12:30pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings and the official photograph of the 113th Congress.  If cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed to S.2262, the time during the recess will count post-cloture.

 

For the information of all Senators, the official photograph of the 113th Congress will be at 2:15pm.

This morning, Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations in the order listed:

Executive Calendar l#655, Indira Talwani, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts (up to 2 hours equally divided);

Executive Calendar #656, James Peterson, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin (up to 2 hours equally divided);

Executive Calendar #657, Nancy Rosenstengel, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois (up to 2 hours equally divided); and

Executive Calendar #690, Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 11th Circuit (up to30 hours).

Unless an agreement can be reached, the cloture vote on the Talwani nomination would occur at a time to be determined on Thursday, May 8. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 2 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Upon disposition of the Talwani nomination, the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the Peterson nomination. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 2 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the Peterson nomination. Upon disposition of that nomination, there would be a cloture vote on the Rosenstengel nomination. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 2 hours for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of the Rosenstengel nomination. Then the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the Rosenbaum nomination. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the Rosenbaum nomination.

The previously scheduled 11:00am vote has been moved to 11:15am today. At 11:15am, there will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate prior to a vote on the motion to proceed. If all time is used, the post-cloture debate would end in the 5:30pm range Wednesday, May 7.

11:15am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

Invoked: 79-20

Senator Leahy asked unanimous consent to take up and pass Calendar #162, S.933, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Act. Senator Coburn objected.

By voice vote, the Senate adopted S.Res.433, a resolution condemning the abduction of female students by armed militants from the Government Girls Secondary School in the northeastern province of Borno in the Federal Republic of Nigeria

By consent, the Senate will recess from 5:30pm until 6:30pm tonight to allow for a Members-only briefing on Ukraine. The time during the recess will count post-cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act; Invoked: 79-20

 

Additional Legislative Items

Adopted S.Res.433, a resolution condemning the abduction of female students by armed militants from the Government Girls Secondary School in the northeastern province of Borno in the Federal Republic of Nigeria by voice vote.

Passed H.R.4192 , To amend the Act entitled “An Act to regulate the height of buildings in the District of Columbia” to clarify the rules of the District of Columbia regarding human occupancy of penthouses above the top story of the building upon which the penthouse is placed

Adopted S.Res.438, Congratulating the students, parents, teachers, and administrators of charter schools across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education, and supporting the ideals and goals of the 15th annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 4 through May 10, 2014.

Adopted S.Res.439, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month.

 

Executive Business

 

Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations in the order listed:

 

Executive Calendar l#655, Indira Talwani, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts (up to 2 hours equally divided);

Executive Calendar #656, James Peterson, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin (up to 2 hours equally divided);

Executive Calendar #657, Nancy Rosenstengel, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois (up to 2 hours equally divided); and

Executive Calendar #690, Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 11th Circuit (up to30 hours).

 

Unless an agreement can be reached, the cloture vote on the Talwani nomination would occur at a time to be determined on Thursday, May 8. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 2 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Upon disposition of the Talwani nomination, the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the Peterson nomination. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 2 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the Peterson nomination. Upon disposition of that nomination, there would be a cloture vote on the Rosenstengel nomination. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 2 hours for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of the Rosenstengel nomination. Then the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the Rosenbaum nomination. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the Rosenbaum nomination.

=====================================================

Last Floor Action:
5:41:35 P.M. -H.R. 4292
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4292.

Last Floor Action:
12:12:22 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

=========================================

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