Environment Committee Resources Page

The NCSL Environment Committee, one of 10 NCSL Standing Committees, has jurisdiction over state and federal natural resources legislation, regulations and policies. The Committee works to educate Congress and federal agencies on state concerns regarding these issues and to serve as a forum for legislators and legislative staff to learn about and share information on options being considered in other states.

The Committee has jurisdiction over the following areas: Alternative Energy; Brownfields; Clean Air; Environment; Environmental Health; Growth Management; Hazardous Wastes; Natural Disasters; Natural Resources; Nuclear Waste; Pesticides; Pollution Prevention; Radioactive Wastes; Superfund; Takings; Toxics; Waste Disposal; Water Policy; Wetlands Protection

 

US Supreme Court Cases

NCSL periodically signs onto amicus briefs in cases being heard in the Supreme Court when there is a concern of federalism impacts to state legislatures. Below is a list of cases in the Supreme Court to which the State and Local Legal Center submitted an amicus brief that NCSL signed onto and covers issues within the jurisdictional areas of the Environment Committee (outlined above).

Supreme Court Cases - NCSL Amicus Briefs Filed

• Los Angeles County Flood Control District v. Natural Resources Defense Council - (Ruled in favor of the petitioners, Jan. 8, 2013) The flow of water from an improved portion of a navigable waterway into an unimproved portion of the very same waterway does not qualify as a discharge of pollutants under the Clean Water Act.  (Summary)

• Koontz v. St. John's River Water Management District - Whether the "essential nexus" and "rough proportionality" tests apply to conditioning receipt of a land-use permit on paying money, and whether a "taking" can occur if no land-use permit is issued? (Summary)

• Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center & Georgia-Pacific West, Inc. v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center - Whether National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits have to be obtained for channeled stormwater runoff from logging roads?  (Summary)

For questions on the amicus briefs or the cases themselves please contact Lisa Soronen, Executive Director, State & Local Legal Center (202-434-4845)

Environment Committee Info Alerts

2013

• April 30, 2013 - Senators Release Nuclear Waste Storage Draft Legislation
• Feb. 15, 2013 - Environment Topics of Interest in President's State of the Union Address
• Jan. 29, 2013 - Congress Passes Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill
• Jan. 16, 2013 - House Passes Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill

2012

• Aug. 2, 2012 - Nuclear Waste Management Issue Update
• July 23, 2012 - FY13 Appropriations Update Interior-Environment
• June 15, 2012 - FY13 Appropriations Update Agriculture Programs
• May 11, 2012 - FY13 Appropriations Update Energy-Water

Federal Budget/Appropriations Information

• NCSL Environment Committee: Federal Budget and Appropriations Update *Updated April 16,2013
• TABLE: Highlights of Select Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Programs in the FY 2014 Proposed Budgets and Appropriation Bills (to come) *Updated April 16, 2013

Meetings Resources Archive

Resources from Environment Committee Sessions at NCSL's Forums and Legislative Summits



 

Newsletter Archives

Environment Committee Newsletters Archive Page



 

Letters to Congress

• April 30, 2013 -  Letter from NCSL, NaCO, NLC and the Conference of Mayors to EPA RE: Federalism Consultation on UNDS
• March 12, 2013 - Letter to Senators Wyden, Murkowski, Feinstein and Alexander on Nuclear Waste Management
• March 11, 2013 - Letter to Chairman Shimkus and Representative Tonko on Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Hearing
• February 11, 2013 - Letter to Chairman Boxer and Senator Vitter RE: Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform in the Water Resources Development Act
• June 21, 2012 - Letter to Senate Leadership Urgining Support of Interim Storage Language in S.2465

Webinar Archives

2012 E-Learning Environment, Energy and Agriculture Webinars