Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I include in the Record letters from: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, California State Water Resources Control Board, Western Governors' Association, State of Washington Department of Ecology, Environmental Council of the States, and Association of State Wetland Managers. State of Vermont, Agency of Natural Resources, Montpelier, VT, September 12, 2017. Re Comments in Opposition to Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017, H.R. 3043. Hon. Paul Ryan, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Ryan and Minority Leader Pelosi: The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VTANR) would like to express strong concerns over the proposed Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017, H.R. 3043. While VTANR supports efforts to improve and streamline current hydroelectric licensing processes, the Agency strongly opposes legislative efforts to diminish States' ability to protect water quality. Several provisions of H.R. 3043 would essential curtail the State authority under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act, effectively constraining State agencies' ability to use their independent authority to set license conditions, making it more difficult to protect natural resources. VTANR strenuously opposes provisions of H.R.…”