With the new Congress settling in and trying to figure out how to govern in a divided Washington, both parties are putting forward ideas that could have impacts, directly or indirectly, on CRM. Here are a few of them:
ACHP Adopts GSA Operations & Maintenance Exemption. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) voted earlier this month to adopt the proposed “US General Services Administration Section 106 Exemption for Routine Operations and Maintenance.” The exemption was adopted with 17 members in favor, none opposed, and one abstention (GSA). According to the ACHP, the decision “was supported by GSA’s careful consideration of comments and recommendations received from State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) staff members, Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and the public; and on the proposal’s ability to meet the Criteria for Establishing exempted categories [36 CFR 800.14(c)(1)].”
House Approves Bill to Review OPM Qualification Classifications. The House approved legislation last week on a near-unanimous vote, the Chance to Compete Act, that is intended to “implement merit-based reforms to the civil service hiring system that replace degree-based hiring with skills- and competency-based hiring, and for other purposes.”
Among other provisions, the bill requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to review qualifications for positions that OPM “has determined requires a minimum educational requirement because the nature of the duties of such position is of a scientific, technical, or professional position. . . to determine whether there are data, evidence, or other information that justifies the need for educational requirements for such position.”
OPM’s scientific, technical and professional classification includes CRM fields like archaeology, history and anthropology. While the bill, which now goes to the Senate, does not require OPM to change any of these qualifications, it would require OPM to review them. ACRA will be watching this proposal closely as it advances.
House Debates Bill to Increase Oil and Gas Production. The House last week debated legislation that would require the federal government to draft a plan for increasing the percentage of federal lands being leased for oil and gas production in order to draw any oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The bill is part of a broader effort by Congressional Republicans to increase domestic extraction of oil and gas, the royalties from which fund numerous programs, including the Historic Preservation Fund.
The bill is not likely to advance in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and has already received a veto threat from President Biden, but more bills to increase domestic energy production are expected in the House.
Interior Issue Mining Moratorium in Minnesota. The Interior Department last week issued a 20-year mining moratorium for more than 225,000 acres of federal land in northeastern Minnesota that was being considered for a potential copper and nickel mine. The public land order signed by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland withdrew the area, which is upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, from consideration for leasing under federal laws. The move came after the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service evaluated the environmental impacts of mineral development in the region.
Administration Offers New Definition of “Waters of the U.S.” The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers earlier this month promulgated a new, more expansive definition of “waters of the United States,” expanding Clean Water Act requirements to new waters. With the new definition, the Clean Water Act carries potentially more burdensome regulations for businesses with operations now subject to the Act.
The debate over what is defined as the “waters of the U.S.” has spanned multiple presidential administrations, as environmentalists, farmers, developers and others have sparred over the extent to which wetlands, transitory ponds, and other smaller bodies of water should be included in the Clean Water Act requirements.
Learn More About What’s in Store for CRM
With a divided Congress and major debates ahead over the environment, government regulations, the economy and preservation, what does it all mean for CRM?
Find out on Tuesday, February 7, at 2:00pm EST for The 2023 Outlook for CRM in Washington. This webinar will explore the current legislative and regulatory environment, the outlook for the year, and ACRA’s 2023 government relations priorities.
You will also learn how to make a direct impact on the issues you care about the most. From engaging policymakers to communicating your message effectively, you will come away with the skills you need for advocating for your business, your family, and your community.
This webinar is FREE for ACRA members and available to non-members for $15. Spaces are limited – register NOW to reserve your spot!