Hill Heat

The American Power Act, cosponsored by Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, would cap carbon emissions, support clean energy expansion and improve oversight of oil drilling. But it cuts major provisions for the protection of tropical rainforests that reduce emissions and help keep legislation affordable.

Monday at 10:30am EDT, leading experts on climate forest policies will brief journalists by phone on the American Power Act’s tropical forests policies and the significant environmental and cost implications of these changes.

• Douglas Boucher, Ph.D. – Union of Concerned Scientists and Chairman of the Tropical Forest and Climate Coalition
• Mariann Quinn, Director, Environment, Health, and Safety, -Duke Energy
• Greg Fishbein, Managing Director, Forest Carbon Program – The Nature Conservancy

Please call 888-293-6960 and ask for the Climate Forests Fix call. If asked, the passcode is 6624052.

Tropical deforestation is responsible for more carbon dioxide emissions than all the cars, trucks and planes in the world. But protecting forests is one of the most affordable ways of reducing pollution, cutting the costs of legislation by approximately a third or more. It also levels the playing field for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and timber producers by helping stop illegal and unsustainable agriculture practices in tropical countries.

Previous versions of the legislation have set aside five percent of allowances for rainforest conservation and included offset provisions to allow companies to get credit for investing in tropical forest conservation. Restoring these provisions will help accelerate emissions reductions while saving consumers billions of dollars a year on their energy bills.

For more information, contact Glenn Hurowitz at 202-232-3317 and [email protected] or Ben Becker at 202-292-6974 or [email protected]

There will be a question and answer conference call with subject matter experts to discuss details regarding dispersants.

Speakers

• Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, EPA
• Paul Anastas, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development, EPA
• Dana Tulis, Acting Office Director, Office of Emergency Management, EPA
• Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA
• Dave Westerholm, Director, NOAA Office of Response and Restoration.

The call-in number for this event: (888) 324-7105. International callers use (312) 470-0116 Password – RESPONSE (73776673).

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles.

Unified Command to update media on ongoing operations regarding Deepwater Horizon oil spill response efforts and progress.

Shell Robert Training and Conference Center, 23260 Shell Lane in Robert, La., 70455-1928. A Unified Area Command joint information center representative will be at the gate at 1:30 p.m., to escort media.

The call-in number for press unable to attend: (877) 918-5750. International callers use (312) 470-7364 Password – RESPONSE (73776673). Live broadcast may be available on the Digital Video Information Distribution System (DVIDS) hub, which can be accessed at www.dvidshub.net. To see the live broadcast or download video of the conference, media must register with DVIDS no later than 1:45 p.m. This can be done on the DVIDS Web site or by calling (678) 421-6612.

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, tomorrow will roll out their comprehensive energy and climate change legislation that will create jobs, strengthen America’s energy independence, safeguard our national security, and restore our global economic leadership for decades to come.

Senior congressional staff will hold a background briefing for reporters Wednesday morning followed by an afternoon press conference with the Senators and a broad coalition of business, environment, faith, and national security supporters.

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, tomorrow will roll out their comprehensive energy and climate change legislation that will create jobs, strengthen America’s energy independence, safeguard our national security, and restore our global economic leadership for decades to come.

Senior congressional staff will hold a background briefing for reporters Wednesday morning followed by an afternoon press conference with the Senators and a broad coalition of business, environment, faith, and national security supporters.

Witnesses

• Lamar McKay, President and Chairman of BP America, Inc.
• Steve Newman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Transocean Ltd.
• Timothy Probert, President, Global Business Lines, and Chief Health, Safety, and Environmental Officer, Halliburton
• Jack Moore, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cameron

A public hearing for the joint investigation will be held May 11-12, 2010 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2829 Williams Blvd., Kenner, La.

The purpose of this joint investigation is to develop conclusions and recommendations as they relate to the Deepwater Horizon MODU explosion and loss of life on April 20, 2010. The facts collected at this hearing, along with the lead investigators’ conclusions and recommendations will be forwarded to Coast Guard Headquarters and MMS for approval. Once approved, the final investigative report will be made available to the public and the media. No analysis or conclusions will be presented during the hearing.

Witnesses

• Michael Saucier – MMS Regulatory and Inspection Programs
• Capt. Verne Gifford – 8th Coast Guard District Chief of Prevention
• Lt. Cmdr. Michael Odom – Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise, National Technical Advisor
• Lt. Barbara Wilk – Investigating Officer, Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Morgan City
• Brian Bubar – Deputy Commissioner Maritime Affairs, Republic of Marshall Islands
• Capt. Thomas Heinan – Deputy Commissioner Maritime Affairs, Republic of Marshall Islands

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano will travel to Mobile, Ala., on Tuesday, May 11, to inspect ongoing operations to minimize the Deepwater BP Oil Spill’s impact on public health, the environment and the economy—part of the federal government’s continued oversight and emphasis on interagency coordination in response to the spill.

During her visit, Secretary Napolitano will join Alabama Governor Bob Riley to tour the Mobile Incident Command Center, meet with federal, state and local officials to discuss the response effort and participate in a media availability.

Mobile Incident Command Center
1 Water Street
Mobile, Ala.

Panel 1

• Lamar McKay, Chairman and President, BP America
• Steven L. Newman, President and CEO, Transocean Ltd.
• Tim Probert, President, Global Business Lines, and Chief Health, Safety and Environmental Officer, Halliburton

Panel 2

• Dr. Steve Bortone, Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
• Garret Graves, Director, Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities, State of Louisiana
• Keith Overton CHA, Chairman of the Board, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, TradeWinds Island Resorts
• Dr. Eric May, Distinguished Research Scientist, Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center, Department of Natural Sciences University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Meg Caldwell JD, Director, Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program; Executive Director, Center for Ocean Solutions, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University
• Lieutenant General Thomas G. McInerney United States Air Force (Ret.)

Review current issues related to offshore oil and gas development including the Department of the Interior’s recent five year planning announcements and the accident in the Gulf of Mexico involving the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon.

Rescheduled from May 6.

Witnesses

Panel 1

• Dr. F.E. Beck, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
• Bud Danenberger, Former Chief, Offshore Regulatory Program, Minerals Management Service

Panel 2

• Lamar McKay, President and Chairman, BP America, Inc.
• Steven Newman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Transocean Limited
• Tim Probert, President, Global Business Lines; Chief Health, Safety and Environmental Officer, Halliburton