After a long week at AGU 2016 (more on that later), I’m back to summarize  the final weeks of legislation before Congress left of the winter holidays.

H.R.6528  – Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act
Sponsor: Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-At Large]
-Would amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning  and the Federal Land Policy and Management Acts  to discourage litigation against the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management relating to land management projects. 

H.R.6508 – Preventing Preventable Earthquakes Act
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3]
–Would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require that underground injection control programs prevent seismicity induced by underground injection activities. Note: this would not prevent injections altogether – there are safe ways to inject wastewater back into the ground. 

H.R.6452 – Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act
Sponsor: Rep. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large] 
–Would authorize NOAA to promulgate regulations to implement U.S. participation in the North Pacific Fisheries Convention and South Pacific Fisheries Convention. These conventions are designed to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources and marine ecosystems in the North Pacific and South Pacific Ocean of the United States.

H.R.6448 – Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2016
Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8] 
–Would establish the National Wildlife Corridors System to provide for the protection and restoration of native fish, wildlife, and plant species and their habitats in the United States that have been diminished by habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, and obstructions, and for other purposes.

S.3531 – Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Act of 2016
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] 
-Would designate certain National Forest System land in the State of Idaho as wilderness. 

S.3514 – Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA] 
-Would adjust the boundary of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley Corridor