Consolidation of Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-892
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Energy
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Federal officials
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Great Lakes
Homeland security
Indian social and development programs
Infrastructure development
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Latin America
Law enforcement officers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Mexico
New Mexico
Nuclear power
Nuclear weapons
Oil and gas
Radioactive wastes and releases
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Solid waste and recycling
State and local finance
Strategic materials and reserves
Terrorism
Water quality
Water use and supply
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Consolidation of Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency Act of 2011 - Consolidates the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Department of Energy and the Environment (DEE), with the primary mission of ensuring U.S. security and prosperity by: (1) protecting human health; (2) safeguarding the natural environment; and (3) addressing U.S. energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. Transfers to the DEE Secretary all of the functions of the EPA Administrator and the Secretary of Energy.
 
Establishes within the Department: (1) an Energy and Environmental Information Administration; (2) an Office of Science; (3) an Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence; (4) an Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs; and (5) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as an independent regulatory commission. Transfers to the Commission specified functions of the Federal Power Commission (FPC). Preserves the Southeastern Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, and the Bonneville Power Administration as distinct organizational entities within DEE, each headed by an Administrator.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish policy for the National Nuclear Security Administration; (2) assess annually the vulnerability of Department's facilities to terrorist attack; and (3) establish an enterprise-wide strategic sourcing program to improve efficiencies and economies in EPA's acquisition programs. 
 
Requires the President to: (1) submit a proposed National Energy Policy Plan to Congress by April 1, 2012, and biennially thereafter; and (2) issue an executive order that provides for administrative cost savings across the federal government.
 
Repeals provisions providing for the weatherization assistance program, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, sustainable energy resources for consumers grants, the low income community energy efficiency pilot program, the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program, the fossil energy research and development program, state energy conservation plans, and diesel emissions reduction grants. Rescinds specified unobligated balances of the amounts made available for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Terminates the state water pollution control revolving funds program, grants for water pollution control programs, nonpoint source management programs, the state drinking water revolving loan funds program, public water system supervision programs, and the state underground injection control program. Terminates EPA's targeted watershed grants program, performance partnership grants program, U.S. Mexico border water infrastructure program, and tribal assistance grants programs. 
 
Prohibits the Secretary from providing in FY2012-FY2016: (1) grants to communities to develop plans and implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions; (2) targeted airshed grants to California; and (3) grants for the construction of drinking water, wastewater, or storm water infrastructure or for water quality protection. Limits the amount that the Secretary may transfer to the Great Lakes Initiative.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in Senate