E2-Wire

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate panel homes in on W.Va. spill

by Laura Barron-Lopez - 02/03/14 6:52 PM ET

ON TAP TUESDAY: A Senate panel plans to break down the factors leading to the chemical spill in West Virginia that left roughly 300,000 people without water for five days.

The hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee on Water and Wildlife will review the “effectiveness of the policies and procedures” used to protect drinking water sources.

{mosads}The senators will also consider what added measure might be necessary to ensure drinking water sources are safe and protected from hazards.

You can see the list of witnesses here.

ON TAP TUESDAY II: Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) will lead a bipartisan press conference, calling on President Obama to approval the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline immediately.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) will also join in on the conference that will include labor and business leaders, along with national security experts.

Rest of Tuesday’s agenda…

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will consider two of President Obama’s nominations to the Interior Department: Rhea Suh as assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife Parks and Janice Schneider to be assistant secretary for Land and Minerals Management.

On the House side of the Capitol, a working group on Tuesday will release its final report and recommendations for improving the Endangered Species Act.

The Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday will hold a hearing on strengthening fishing communities and increasing flexibility in fisheries management.

Off Capitol Hill, the Brookings Institution will hold a discussion on the future of electric utilities on Tuesday.

AROUND THE WEB:

Bloomberg reports that California’s drought is putting pressure on a $15 billion plan touted by Gov. Jerry Brown to build two 30-mile water tunnels under the ecologically fragile river delta near San Francisco Bay.

The Houston Chronicle reports Chevron and General Electric plan to work together to push investments in oil production and refining research.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Here’s what ran on E2-Wire on Tuesday…

– EPA seeks to modernize nuclear standards
– White House vows to keep Keystone call above ‘political influence’
– McConnell demands Obama approve Keystone pipeline
– Report: No to Keystone could mean six deaths per year via oil trains
– Whitehouse: ‘I will not ignore effects of climate change’
– Eshoo, Pallone compete for Waxman’s job
– Week ahead: Senators put spotlight on W.Va. spill