The week ahead: Moniz testifies; senators dive deep

On Tuesday, a subpanel of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on “innovative partnerships in ocean observation.” Director James Cameron, whose Deepsea Challenger vessel hit the deepest place on Earth, will testify.

The hearing will focus on expanding public-private partnerships for monitoring the oceans and dive into legislation that would increase federal ocean research, particularly in the areas of acidification and the Arctic.

{mosads}Other witnesses include Susan Avery, director with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Ed Page, executive director with the Marine Exchange of Alaska.

On Wednesday, the House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Environment will debate whether expected Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ozone standards are achievable.

Industry groups have pushed back against the anticipated rule in recent weeks, arguing it would be too onerous. Public health organizations, however, contend the rule would reduce healthcare costs and save lives.

A federal law that authorizes the EPA to test chemicals and manage hazardous substances will be in focus Thursday at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing.

Many lawmakers say the law, known as the Toxic Substances Control Act, is too weak. They want to give the EPA more authority to test a greater number of chemicals.

There’s a chance the Senate will move on an update to the law. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) last month released a bipartisan bill to do so, which received praise from a wide range of groups.

The House Natural Resources subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a Thursday hearing on federal mining policies.

The title of the hearing is “Mining in America: The Administration’s Use of Claim Maintenance Fees and Cleanup of Abandoned Mine Lands.”

Off the Capitol grounds, the Electric Drive Transportation Association will host its annual conference Monday through Wednesday at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park.

The electric vehicle confab brings together industry leaders and policymakers, with a focus on new vehicle technology and challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

Former Vice President Gore will deliver the keynote address Tuesday at Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-R.I.) annual Rhode Island Energy and Environment Leaders Day in Washington, D.C.

Other members of Congress are schedule to speak at the event, which will be held in the Senate Visitors Center in the Capitol.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will headline Wednesday’s Energy Efficiency Forum at the National Press Club. Other speakers include Reps. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), as well as Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D).

Reps. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dave Reichert (R-Wash.), Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.) and Tonko are expected to address the Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO and Forum on Wednesday.

The event, which is in its 16th year, promotes sustainable and clean energy technology and draws green groups, trade organizations, federal officials, private sector firms and regulators.

The shifting geopolitics of petroleum and natural gas are the subject of a Wednesday discussion hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) think tank.

The event will focus on the changes in global trade and political dynamics caused by new U.S. oil and gas supplies.

Speakers include Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, former Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), now a BPC senior fellow, and Adam Sieminski, who leads the Energy Information Administration.