Congressional Research Service Reports - 39 Matching Results

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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific Arctic-related issues. The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future.

Date: May 31, 2016

Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Federal Land Ownership: Acquisition and Disposal Authorities

This report describes the primary authorities of the following agencies for acquiring and disposing of federal land. These four federal agencies--the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), all in the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the U.S. Forest Service (FS) in the Department of Agriculture--administer about 95% of those lands.

Date: May 19, 2015

Creator: Vincent, Carol H.; Corn, M. L.; Comay, Laura B. & Hoover, Katie

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides an in-depth overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific relevant topics.

Date: May 1, 2015

Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific Arctic-related issues.

Date: May 24, 2013

Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Wildfire Damages to Homes and Resources: Understanding Causes and Reducing Losses

This report focuses on options for protecting structures and for protecting wildlands and natural resources from wildfires. It begins with a brief overview of the nature of wildfires, followed by a discussion of protecting structures. Then, it discusses wildfire damages to wildlands and natural resources, fuel treatment options and their benefits and limitations, and public involvement in federal decisions.

Date: May 23, 2013

Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Forest Fire/Wildfire Protection

This report provides historical background on wildfires, and describes concerns about the wildland-urban interface and about forest and rangeland health. The report discusses fuel management, fire control, and fire effects. The report then examines federal, state, and landowner roles and responsibilities in protecting lands and resources from wildfires, and concludes by discussing current issues for federal wildfire management.

Date: May 22, 2013

Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Wildfire Protection in the Wildland-Urban Interface

Report that describes the growth of the wildland-urban interface, wildfire suppression efforts, post-fire responses, and especially the programs and options for protecting the interface before the next wildfire strikes.

Date: May 15, 2013

Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Ocean Acidification

This report discusses the increasing concern, within the scientific community, that rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could detrimentally alter marine ecosystems. The report discusses how ocean acidification happens, its possible outcomes, as well as natural and human responses that could possibly limit or reduce the rate of the process.

Date: May 27, 2010

Creator: Buck, Eugene H. & Folger, Peter

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Ocean Acidification

Date: May 27, 2009

Creator: Buck, Eugene H. & Folger, Peter

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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U.S. Tree Planting for Carbon Sequestration

This report briefly discusses one of the widely discussed options for domestic carbon dioxide offsets: tree planting. Two terms are generally used for tree planting: reforestation, for planting trees in areas recently cleared of forest through timber harvesting or natural disaster; and afforestation, for planting trees on sites that have long been cleared of forests, such as crop, pasture, and brush lands.

Date: May 4, 2009

Creator: Gorte, Ross W.

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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The Specialty Metal Provision and the Berry Amendment: Issues for Congress

This report examines the specialty metal provision which was originally part of the Berry Amendment; the potential oversight issues for Congress, and options that Congress may wish to consider. The debate over the specialty metal provision may also renew interest in the debate over the viability of other domestic source restrictions. There is congressional interest in the specialty metal provision because: (1) the specialty metal restriction affects major defense contractors who produce compone… more

Date: May 14, 2008

Creator: Grasso, Valerie Bailey

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Federal Lands Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (FS): Issues for the 110th Congress

The missions of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (FS) are similar, and many issues, programs, and policies affect both agencies. This report focuses on several issues affecting both agencies’ lands that are likely to be of interest to the 110th Congress, including energy resources, hardrock mining, FS roadless areas, wild horses and burros, wilderness, wildfire protection, and others.

Date: May 9, 2008

Creator: Gorte, Ross W.; Vincent, Carol H.; Humphries, Marc & Alexander, Kristina

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been seeking congressional approval for a $1.1 billion multi-year program to both construct five projects that would help to restore specified sites in the coastal wetland ecosystem in Louisiana, and to continue planning several other related projects. The state of Louisiana and several federal agencies have participated in the development of this program. This report introduces this program and restoration options that … more

Date: May 4, 2006

Creator: Zinn, Jeffrey A.

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Wildfire Protection Funding

The severe 2000 fire season prompted a significant rise in funding for wildfire protection that has been sustained; wildfire appropriations in FY2005 were more than $2.9 billion. Most of the funds ($2.8 billion in FY2005) are to protect federal lands, with funds for reducing fuel loads, for equipment and training, for fighting fires, and for restoring burned sites. Federal funding ($98 million in FY2005) also supports state efforts to protect nonfederal lands. Some wildfire funding ($74 million… more

Date: May 2, 2005

Creator: Gorte, Ross W.

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Federal Land Management Agencies: Background on Land and Resources Management

This report provides an overview of how federal lands and resources are managed, the agencies that manage the lands,the authorities under which these lands are managed, and some of the issues associated with federal land management.

Date: May 21, 2004

Creator: Hardy-Vincent, Carol; Corn, M. Lynne; Gorte, Ross W.; Johnson, Sandra L.; Whiteman, David & Calvert, Kori

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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The Endangered Species Act (ESA), Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and Department of Defense (DOD) Readiness Activities: Current Law and Legislative Proposals

This report provides a brief overview of how the Endangered Species Act (ESA)1 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)2 and their relevant regulations may apply to military training and readiness activities of the Department of Defense (DOD). Military activities may “take” protected creatures directly (e.g,. killing with ordnance during rifle, gunnery or assault drills), or might destroy habitat (e.g., artillery or bombing practices), even if these results are not the purpose of the activities… more

Date: May 30, 2003

Creator: Baldwin, Pamela

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

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Endangered Species: Difficult Choices

This report discusses issues debated in the 107th Congress while is considering various proposals to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Major issues in recent years have included changing the role of science in decision-making, changing the role of critical habitat, reducing conflicts with Department of Defense activities, incorporating further protection for property owners, and increasing protection of listed species, among others. In addition, many have advocated including signi… more

Date: May 29, 2003

Creator: Buck, Eugene H.; Corn, M. Lynne & Baldwin, Pamela

Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department