Natural Resources Committee Activities

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Oversight Field Hearing on "Failed Federal Forest Policies: Endangering Jobs, Forests and Species"

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS
Cowlitz County Expo and Conference Center, 1900 7^th Avenue, Longview, Washington
Monday, May 21, 2012
9:00 a.m. Pacific Time

OVERSIGHT FIELD HEARING ON:

"Failed Federal Forest Policies: Endangering Jobs, Forests and Species"

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Witnesses are by invitation only. A witness list will be made available once it is confirmed.

BACKGROUND:

This hearing will examine how federal administering of the Northwest Forest Plan and Endangered Species Act has affected local economies, forest health and the Northern Spotted Owl. In 1990, the Northern Spotted Owl was listed under the Endangered Species Act and as a result, the Northwest federal forest management regime was established. Still in effect, the Northwest Forest Plan has proven to be been a failure. The management plan has been driven by lawsuits as opposed to sound science, caused active forest management to plummet, failed in its mission of protecting the Northern Spotted Owl, and contributed to the deterioration of forest health. The Obama administration recently released a new critical habitat proposal for the Northern Spotted Owl that would replace the current management plan. It would place huge portions Washington, Oregon and California off limits to economic development and could indirectly impact over 19,000 Northwest jobs tied to private lands. The proposed plan also fails to adequately address the most serious threat to the Spotted Owl – the Barred Owl.

Full Committee Markup on H.R. 1192, H.R 3973, H.R 4043, H.R 4381, H.R 4382, H.R 4383 and H.R 4402

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
10:00 a.m.

Watch LIVE Markup Webcast

FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP ON:

H.R. 1192 (Lummis), To extend the current royalty rate for soda ash. "Soda Ash Royalty Extension, Job Creation, and Export Enhancement Act of 2011"
H.R. 3973 (Young), To facilitate the development of energy on Indian lands by reducing Federal regulations that impede tribal development of Indian lands, and for other purposes. "Native American Energy Act"
H.R. 4043 (Gallegly), To amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Defense to establish Southern Sea Otter Military Readiness Areas for national defense purposes, and for other purposes. "Military Readiness and Southern Sea Otter Conservation Act"
H.R. 4381 (Tipton), To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish goals for an all-of-the-above energy production plan strategy on a 4-year basis on all onshore Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service. "Planning for American Energy Act of 2012"
H.R. 4382 (Coffman), To ensure Federal oil and natural gas lease sales occur, eliminate redundant leasing bureaucracy, and provide leasing certainty. "Providing Leasing Certainty for American Energy Act of 2012"
H.R. 4383 (Lamborn), To streamline the application for permits to drill process and increase funds for energy project permit processing, and for other purposes. "Streamlining Permitting of American Energy Act of 2012"
H.R. 4402 (Amodei), To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to more efficiently develop domestic sources of the minerals and mineral materials of strategic and critical importance to United States economic and national security and manufacturing competitiveness. "National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012"

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

COMMITTEE ACTION:

A summary of Committee Action will appear here following the conclusion of the Markup.

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1103, H.R. 3100, H.R. 4400, H.R. 3365 and S. 270

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Thursday, May 17, 2012
2:00 p.m.

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON:

H.R. 1103 (Sablan), To direct the Secretary of the Interior to develop, maintain, and administer an annex in Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as an extension of the American Memorial Park located in Saipan, and for other purposes. "American Memorial Park Tinian Annex Act"
H.R. 3100 (Canseco), To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to expand the boundary of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, to conduct a study of potential land acquisitions, and for other purposes. "San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Boundary Expansion Act"
H.R. 4400 (Markey), To designate the Salt Pond Visitor Center at Cape Cod National Seashore as the "Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Salt Pond Visitor Center," and for other purposes.
H.R. 3365 (Lummis), To reauthorize the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, and for other purposes. "Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act Reauthorization of 2011"
S. 270 (Wyden), A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to Deschutes County, Oregon. "La Pine Land Conveyance Act"

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Rep. Francisco Canseco, R-TX (H.R. 3100)
Member of Congress

Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-WY (H.R. 3365)
Member of Congress

Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, D-CNMI (H.R. 1103)
Member of Congress

Rep. Greg Walden, R-OR (S 270)
Member of Congress

Panel II

Mike Pool (H.R. 3365 and S. 270)
Deputy Director
Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Department of the Interior

Victor Knox (H.R. 1103, H.R. 3100 and H.R. 4400)
Associate Director for Park Planning, Facilities and Lands
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Pamela Watson Bain (H.R. 3100)
Chairman
Los Compadres de San Antonio Missions

Leigh O’Neill (Testifying on H.R. 4400)
Representing the O’Neill family

Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3065 and H.R. 3706

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, OCEANS AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
1334 Longworth House Office Building
Thursday, May 17, 2012
2:00 p.m.

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON:

H.R. 3065 (Shuler), To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to facilitate the establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges in certain States. "Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act"
H.R. 3706 (Christensen), To create the Office of Chief Financial Officer of the Government of the Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

The Honorable Heath Shuler (H.R. 3065)
Member of Congress
U.S. House of Representatives

Panel II

The Honorable Anthony M. Babauta (H.R. 3065 and H.R. 3706)
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs
Department of the Interior

Gordon Myers (H.R. 3065)
Executive Director
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Dr. Douglas B. Inkley (H.R. 3065)
Senior Scientist
National Wildlife Federation

SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD:

U.S. Department of the Interior
Regarding H.R. 3065 Legislation

Joint Subcommittee Oversight Field Hearing on "Logs in the Road: Eliminating Federal Red Tape and Excessive Litigation to Create Healthy Forests, Jobs and Abundant Water and Power Supplies"

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER
AND
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS
Montrose Elks Civil Building, 107 S. Cascade Avenue, Montrose, Colorado
Monday, May 14, 2012
9:00 a.m. Mountain Time

Press Release - Field Hearing Stresses Need for Active Forest Management to Suppress Bark Beetle Epidemic, Protect Water and Power Supplies (5/14/2012)

JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FIELD HEARING ON:

"Logs in the Road: Eliminating Federal Red Tape and Excessive Litigation to Create Healthy Forests, Jobs and Abundant Water and Power Supplies"

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable Rob Bishop
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Nancy Fishering
Vice President
Colorado Timber Industry Association
Montrose, Colorado
(Truth in Testimony Form)

J.R. Ford
President
Pagosa Cattle Company
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Clint Georg
Partner
The Alden Group
Englewood, Colorado
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Dan Jiron
Regional Director, Rocky Mountain Region
U.S. Forest Service
Golden, Colorado

Sloan Shoemaker
Executive Director
Wilderness Workshop
Carbondale, Colorado

Leigh Robertson
Grantwriter, Education/Outreach Coordinator
Uncompahgre Partnership
Ridgway, Colorado
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Jim Downie
Director, Vegetation Management and Ancillary Services Program
Xcel Energy
Denver, Colorado
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Gary Wilkinson
President
San Juan Trail Riders Association
Durango, Colorado
(Truth in Testimony Form)

David Dodd
Enviro Land Management, LLC
Whitewater, Colorado

BACKGROUND:

Requested by Colorado Congressmen Scott Tipton (CO-03) and Mike Coffman (CO-06), the hearing will focus on how overregulation and litigation are inhibiting active forest management. Healthy forests, mainly achieved through the ability to access and manage timber resources, are a major source of economic and recreational activity, support thousands of jobs, and are directly related to water quality and power supplies to the surrounding areas. The area around Montrose, Colorado has been significantly impacted by pine beetle infestation. Without proper forest management, the pine beetle epidemic in the area and throughout the West will continue to worsen, jobs will be lost, the risk of catastrophic wildfire will increase, and water and power supplies could be compromised. Witnesses at the hearing will identify current roadblocks to effective forest management and ways to reverse the damage that has been done to restore forest health and protect water and power supplies.

Full Committee Oversight Hearing on "Evaluating President Obama’s Offshore Drilling Plan and Impacts on Our Future"

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
10:00 a.m.

Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast
Hot Air Alert - 50 Billion Barrels of Oil Not Enough for Obama Admin to Stop Playing Politics with America’s Energy Security (5/9/2012)

OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:

"Evaluating President Obama’s Offshore Drilling Plan and Impacts on Our Future"

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

The Honorable Tommy Beaudreau
Director
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

BACKGROUND:

When President Obama took office, nearly 100% of our offshore areas were open to American energy production. Last November, the Obama Administration released a draft offshore drilling plan that closes the majority of our offshore areas to energy production through 2017. The President's plan prohibits offshore drilling in new areas and only allows lease sales to occur in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska – leaving portions of the Arctic and the entire Atlantic and Pacific coasts off-limits. In the face of high gasoline prices and difficult economic times, our country cannot afford to say 'no' to new American energy and new American jobs.

Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3210 and H.R. 4171

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, OCEANS AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
1:00 p.m.

Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast
Press Release - Witnesses: Bills to Amend Lacey Act Would Correct Unintended Consequences of Law, Protect from Over-Criminalization (5/8/2012)

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON:

H.R. 3210 (Cooper), To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to limit the application of that Act with respect to plants and plant products that were imported before the effective date of amendments to that Act enacted in 2008, and for other purposes. "Retailers and Entertainers Lacey Implementation and Enforcement Fairness Act"
H.R. 4171 (Broun), To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to repeal certain provisions relating to criminal penalties and violations of foreign laws, and for other purposes. "Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2012"

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable John Fleming
Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

The Honorable Rand Paul (S. 2062)
Member of Congress
U.S. Senate

The Honorable Jim Cooper, D-TN (H.R. 3210)
Member of Congress
U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Earl Blumenauer, D-OR (H.R. 3210)
Member of Congress
U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Paul C. Broun, R-GA (H.R. 4171)
Member of Congress
U.S. House of Representatives

Panel II

Jeff Baxter (H.R. 3210)
Musician/Producer, Former Member of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers
Advisor to D.O.D. and I.C.
Former Chair of the Advisory Board for Ballistic Missile Defense

Barry Rutenberg (H.R. 3210)
Chairman of the Board
National Association of Home Builders
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Laurie Everill (H.R. 3210)
Regional Customs Compliance and Operations Manager
IKEA – North America
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Donna A. Harman (H.R. 3210)
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Forest and Paper Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)

The Honorable Mark Rey (H.R. 3210 and H.R. 4171)
Climate Advisers
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Adam Gardner (H.R. 3210 and H.R. 4171)
Frontman of Guster
Founder and Co-Director of Reverb
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Reed D. Rubinstein (H.R. 3210 and H.R. 4171)
Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP
U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform

Panel III

Eileen Sobeck (H.R. 3210 and H.R. 4171)
Deputy Assistant Director for Fish and Wildlife and Parls
Department of the Interior

Kevin Shea (H.R. 3210 and H.R. 4171)
Associate Administrator
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Full Committee Markup on H.R. 460, H.R. 919, H.R. 1237, H.R. 1272, H.R. 1818, H.R. 2467, H.R. 2489, H.R. 2621, H.R. 3874, H.R. 4027, H.R. 4222, S 363 and S. 925

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT

COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
10:00 a.m.

Watch the Archived Markup Webcast

FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP ON:

H.R. 460 (Chaffetz), To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to facilitate the development of hydroelectric power on the Diamond Fork System of the Central Utah Project. "Bonneville Unit Clean Hydropower Facilitation Act"
H.R. 919 (Franks), To provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Mohave Valley, Mohave County, Arizona, administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, for use as a public shooting range. "Mohave Valley Land Conveyance Act of 2011"
H.R. 1237 (Herger), To provide for a land exchange with the Trinity Public Utilities District of Trinity County, California, involving the transfer of land to the Bureau of Land Management and the Six Rivers National Forest in exchange for National Forest System land in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1272 (Peterson), To provide for the use and distribution of the funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, et al, by the United States Court of Federal Claims in Docket Numbers 19 and 188, and for other purposes. "Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 2011"
H.R. 1818 (McKeon), To designate Mt. Andrea Lawrence, and for other purposes. "Mt. Andrea Lawrence Designation Act of 2011"
H.R. 2467 (McKeon), To take certain Federal lands in Mono County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Bridgeport Indian Colony. "Bridgeport Indian Colony Land Trust, Health, and Economic Development Act of 2011"
H.R. 2489 (Holt), To authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program. "American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2011"
H.R. 2621 (Tipton), To establish the Chimney Rock National Monument in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes. "Chimney Rock National Monument Establishment Act"
H.R. 3874 (Noem), To provide for the conveyance of eight cemeteries that are located on National Forest System land in Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota. "Black Hills Cemetery Act"
H.R. 4027 (Matheson), To clarify authority granted under the Act entitled "An Act to define the exterior boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in the State of Utah, and for other purposes."
H.R. 4222 (Grijalva), To provide for the conveyance of certain land inholdings owned by the United States to the Tucson Unified School District and to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, and for other purposes.
- Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 4222 offered by Mr. Grijalva
S. 363 (Sen. Wicker), To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to convey property of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and for other purposes.
S. 925 (Sen. Boxer), To designate Mt. Andrea Lawrence.

COMMITTEE ACTION:

The Committee on Natural Resources met in an open markup session on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, and considered the following bills:

H.R. 460 (Chaffetz), To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to facilitate the development of hydroelectric power on the Diamond Fork System of the Central Utah Project. "Bonneville Unit Clean Hydropower Facilitation Act"

The Subcommittee on Water and Power was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 460 by unanimous consent.

An amendment offered by Mr. McClintock #1 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.

H.R. 919 (Franks), To provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Mohave Valley, Mohave County, Arizona, administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, for use as a public shooting range. "Mohave Valley Land Conveyance Act of 2011"

H.R. 919 was not considered.

H.R. 1237 (Herger), To provide for a land exchange with the Trinity Public Utilities District of Trinity County, California, involving the transfer of land to the Bureau of Land Management and the Six Rivers National Forest in exchange for National Forest System land in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and for other purposes.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1237 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

H.R. 1272 (Peterson), To provide for the use and distribution of the funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, et al, by the United States Court of Federal Claims in Docket Numbers 19 and 188, and for other purposes. "Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 2011"

The Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1272 by unanimous consent.

An en bloc amendment offered by Mr. Young #1 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.

H.R. 1818 (McKeon), To designate Mt. Andrea Lawrence, and for other purposes. "Mt. Andrea Lawrence Designation Act of 2011"

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1818 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

H.R. 2467 (McKeon), To take certain Federal lands in Mono County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Bridgeport Indian Colony. "Bridgeport Indian Colony Land Trust, Health, and Economic Development Act of 2011"

The Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2467 by unanimous consent.

An en bloc amendment offered by Mr. Young #1 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.

H.R. 2489 (Holt), To authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program. "American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2011"

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2489 by unanimous consent.

An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop #1 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.

H.R. 2621 (Tipton), To establish the Chimney Rock National Monument in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes. "Chimney Rock National Monument Establishment Act"

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2621 by unanimous consent.

An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop #1 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.

H.R. 3874 (Noem), To provide for the conveyance of eight cemeteries that are located on National Forest System land in Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota. "Black Hills Cemetery Act"

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3874 by unanimous consent.

An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop #1 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.
The long title was amended by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.

H.R. 4027 (Matheson), To clarify authority granted under the Act entitled "An Act to define the exterior boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in the State of Utah, and for other purposes".

The Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs and the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4027 by unanimous consent

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

H.R. 4222 (Grijalva), To provide for the conveyance of certain land inholdings owned by the United States to the Tucson Unified School District and to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, and for other purposes.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4222 by unanimous consent.

An amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Grijalva was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.

S. 363 (Sen. Wicker), A bill to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to convey property of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and for other purposes.

The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 363 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

S. 925 (Sen. Boxer), A bill to designate Mt. Andrea Lawrence. "Mt. Andrea Lawrence Designation Act of 2011"

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of S. 925 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4094 and Oversight Hearing on "Access Denied: Turning Away Visitors to National Parks"

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Friday, April 27, 2012
9:00 a.m.

Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast
Press Release - Witnesses Testify National Park Service Management Plans Severely Limit Access, Harm Local Economy, Endanger Jobs (4/27/2012)

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON:

H. R. 4094 (W. Jones), To authorize pedestrian and motorized vehicular access in Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area, and for other purposes. "Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act"

AND OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:

"Access Denied: Turning Away Visitors to National Parks"

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-NC (H.R. 4094)

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL (Oversight hearing)

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-FL (Oversight hearing)

Panel II

Testifying on HR 4094 and Oversight Hearing

Herbert C. Frost
Associate Director, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

H.R. 4094

Warren Judge
Dare County Board of Commissioners
Dare County Government, NC

John Couch
President
Outer Banks Preservation Association, NC
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Oversight Hearing

Kenneth W. Wright
Vice Chairman
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

KC Crook
Florida Resident
(Truth in Testimony Form)

John J. Curlett
Florida Resident
(Truth in Testimony Form)

BACKGROUND:

The National Park Service is pushing a new management plan at Biscayne National Park that will eliminate access to over 10,000 acres of sport fishing waters and dissuade visitation to other areas of the park. Fishing is an important economic activity that draws tourists and provides locals with an excellent outdoor recreational opportunity. Access to Cape Hatteras National Recreational Area has been severely limited by Park Service management and environmental lawsuits under the guise of species protection. Not only have vehicles been restricted from areas traditionally available, but in some areas pedestrian access was eliminated as well. Due to severe enforcement under the current management plan, local business have seen 50% declines and 19 families were recently put at risk when the Park Service denied access to a stretch of beach needed to retreat from the rising tides.

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4381, H.R. 4382, H.R. 4383, H.R. 4402, H.R. 1192 and H.R. 2176

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:00:00 GMT

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Thursday, April 26, 2012
3:00 p.m.

Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast
Press Release - Experts Express Need for Onshore Energy and Mining Bills to Create Jobs, Streamline Government Inefficiencies (4/26/2012)
Press Release - Amodei Introduces Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act (4/19/2012)
Press Release - Natural Resources Republicans Unveil Legislation to Expand Onshore American Energy Production, Lower Gas Prices (4/18/2012)

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON:

H.R. 4381 (Tipton), To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish goals for an all-of the-above energy production plan strategy on a 4-year basis on all onshore Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service. "Planning for American Energy Act"
H.R. 4382 (Coffman), To ensure Federal oil and natural gas lease sales occur, eliminate redundant leasing bureaucracy, and provide leasing certainty. "Providing Leasing Certainty for American Energy Act"
H.R. 4383 (Lamborn), To streamline the application for permits to drill process and increase funds for energy project permit processing, and for other purposes. "Streamlining Permitting of American Energy Act"
H.R. 4402 (Amodei), To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to more efficiently develop domestic sources of the minerals and mineral materials of strategic and critical importance to United States economic and national security and manufacturing competitiveness. "National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012"
H.R. 1192 (Lummis), To extend the current royalty rate for soda ash. "Soda Ash Royalty Extension, Job Creation, and Export Enhancement Act of 2011"
H.R. 2176 (Heinrich), To dedicate a portion of the rental fees from wind and solar energy projects on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management for the administrative costs of processing applications for new wind and solar projects, and for other purposes. "Clean Energy Promotion Act"

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable Doug Lamborn
Chairman

The Honorable Mike Coffman, CO-06
Committee Member

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Representative Amodei, NV-02 (H.R. 4402)
Member of Congress

Representative Lummis, WY-At Large (H.R. 1192)
Member of Congress

Panel II

Kathleen M. Sgamma (H.R. 4381, H.R. 4382 and H.R. 4383)
Vice President of Government & Public Affairs
Western Energy Alliance
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Jack Ekstrom (H.R. 4381, H.R. 4382 and H.R. 4383)
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Whiting Petroleum
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Hal Quinn (H.R. 4402)
President and CEO
National Mining Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Edward Flynn (H.R. 1192)
Secretary/Treasurer
Industrial Minerals Association - North America
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Brad Powell (H.R. 4381, H.R. 4382, H.R. 4383 and H.R. 4402)
Western Energy Director
Trout Unlimited
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Tom Vinson (H.R. 4381, H.R. 4383 and H.R. 2176)
Senior Director of Federal Regulatory Affairs
American Wind Energy Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)