NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up: 

• E&E – John McArdle: “Administration's final ocean plan sparks Hill debate on whether it streamlines or burdens agencies”
• E&E – Phil Taylor: “House Republicans introduce bill to approve U.S.-Mexico transboundary agreement”
• Billings Gazette – Rob Chaney: “Tribal ownership, operation of Kerr Dam will be historic, lawyer says”
• Politico – Erica Martinson: “The 'war on coal' moves west”

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up: 

• The Hill – Julian Hattem: “House GOP: Obama regs slowing oil-and-gas development”
• Oil and Gas Journal – Nick Snow: “States best qualified to regulate oil, gas, House panel told”
• Associated Press – Julie Carr Smyth: “Official testifies on Ohio fracking oversight”
• Gloucester Times – Richard Gaines: “Halt to fishing funds eyed”
• Associated Press: “Senate bill would provide tax revenue to tribes”
• Los Angeles Times – Mary Forgione: “Oregon: Remote prairie grasslands named national natural landmark”

He notes how states have effectively worked together with federal and environmental groups to create plans to protect the sage grouse, like in Utah where they created a dynamic plan that would protect 94% of the sage grouse population in the state. This collaborative work is being threatened by the Fish and Wildlife Service’s potential listing of the species.

In March, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings sent a letter to the Department of the Interior raising concerns of scientific integrity and the imposition of arbitrary deadlines surrounding the decision to potentially list the sage-grouse under the ESA. Click here to read.

Watch Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings opening statement at today’s hearing:

• Washington Post – Juliet Eilperin: “White House finalizes national ocean policy”
• Fairfield Sun Times: “Daines Co-Sponsors Legislation To Restore Active Forest Management, Help Schools & Counties”
• Associated Press: “North Dakota February oil production sets record”
• Associated Press – Mark Sherman: “Supreme Court wrestles with Indian adoption dispute”
• Sacramento Bee – Jane Braxton Little: “BLM meeting will discuss grouse, wild horses, plans for lumber mill”
• Politico - Andrew Restuccia and Talia Buford: "Keystone Pipeline Fans, Foes Make Their Case"

• Arizona Republic OpEd by Rep. Paul Gosar: “Wildfire policy must shift from reactive to proactive”
• Salt Lake Tribune – Thomas Burr: “Bishop seeks grand bargain on public lands”
• The Hill – Ben Geman: “New Interior chief takes to Twitter”
• Associated Press: “Saving endangered suckerfish in Klamath Basin to cost $135 million, agency says”
• Washington Post – Robert Barnes: “Baby Veronica’s loved ones wait for the Supreme Court to weigh in”

Today, Fox News’ Dan Springer took a look at the issue in Oregon’s Curry Country

In the piece, local elected leaders emphasize the need to cut federal regulations and red tape that prevent forest management projects, Susan Brown, Curry County Oregon Commissioner said "The answer is loosen the regulations, let us use what we have, quit trying to come down and scare us and terrorize our citizens, with taxes and impositions and taking over services and state involvement, that does not help."

Click here to learn more about House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings' proposal to address the expiration of the Secure Rural Schools program and renew the federal government's commitment to manage forest resources for the benefit of rural schools and counties.

• Los Angeles Times – Phil Willon: “Joshua Tree targeted by graffiti vandals using social media”
• The Philadelphia Inquirer – Sandy Bauers: "White-nose syndrome that kills bats continues to spread”
• Kansas City Star: “Will Obama establish 'Idaho's Yellowstone' as a national monument?”
• AP – Matthew Brown: “Amid investigation, coal exports at record levels”
• Great Falls Tribune: “Bison relocation suit heard”
• Salt Lake Tribune – Mark Haggerty: “Compensating federal-lands states"