Letters

Chairman Hastings Follow-up Letter to Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall on the Department of the Interior's Renewable Energy Programs
Letters
Aug 22, 2012 - Dear Ms. Kendall: For several months, the Committee on Natural Resources has been looking into questions about possible political interference, lack of independence, and conflict of interest involving an investigation by the Office of Inspector General (“IG”) into the editing of a Department of the Interior offshore dr... More

Chairman Hastings Letter to Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Nancy Sutley and Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren Requesting Answers to Outstanding Questions on National Ocean Policy Before Final Implementation
Letters
Aug 15, 2012 - Dear Chairwoman Sutley and Director Holdren: More than two years have passed since President Obama unilaterally issued a new National Ocean Policy that created an expansive federal bureaucracy to manage ocean activities and resources without any specific Congressional approval, and more than eight months have passed si... More

Chairman Hastings and Rep. David Rivera Letter to Secretary Salazar on Record-Keeping of Foreign-Owned Companies That Have U.S. Leases
Letters
Aug 13, 2012 - Dear Secretary Salazar: We write to draw your attention to two national security issues that have been raised in oversight hearings before the House Committee on Natural Resources in recent months. Foreign-multinational energy companies currently hold development leases and operate in the American Outer Continental She... More

Chairman Hastings Invitation Letter to Interior Department Acting Inspector General to Testify at Full Committee Oversight Hearing
Letters
Jul 26, 2012 - Dear Ms. Kendall: The Committee on Natural Resources will hold an oversight hearing titled “Oversight of the Actions, Independence and Accountability of the Acting Inspector General of the Department of the Interior” on August 2, 2012. The Committee requests your attendance at this hearing to provide testimony and to a... More

Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall Response to Chairman Hastings' Request for Information on the Department of the Interior's Renewable Energy Programs
Letters
Jul 20, 2012 - Dear Mr. Chairman: This responds to your letter of May 30, 2012, in which you requested the following information... The lists you requested are enclosed. We also enclose lists of other energy-related IG reviews that are not specifically focused on renewable energy, as these reflect a significant body of our work. You ... More

Chairman Hastings Invitation Letter to Interior Department Officials to Testify at Full Committee Gulf Drilling Moratorium Oversight Hearing
Letters
Jul 18, 2012 - Dear Mr. Black / Mr. Kemkar / Ms. Ishee / Mr. Cruickshank / Ms. Hanley: The Committee on Natural Resources will hold an oversight hearing on July 25, 2012 to continue the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding 1) how a decision was made by the Obama Administration to impose a drilling moratorium in th... More

Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski Send Letters to BSEE Director Watson and NOAA Administrator Lubchenco on Greenpeace Protests in Arctic
Letters
Jul 13, 2012 - Dear Mr. Watson: Greenpeace is pledging to impede planned exploratory drilling operations in arctic waters off the north coast of Alaska this summer. A protest fleet, including a 216-foot ice class ship, two large rigid hull and four small inflatables, two submarines, and a drone is reportedly en route to participate i... More

Chairman Hastings Letter to Secretary Salazar Stating Intent to Call Officials to Testify at Full Committee Gulf Drilling Moratorium Oversight Hearing
Letters
Jul 13, 2012 - Dear Mr. Secretary: In a July 6, 2012, letter, the Department of the Interior (“Department”) was provided a final opportunity to establish by the close of business on July 12, 2012 a mutually agreed upon schedule for transcribed interviews of five Department officials by Committee on Natural Resources (“Committee”) maj... More

Chairman Hastings Invitation Letter to Secretary Salazar and Director Pizarchik to Testify on Status of Coal Regulation Rewrite and Complying With Subpoenas for Documents
Letters
Jul 10, 2012 - Dear Secretary Salazar and Director Pizarchik: The Committee will hold an oversight hearing on July 19, 2012 to examine 1) the status of the proposed Stream Protection Rule rewrite and the lawsuit settlement agreement entered into on March 19, 2010 by the Department of the Interior (“Department”) and the Office of Surf... More

Chairman Hastings Follow-up Letter to Secretary Salazar Regarding Committee's Investigation on Drilling Moratorium Documents and Setting Deadline to Interview Officials
Letters
Jul 6, 2012 - Dear Mr. Secretary: For more than a year, the Department of the Interior ("Department") has consistently refused to provide documents and information that would allow Congress to conduct a thorough and independent review of the Obama Administration's decision imposing a Gulf of Mexico drilling moratorium and its drafti... More

Chairman Hastings Follow-up Letter to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Jane Lubchenco Regarding the Mismanagement of the Asset Forfeiture Fund
Letters
Jun 28, 2012 - Dear Administrator Lubchenco: I am writing to follow up on my April 2, 2012 request for information about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's ("NOAA") response to the mismanagement of the Asset Forfeiture Fund that was recently identified by the Department of Commerce's Office of Inspector General's (... More

Chairman Hastings Letters to Obama Administration Officials Requesting Further Information on Endangered Species Act Lawsuits and Settlements
Letters
May 31, 2012 - Dear Secretary Salazar and Director Ashe: The Committee on Natural Resources (“Committee”) has jurisdiction over matters involving fisheries and wildlife, including the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (“ESA”), 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1599. The goal of the ESA was to preserve, protect and recover key domestic species. However,... More

Chairman Hastings Letter to Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall on the Department of the Interior's Renewable Energy Programs
Letters
May 30, 2012 - Dear Ms. Kendall: According to the Inspector General Act of 1978 ("IG Act"), each Inspector General is responsible for conducting, supervising, and coordinating audits and investigations relating to the programs and operations of their respective agency or department. Although intended to be an independent watchdog aga... More

Chairmen Hastings and Bishop Letter to Secretary Salazar on Proposed Withdrawal of Energy Development in Northern Arizona
Letters
May 23, 2012 - Dear Secretary Salazar: Earlier this year, the Department of the Interior ("Department") withdrew 1 million acres in northern Arizona from new uranium mining claims. By taking this action, the Obama Administration voided a bipartisan agreement partially codified in law that has been respected for nearly three decades. ... More

Chairman Hastings Letter to Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall Regarding Role in Producing the Gulf Drilling Moratorium Report
Letters
May 22, 2012 - Dear Ms. Kendall: As you know, the Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") has for almost two years been seeking information about how a May 27, 2010 Department of the Interior ("Department") report entitled "Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf" ("Drilling Moratorium Rep... More

Chairman Hastings Memorandum Providing Notice to Committee Members that a Subpoena was Issued to the Department of the Interior
Letters
May 11, 2012 - TO: Members, Committee on Natural Resources FROM: Doc Hastings, Chairman RE: Subpoena issued I hereby give notice that I have issued a subpoena duces tecum (for documents) to the Department of the Interior. A copy of the subpoena may be reviewed in the Committee office (1324 Longworth House Office Building) during busi... More

Chairman Hastings Letter to Secretary Salazar on Failure to Provide Stream Buffer Zone Rule Rewrite Documents
Letters
May 11, 2012 - Dear Mr. Secretary: On April 5, 2012, a subpoena was issued and served on you, as Secretary of the Interior, for a complete and unredacted copy of specific documents, communications, and information related to the rewrite of the 2008 Stream Buffer Zone Rule by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, (... More

Chairman Hastings Letter to Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall Regarding Drilling Moratorium Documents and Committee's Investigation
Letters
May 10, 2012 - Dear Ms. Kendall: Thank you for meeting with me recently to discuss your response to the April 12, 2012 subpoena for documents related to the Office of Inspector General's ("IG") investigation into the May 27, 2010 Department of the Interior ("Department") report entitled, "Increased Safety Measures for Energy Developm... More

Department of the Interior Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs Director Christopher Mansour Follow-up Letter to Chairman Hastings Regarding Request for Specified Documents on the Rewrite of the 2008 Stream Buffer Zone Rule
Letters
Apr 27, 2012 - Dear Mr. Chairman: This supplements our previous responses to your subpoena of April 12, 2012, and prior letters requesting documents related to the Department's ongoing Stream Protection rulemaking process. Read the entire letter HERE. More

23 House Republicans Letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers Requesting a Prohibition on Funding for the Implementation of President Obama's Ocean Zoning Policy
Letters
Apr 25, 2012 - Dear Chairman Rogers: Our oceans support more than 28 million American jobs. This activity, along with Coastal and Great Lake States maritime activities contribute to more than 80% of our domestic economy. Proper stewardship of this vital resource will always remain a National interest. Concerns have been raised, howev... More

Chairman Hastings Letter to Secretary Salazar on Failure to Provide Drilling Moratorium Documents
Letters
Apr 25, 2012 - Dear Mr. Secretary: One year ago today, the Department of the Interior ("Department") was first asked to provide documents and information relating to the Obama Administration's decision imposing a drilling moratorium and its drafting of a May 2010 report entitled, "Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on t... More

Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall Response to Chairmen Hastings and Lamborn's Request for Additional Information Relating to the Gulf Drilling Moratorium Report
Letters
Apr 24, 2012 - Dear Mr. Chairmen: This is in response to your April 6, 2012 request for additional documents and information relating to the report from my office entitled, "Federal Moratorium on Deepwater Drilling." Read the entire letter HERE. More

Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall Response to the Committee's Subpoena for Documents Relating to the Gulf Drilling Moratorium Report
Letters
Apr 18, 2012 - Dear Mr. Chairman: On April 11, 2012, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a subpoena from the House Committee on Natural Resources (Committee) commanding production of: Unredacted and complete copies of: All documents identified on the enclosure (Bates number 00032227 SOL-WDC-B01-00001-00000I) to the Departm... More

Department of the Interior Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs Director Christopher Mansour Follow-up Letter to Chairman Hastings Regarding Request for Specified Documents on the Rewrite of the 2008 Stream Buffer Zone Rule
Letters
Apr 12, 2012 - Dear Mr. Chairman: Over the last year, the Department of the Interior has undertaken continual, significant and good-faith efforts to respond to the Committee on Natural Resources' requests for information related to the Department's ongoing Stream Protection Rule rulemaking process to the extent possible. The Departme... More

Chairman Hastings Memorandum Providing Notice to Committee Members that a Subpoena was Issued to the Department of the Interior Office of the Inspector General
Letters
Apr 11, 2012 - TO: Members, Committee on Natural Resources FROM: Doc Hastings, Chairman RE: Subpoena issued I hereby give notice that I have issued a subpoena duces tecum (for documents) to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior. A copy of the subpoena may be reviewed in the Committee office (1324 Longw... More

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Letters