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Hastings to Introduce Amendment to “Tax Extenders Bill” to Improve Cobell Settlement

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House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) will introduce an amendment today to fix and improve the proposed Cobell v. Salazar settlement agreement included in the Democrats’ tax extender package (H.R. 4213). Hastings’ amendment will include five improvements to benefit individual Indians affected by the proposed settlement. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest…

Hastings: Dam Removal Extremists Falsely Attack Latest BiOp

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House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04)  released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) biological opinion (BiOp) filed in federal court today: “Dam removal extremist groups are dead wrong to label this Obama proposal as the same Bush BiOp from 2008.  The undeniable facts are that President…

Interior Dept. Policies Contribute to Environmental Damage on Public Lands Along the Border

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Yesterday, President Obama met with Mexican President Felipe Calderón to discuss a variety of issues including border security and protecting public lands along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to a joint statement: “The Presidents underscored their commitment to manage the region in a way that enhances security and protects these areas for wildlife preservation, ecosystem restoration,…

Hastings Statement on Division of MMS into Three Agencies

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House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s most recent proposal to divide the Minerals Management Service (MMS) into three separate agencies: “I’m ready to work with the Administration to fully investigate the Gulf spill and to make the changes necessary to ensure safe,…

Interior Writes New Rules Hindering Onshore American-Made Energy

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House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding the Department of Interior’s announcement that the Bureau of Land Management has finalized rules, first announced by Secretary Salazar last January, that will establish more government hurdles to onshore oil and natural gas production on federal lands: “These new regulations…

Hastings Sends Letter To Plaintiff Lawyer on Attorney Fees in Proposed Cobell v. Salazar Settlement

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House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) sent a letter today to Dennis Gingold, a plaintiff attorney in the Cobell v. Salazar settlement agreement, regarding statements made in the news media that the proposed settlement will be terminated if Congress does not approve the agreement by May 28, 2010 or attempts to change any part of it – including putting a cap…

Hastings Questions Stelle Appointment to NW NOAA Fisheries Post

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The Obama Administration’s announced return of Mr. Will Stelle to the regional fisheries post he held in the Clinton-Gore Administration prompted Rep. Doc Hastings (WA-04) to send a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke that expressed strong concerns about the selection and requested detailed disclosures on the nominee’s client history and potential conflicts of…

Hastings Statement on Administration’s Proposal to Divide MMS

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House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s proposal to divide the Minerals Management Service (MMS) into two separate agencies: “The Secretary’s proposal merits consideration. My first reaction is that such a division of duties would have benefits if it can be done right. A…

Annual Energy Outlook Report Highlights Importance of Shale Gas to Meet our Nation’s Energy Needs

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House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings released the following statement regarding the 2010 Annual Energy Outlook Report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) that, at Ranking Member Hastings’ request, included an increased focus on the “The Importance of Shale Gas and other Low Permeability Natural Gas Reservoirs”: “Last year, I became increasingly…

Ranking Member Hastings’ Statement on April Jobs Report

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House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent for April: “During these tough economic times, job growth shouldn’t be taken lightly, yet a climbing jobless rate is of far greater concern.  When the unemployment rate climbs to 9.9 percent,…