Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in reaction to the appointment of Tony Tooke as the new U.S. Forest Service Chief: “Tony Tooke is an outstanding choice to head the Forest Service. He understands the challenges facing the agency and has the experience and expertise to improve forest health, expand active management and support our rural economies. I congratulate… Read more »

Today, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulation of Utah prairie dogs on non-federal lands. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement: “Utahns have proven they can maintain prairie dogs. The only thing impeding the state is federal meddling. I appreciate Director Sheehan’s commitment to work with the state on a successful… Read more »

Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in response to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell’s retirement. “Chief Tidwell has been an advocate for improving the health, resiliency and economic benefits of our national forest system. On a personal level, I am sad to see him go. His time working in Utah demonstrated that he understands the state well, and it is clear… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and 118 additional Members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary Zinke requesting the Department of the Interior to include consideration of all Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) lands in the development of a new National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.    “Just as today’s energy… Read more »

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s executive order on establishing accountability in the environmental review and permitting process for infrastructure projects. “It’s encouraging to have a president who understands that regulatory reform is a precondition for any successful infrastructure policy.… Read more »

Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a unanimous opinion that the U.S. Department of Energy conducted appropriate review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in its approval of the Freeport LNG export terminal project.  Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement: “Today’s opinion is a short-term victory. NEPA was created as a… Read more »

Today, the Department of the Interior (DOI) rescinded the Office of Natural Resources Revenue’s (ONRR) “Consolidated Federal Oil & Gas and Federal & Indian Coal Valuation Rule.” Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement: “This rescindment is another important step by the Trump administration to position Interior as a facilitator of responsible energy development. I… Read more »

Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement on the Federal appeals court ruling concerning protections for gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).   “When science-based recovery criteria are met and environmental litigants can still drag the federal government through a decade of costly litigation before the delisting is… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) introduced the Border Security for America Act. The bill includes a provision by Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) preventing federal agencies from impeding U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) activities pertaining to illegal border crossings on federal lands. Chairman Rob Bishop, an original co-sponsor of the… Read more »

Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on three bills to bring greater certainty to the mining industry and shield economic development and energy projects from politically motivated actions.   “[T]he effects [of the Obama Administration’s coal moratorium] were felt most by the people in my state who lost good paying mining jobs and the… Read more »