Dear Director Matthews Burwell, Secretary Vilsack, and Chief Tidwell:: A letter was sent to the Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") on May 20, 2013 requesting information about the Forest Service's ("Service") decision demanding that states repay Secure Rural Schools Program ("SRS") funds. OMB missed the Committee's June 3, 2013 deadline for response. The original letter sought… Read more »

For several months, many Members of Congress have opposed or had concerns with the Interior Department's National Blueways System (Secretarial Order 3321) due to the lack of transparency, accountability and communication. Indeed, you recently placed a "pause" on the implementation of this administratively created program. While we appreciate your action, it is clear that the Department's… Read more »

Dear Acting Administrator Perciasepe: The Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") is conducting oversight of the Obama Administration's development and implementation of its National Ocean Policy, which includes activities to develop ocean and coastal zoning plans, to regulate commercial and agricultural activities even in areas far removed from the coast, and to exclude local… Read more »

Dear Chairwoman Sutley and Director Holdren: A letter was sent to the National Ocean Council ("Council") on April 19, 2013 requesting that 15 categories of documents and information be provided to the Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") by May 10,2013. The Committee had previously requested much of the same information about the Obama Administration's ocean zoning plans in the… Read more »

Dear Secretary Vilsack: The Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") is conducting oversight of the Obama Administration's development and implementation of its National Ocean Policy, which includes activities to develop ocean and coastal zoning plans, to regulate commercial and agricultural activities even in areas far removed from the coast, and to exclude local stakeholders from… Read more »

Dear Acting Undersecretary Sullivan: The Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") is conducting oversight of the Obama Administration's development and implementation of its National Ocean Policy, which includes activities to develop ocean and coastal zoning plans, to regulate commercial and agricultural activities even in areas far removed from the coast, and to exclude local… Read more »

Dear Secretary Jewell: The Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") is conducting oversight of the Obama Administration's development and implementation of its National Ocean Policy, which includes activities to develop ocean and coastal zoning plans, to regulate commercial and agricultural activities even in areas far removed from the coast, and to exclude local stakeholders from… Read more »

Dear Director Mathews Burwell, Secretary Vilsack, and Chief Tidwell: A letter was sent to the Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") on May 20, 2013 requesting information about the Forest Service's ("Service") decision demanding that states repay Secure Rural Schools Program ("SRS") funds. OMB missed the Committee's June 3, 2013 deadline for response. The original letter sought… Read more »

Dear Secretary Jewell, As you know, for months many members of Congress have expressed concern regarding the lack of transparency and accountability in the implementation of Secretarial Order 3321 ("Order"). This Order establishes the "National Blueways System," which the Order describes as a headwaters to mouth approach to river management, and asserts that the Secretary may designate… Read more »

Dear Secretary Jewell, We are concerned by the continuing lack of transparency and public process in your Department's implementation of Secretarial Order 3321 (Order), which claims the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to designate entire river watersheds as "National Blueways." We believe this Order is fundamentally flawed, runs counter to local conservation efforts, and… Read more »