Dear Director Ashe: The Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") has broad jurisdiction over matters involving the Department of the Interior, energy development on federal lands, wildlife, and migratory birds. In order to better understand the Obama Administration's enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ("MBT A") and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection… Read more »

Dear Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Whitesell: In addition to the lens of millions of dollars already spent to design the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, millions more would be needed to pay for the construction and upkeep of the Memorial as currently designed. The National Park Service is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of memorials on the National Mall and would be responsible for the… Read more »

Dear Mr. Tangherlini: The Eisenhower Memorial Commission ("Commission") was created in 1999 and charged with "memorializing Dwight D. Eisenhower as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe in World War II and as the 34th President of the United States." While there is significant cost associated with the design and construction of a presidential memorial, these costs… Read more »

Dear Mr. Siciliano and Brig. Gen. Reddel: The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission's ("Commission") Fiscal Year 2014 budget request seeks a total of $51 million to pay for the construction of the planned Eisenhower Memorial and the salaries and expenses of the Commission itself. This would be in addition to the $63 million total that has already been appropriated for the planned… Read more »

Dear Chairwoman Sutley and Director Holdren: Over the past two years, the Obama Administration has repeatedly limited public transparency and frustrated attempts to obtain information about the cost, legal authority, activities, and staffing involved with developing and implementing regional ocean zoning plans and other parts of the National Ocean Policy. The Administration's final plan… Read more »

Dear Ms. Kendall: On February 7, 2013, the Office of Inspector General ("IG") issued a final report of its investigation into a scientific integrity complaint associated with the Department of the Interior's (" Department") September 2011 Draft Environmental Impact Statement ("DEIS") for the Drakes Bay Oyster Company Special Use Permit. For several years, serious… Read more »

This letter seeks information about the Department of the Interior's ("Department") November 29,2012, decision not to allow an oyster farm to continue operating within the Point Reyes National Seashore. The National Park Service ("NPS") has for years been dogged by allegations that the science used to estimate harbor seal disturbances and more recently impacts on the… Read more »

Dear Secretary Vilsack and Director Zients, We have been informed that the Forest Service has recently proclaimed that funds already distributed under the most recent extension of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) or payments based on revenue generated in fiscal year 2012 are subject to the fiscal year 2013 sequester, and the agency will be requesting… Read more »

Dear Secretary Salazar: As you know, for more than two years the Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") has been conducting oversight on issues regarding the Department of the Interior's and the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement's ("OSM") handling of the decision to toss aside and ultimately rewrite the 2008 Stream Buffer Zone Rule.… Read more »

Dear Director Ashe: We understand the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is in the process of reviewing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery status of the gray wolf in the lower 48 States and is preparing to announce the delisting of the species. We support the nationwide delisting of wolves and urge you to move as quickly as possible on making this a real ity.… Read more »