The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up: McClatchy – Sean Cockerham: “Oil from proposed Keystone pipeline could end up exported” Vancouver Observer – Jenny Uechi: “Keystone XL bill approved by House Committee” USA Today – Susan Davis: “Boehner-led cost-cutting saving millions in the House” Fuel Fix – Jennifer A. Dlouhy:… Read more »

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:  News Bonners Ferry OpEd – Rep. Raul Labrador: “Time to bring certainty to rural communities”  E&E – Phil Taylor: “Panel to review bill approving U.S.-Mexico transboundary agreement” E&E – Nick Juliano: “Natural Resources to approve pipeline legislation this week” … Read more »

Today, the House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation held a legislative hearing on several pieces of legislation to restore active and healthy management of our national forests in order to provide a stable revenue stream for rural schools and counties and prevent devastating wildfires. The Subcommittee heard testimony on the “Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA – 04) sent letters today to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Department of the Interior Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall seeking information about the Administration’s decision to not allow the continued operation of the Drakes Bay Oyster Company within the Point Reyes National Seashore in Northern… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), Senator Orin Hatch (UT), Senator John Barrasso and Rep. Cynthia Lummis (WY) today, along with 68 other Members of Congress, sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Dan Ashe urging support for the delisting of the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in all lower 48… 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 »

The Committee continues its "Meet our Members" series with Congressman Steve Daines, representing Montana At-Large. In this segment, Rep. Daines describes growing up as a fifth generation Montanan in the 'Treasure State,' and how its variety of natural resources and national parks really comprise the state's treasures. In fact, did you know Rep. Daines' truck has the 'Treasure State'… Read more »

"The Interior Department's Fish and Wildlife Service has resurrected a Clinton-era tactic known as 'sue and settle.' With this strategy, outside green groups friendly to the Administration sue the government, demanding a particular regulatory action. The agency happily forswears court and sits down with the plaintiffs to reach a settlement." Fishing for Wildlife Lawsuits March 10,… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today sent a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe raising concerns of scientific integrity and the imposition of arbitrary deadlines surrounding the decision to potentially list the sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  The letter requests… Read more »

At the beginning of this Administration, President Obama placed significant emphasis on the importance of scientific integrity in his Administration's policies and practices. In the President's March 9, 2009 Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, he stated that "[t]he public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy… Read more »