TO:  FROM: Chairman Rob Bishop Dear Ms. Kendall: I am writing to formally request that your office provide to the Committee an unredacted copy of the full report related to an investigation the Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted concerning serious misconduct by a senior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Law Enforcement Manager. The OIG’s summary of this investigation is… 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 »

Today, Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) announced updated assignments and subcommittee leadership appointments for the House Committee on Natural Resources during the 115th Congress. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) will serve as the new Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) will serve as the new Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.… Read more »

Today, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing examining how excessive litigation is draining taxpayer resources and preventing the Department of the Interior (DOI) from fulfilling its core statutory functions and responsibilities.   “Special interests repeatedly exploit our legal system to further their own agendas and sidestep the legislative and regulatory… Read more »

TO: The Honorable Ryan Zinke FROM: Subcommittee Chairman Raúl Labrador Dear Secretary Zinke, The Committee on Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is conducting oversight of settlements negotiated in lawsuits against the Department of the Interior (DOI) and its subagencies. Read the entire letter HERE. Read more »

Today, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held the first of a series of oversight hearings to examine the impacts of federal natural resources laws gone astray. The panel focused on three laws in particular: the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA), the Wilderness Act and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA).    “For too long, federal agencies have been… Read more »

TO: The Honorable Ryan Zinke FROM: Chairman Rob Bishop and Subcommittee Chairman Raúl Labrador Dear Secretary Zinke, We write to express our concerns regarding the administration of two climate change adaptation programs within the Department of the Interior (Interior). One of the programs, Climate Science Centers (CSCs), is led by the U.S. Geological Survey. The second program,… Read more »

Today, Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Raúl Labrador (R-ID) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke expressing concerns and requesting information on two climate change adaptation programs established within the Department of the Interior during the Obama administration. The Climate Science Centers (CSCs), which are led by the… Read more »

Today, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held an oversight hearing on delays and uncertainty related to Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultations. Subcommittee Chairman Raúl Labrador (R-ID) reacted to testimony from witnesses that recounted personal experiences with extensive delays as a result of ESA consultations that ultimately jeopardized human health and safety,… Read more »

TO: Acting Secretary Haugrud FROM: Chairman Rob Bishop Dear Acting Secretary Haugrud: Over the past several years, many disturbing cases concerning Department of the Interior (Department) employees misconduct have cast doubts on effectiveness of the Department's hiring, retention, and termination policies. The Department employs "about 70,000 people in approximately 2,400 locations."… Read more »