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Governors Discuss Job Losses Associated with Interior’s Backdoor Wild Lands Order

| Posted in Blog

Yesterday, during a Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Administration’s “Wild Lands” order, Chairman Doc Hastings asked Idaho Governor Butch Otter and Utah Governor Gary Herbert if families have better job opportunities in areas subject to Wilderness restrictions. Not surprising, the answer is no. See what the Governors had to say about the impacts of this “Wild Lands” order on…

Subcommittee Chairman John Fleming Questions Superfluous Spending and Increased Land Acquisition in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FY 2012 Budget Request

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing on the FY 2012 budget request for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The hearing focused on $1.69 billion request for FWS, $47.8 billion above FY ’10 levels, and increased funding for government land acquisition. “Two years ago, President Obama told a town hall meeting in Rio…

Chairmen Young, Hastings Introduce Legislation Limiting Excessive Attorney Fees in Cobell Settlement

| Posted in Press Release

Indian and Alaskan Native Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Don Young (AK-At Large) and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) will today introduce legislation to cap attorney fees in the Cobell v. Salazar Settlement Agreement at $50 million. The $3.4 billion Settlement Agreement, enacted into law last December, included an agreement, signed by the plaintiff attorneys and…

Administration Admits it Doesn’t Have Statutory Authority to Prioritize Wild Lands over other Uses

| Posted in Press Release

Yesterday, during a Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Administration’s “Wild Lands” order, Chairman Doc Hastings questioned Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Bob Abbey on the Administration’s legal authority to prioritize “Wild Lands” above other multiple-uses of BLM lands. Under the Secretarial Order No. 3310, Secretary Salazar directed BLM to re-review its land…

Republicans Highlight Job Loss, Economic Impacts of Administration’s Wild Lands Order

| Posted in Press Release

Today at a Natural Resources Committee hearing, Republican Members soundly rejected the Obama Administration’s new “Wild Lands” order. This Secretarial Order, issued without public consultation, attempts to designate Wilderness areas without Congressional approval. Numerous state and local officials testified at today’s hearing that this order could lock-up public lands, destroy American…

State and Local Officials Decry Administration’s Wild Lands Order

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing on the impact of the Administration’s “Wild Lands” order. The Committee heard from Western governors and elected local officials who expressed their concern over the proposed Wild Lands order and its negative impact on jobs, economic growth and American energy production. What They Are Saying about the Wild Lands…

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Director Joesph Pizarchik Letter to Chairman Hastings Answering Questions from February 8th Letter

| Posted in Letters

Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letters dated February 8, 2011, and February 10, 2011, both of which concern rule revisions that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is undertaking on the Stream Protection Rule. I appreciate your interest, and the opportunity to respond to your concerns. In both letters, you request a number of specific documents. The OSM…

Hastings Statement on Approval of First Deepwater Drilling Permit

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Interior Department announced the approval of Noble Energy’s deepwater drilling permit: “Over four months after the deepwater drilling moratorium was officially lifted in the Gulf of Mexico, the Administration is finally issuing the first permit. While this is good news, today’s…

Chairman Hastings Announces New Committee Communications Staff

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today announced new staff in the Committee’s communications office: Jamie Hennigan will serve as Director of Outreach for the Full Committee. In this newly established role, Jamie will work to build, coordinate and communicate with coalitions, interested groups and individuals on issues under the Committee’s…

Chairman Hastings on Strategic Petroleum Reserve Proposal: Our Real Reserves Are in the Gulf, Alaska, OCS and Public Lands

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after House Democrats asked President Obama to release portions of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR): “Americans are feeling the pain at the pump as gasoline prices climb towards four dollars a gallon. Tapping the SPR may provide some temporary relief but we must consider America’s…