Exactly one month ago today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04); National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Ranking Member Rob Bishop (UT-01); and 14 Members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar requesting missing pages and additional information regarding the Administration’s secret plans to designate 13 million acres as National Monuments under the Antiquities Act.

Unfortunately, while the letter requested the information no later than Friday, March 26, 2010, the only thing the Committee has received from DOI is the sound of crickets.

Why is Secretary Salazar claiming to be open and transparent about the process, but refusing to turn over all information related to these designations?

Rhetoric:	"We have no secret agenda. We want to work with hunters and anglers, local governments, the governors and the Congress as we figure out how we're going to move forward with respect to using and protecting the great outdoors of America." - Secretary Salazar, 2/22/10, E&E News
Reality:	*CRICKETS*
Rhetoric:	“I look forward to a new public and Congressional dialogue on the American value of preserving the important national, historic and cultural landscapes of our Nation.” - Secretary Salazar, 2/22/10, Letter to Ranking Member Hastings and Rep. Rob Bishop
Reality:	*CRICKETS*
Rhetoric:	"There's no hidden agenda on the part of my department. As Secretary of the Department, I'm interested in finding out what my employees are thinking. ... I do think there are a lot of other people out there who have ideas. No one should be too worried that there is a hidden federal agenda because there is not." - Secretary Salazar, 3/3/10, Salt Lake Tribune
Reality:	*CRICKETS*

Secretary Salazar should make his rhetoric become reality, come clean with the American people and adhere to the “unprecedented level of openness in Government” called for by President Obama.

If Secretary Salazar truly wants to have a “public and Congressional dialogue” he will provide the following information requested in the letter originally addressed to him on February, 26, 2010:

1. All pages of the “Internal Draft” document of which we obtained only pages numbered 15 to 21.

2. With regard to the “brainstorming,” a copy of any documents distributed at or in preparation for the meetings, a list of all participants or invitees, any notes taken at the meeting (s), and any memoranda, work product or follow up documents from the meeting(s). All records, electronic or otherwise, of meetings or discussions with private groups, individuals or other persons or entities that are not employees of the Department of the Interior where potential National Monument designations were discussed. All notes, agendas, memoranda or documents from those meetings.

3. All documents related to the Secretary’s initiative to compile a list of potential National Monument designations since July 1, 2009, including, but not limited to, maps.

4. Any communication with any person or entity outside of the Department of the Interior related to the Secretary’s initiative since July 1, 2009.

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