Dear Secretary Jewell:

The Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") has been conducting oversight of and investigating since 2011 several Department of the Interior policies, decisions, and activities, including the Department's decision to impose a 6-month moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, edits to a report that incorrectly suggested the moratorium had been peer reviewed, compliance with federal ethics and conflict of interest laws, and policies concerning the development of renewable energy on federal lands.

A number of the matters being investigated by the Committee have been overseen or handled by the Counselor to the Secretary Steve Black. Despite repeated requests, the Department still has not provided all of Mr. Black's documents concerning his involvement in the editing of the 2010 drilling moratorium report. The Department's continued refusal to turn over these documents is especially troubling when compared to recent disclosures in other high profile Congressional investigations, including national security related information.

Read the entire letter HERE.