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… Read more »

Last week, the Department of the Interior released the most recent iteration of a rule to regulate hydraulic fracturing on federal and tribal lands. As part of the rulemaking, the Department of the Interior has proposed to provide 30 days for public comment on this revised draft rule. We jointly believe that this timeframe is unacceptable and not nearly long… Read more »

Dear Director Matthews Burwell: In March 2013, the Forest Service ("Service") began demanding states return $17.9 million they had received - and in many cases already spent - under the Secure Rural Schools Program ("SRS"). Congress has authorized this money to help pay for schools and services in areas where environmental lawsuits and federal government mismanagement… Read more »

Dear Chief Tidwell: In March 2013, the Forest Service ("Service") began demanding states return $17.9 million they had received - and in many cases already spent - under the Secure Rural Schools Program ("SRS"). Congress has authorized this money to help pay for schools and government services in areas where environmental lawsuits and Service mismanagement have… Read more »

Dear Mr. Tangherlini: The Eisenhower Memorial Commission ("Commission") was created in 1999 and charged with "memorializing Dwight D. Eisenhower as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe in World War II and as the 34th President of the United States." While there is significant cost associated with the design and construction of a presidential memorial,… Read more »

Dear Mr. Siciliano and Brig. Gen. Reddel: The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission's ("Commission") Fiscal Year 2014 budget request seeks a total of $51 million to pay for the construction of the planned Eisenhower Memorial and the salaries and expenses of the Commission itself. This would be in addition to the $63 million total that has already been appropriated for… Read more »

Dear Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Whitesell: In addition to the lens of millions of dollars already spent to design the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, millions more would be needed to pay for the construction and upkeep of the Memorial as currently designed. The National Park Service is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of memorials on the National Mall and would be… Read more »

Dear Ms. Davis: In August 2012, the Office of the Inspector General ("OIG") for the U.S. Department of the Interior ("Department") issued a Report of lnvestigation ("Report") entitled "Jeanette Hanna et al." The Report outlines several concerns and allegations against fonner Bureau of Indian Affairs ("BIA") Regional Director Jeanette Hanna, who has been reassigned,… Read more »

Dear Assistant Secretary Washburn: On August 10, 2012, the Office of the Inspector General ("OIG") for the U.S. Department of the Interior ("Department") issued a Report of Investigation ("Report") entitled "Jeanette Hanna et al." The Report outlined a series of concerns and allegations against former Bureau of Indian Affairs ("BIA") Regional Director Jeanette Hanna, who… Read more »

Dear Assistant Attorney General Moreno: The Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") has broad jurisdiction over matters involving energy development on federal lands, wildlife, and migratory birds, including enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ("MBT A") and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ("BGEP A"). In order to better understand the Obama… Read more »