Dear Director Ashe:
The Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General ("OIG") recently issued a Management Advisory regarding the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's ("Service") inaction on certain whistleblower complaints related to violations of the scientific integrity policy. Concerns have been raised that the Service failed to take timely and appropriate management action… Read more »
A House Natural Resources subcommittee heard testimony yesterday on four bills on a variety of wildlife species -- one to lift restrictions on polar bear trophies, another to allow the export of certain protected snakes and two to combat an invasion of Asian carp.
The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs took up Alaska Republican Don Young's H.R. 1818, which… Read more »
The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:
The Hill – Ben Geman: “Interior Department slams Senate energy revenue-sharing bill”
Roll Call – Ambreen Ali: “Alaska Governor Pursues New Strategy in Push to Open Arctic Refuge to Drilling”
Associated Press: “Kansas regulators considering new fracking rules”
Courthouse News Service – Tim Hull: “Sea Lion Concerns Justify… Read more »
Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings released the following statement on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to delist the Gray Wolf from the endangered species list.
“The Service’s decision today to delist gray wolves only makes sense, and is long overdue. This untangles the ridiculous situation in Washington, Oregon, and Utah, where wolves had been listed… Read more »
The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:
Fuel Fix – Jennifer A. Dlouhy: “Republicans aim to overturn Obama’s plan for Alaskan oil”
Associated Press – Matthew Daly: “House passes GOP bill to speed pipeline approval”
Washington Post – Darryl Fears: “Frog, toad and salamander populations plummeting, U.S. survey finds”
Associated Press: “Feds lift hold on… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled “The 2008 Lacey Act Amendments.” The hearing focused on the significant May 2008 expansion of the Lacey Act to include all plants and plant products.
“The full House was never given the opportunity to debate or amend the 2008 Lacey Act Amendments. The language was added in the… Read more »
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today joined other Members of the House of Representatives in announcing the creation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Working Group. Throughout this year, the Working Group will hold a series of events, forums, and hearings that will invite discussion and input on ways in which the ESA (last reauthorized in 1988) may be… Read more »
The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:
Energy Guardian – Edward Felker: “Jewell vows to resist lobbying on fracking regs”
The Hill – Ben Geman: “Senior Republican presses Interior for ‘certainty’ on Arctic drilling”
Associated Press: “A look at US government's cuts in mineral payments”
Associated Press: “Wildlife… Read more »
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources launched a profile on Instagram. It will feature behind-the-scenes photos of Committee events and hearings, as well as pictures of national parks, forests, American energy, rivers and lakes, fish and wildlife and many other topics under the Committee’s jurisdiction.
To follow us online http://www.instagram.com/natresources or via the… Read more »
The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:
New York Times – John M. Broder: “New Interior Chief Savors a Steep Learning Curve”
Oak Ridger – Donna Smith: “Manhattan Project Park bill moves on”
Greenwire – Phil Taylor: “New House bill would allow Va. leasing, share revenues with states”
The Hill – Julian Hattem:… Read more »