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Endangered Species

Chairman Hastings Looks Ahead to 2014

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following statement at today’s Full Committee hearing previewing several activities and focuses for next year: “Before proceeding with today’s hearing, there are several general announcements that I would like to make regarding Committee business. This is the last hearing of the year, and as those gathered…

Committee Passes Legislation to Help Protect Endangered Salmon Survival in the Pacific Northwest

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 1308 the “Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act” by a vote of 22-16.  This legislation is aimed at protecting endangered Columbia River salmon and other fish species from predation by California and Steller Sea Lions.  The bill only addresses sea lions that are not listed under the Endangered Species…

Letter from 75 Members of Congress to Fish and Wildlife Service Director Ashe Calling for Full Delisting of the Gray Wolf

| Posted in Letters

Dear Director Ashe: We write in strong support of the proposed rule to delist the gray wolf nationally, included in docket number FWS-HQ-ES-2013-0073, although we are opposed to the provision included in this rule that would list the Mexican wolf as an endangered sub-species. The statutory purpose of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is to recover species to the point where they are no…

Chairman Hastings’ Statement on Obama Administration’s Endorsement of States' Lesser Prairie-Chicken Conservation Plan

| Posted in Press Release

Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement today in response to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) endorsement of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-Wide Conservation Plan. “It’s encouraging that after a year of review the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is finally endorsing a…

Chairman Hastings Statement on Obama Administration's Proposed Habitat Designation of the Canada Lynx

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s proposal to designate over 26 million acres of habitat in six states for the Canada Lynx, which has been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): “The Obama Administration’s proposed designation of more than 26 million acres of…

Witnesses: Current Law Should Be Followed For Lacey Act Listings

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing on the “Department of the Interior’s proposal to establish a Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for adding species to the Lacey Act’s list of injurious wildlife.” This hearing examined the potential effects of the Fish and…

News Coverage of the ESA Field Hearings on Casper, Wyoming and Billings, MT

| Posted in Blog

On Wednesday, September 4th, the House Natural Resources Committee held two Full Committee field hearings in Casper, Wyoming and Billings, Montana on “State and Local Efforts to Protect Species, Jobs, Property, and Multiple Use Amidst a New War on the West.”  At these hearings, witnesses discussed how federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings can impact local jobs and the economy…

Witnesses: Endangered Species Act Must be Improved to Better Protect both Species and Local Economies

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held two Full Committee field hearings in Casper, Wyoming and Billings, Montana on “State and Local Efforts to Protect Species, Jobs, Property, and Multiple Use Amidst a New War on the West.” At these hearings, witnesses discussed how federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings can impact local jobs and the economy and how federal litigation…

Witnesses & Members Agree on the Need for Transparency in Data Used for ESA Decisions

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing on “Transparency and Sound Science Gone Extinct?:The Impacts of the Obama Administration's Closed-Door Settlements on Endangered Species and People.” The hearing examined the need for data transparency as it relates to federal decisions on implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This hearing was part of a…

Breakfast Links

| Posted in Blog

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up: Fuel Fix – Jennifer A. Dlouhy: “Flores: Fracturing rules would give feds a foot in the door” Washington Times – Ben Wolfgang and Dave Boyer: “Keystone pipeline supporters slam Obama’s skeptical comments on economic impact” Fuel Fix – Emily Pickrell: “Texas will continue to lead US oil boom” Cortez Journal – Jim Mimiaga:…