Western Lawmakers Ask Salazar for All Doc's On Nat'l Monument Designations‏

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 today to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar requesting further information related to an internal DOI document that revealed the Administration is considering designating numerous new National Monuments that would lock up at least 13 million acres of land. Secretary Salazar has publicly said that there is “no secret agenda” and wants to have a “public dialogue.” In the letter, the Members request the following additional information from Secretary Salazar: 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...read more