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February 26, 2010 O-202.225.0453 C-202.510-8641
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Western Lawmakers Ask Secretary Salazar for Complete Monument Documents
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Western Caucus Members Seek Additional Documents on National Monuments
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WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01), House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) and other Western Caucus Members sent a letter today to Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar requesting all relative information pertaining to an internal DOI document that revealed the Administration is considering as many as 14 new national monument designating in the West. These designations could potentially lock up as many as 13 million acres of land in 11 different Western states.
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“Western communities and residents that stand to be affected by these proposed monument designations have the right to know what the Administration is planning with regards to the future of millions of acres of both public and private lands throughout the West,” said Bishop. “Despite the DOI’s statements that the initial documents are simply ‘drafts,’ the American people deserve to know the full extent of the planning as well as the involvement of all outside parties. If the DOI is confident that it is operating with the utmost transparency then they should have no problem providing these documents expeditiously. However, given the number of congressional document requests made to DOI this past year that remain unfulfilled, I am not holding my breath.”
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“If this internal document had not been exposed, Americans would still be in the dark about the Obama Administration’s potential plans to lock up millions of acres of land across the West,” said Hastings. “While Secretary Salazar says that the discussions are just ‘preliminary,’ no assurances have been given that the President will not designate these monuments. When you catch someone in the kitchen in the dark of night with their hand in the cookie jar, it’s very hard to believe they’re just checking to see what’s inside and that no cookies were just about to get eaten. The communities and those workers whose jobs could be directly affected by the locking up of these lands deserve to see a full picture of what was happening inside their government. We’ve asked for copies of documents relating to the planning, which includes coordination with outside groups, and all of the missing pages from the document we uncovered last week.”
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President Obama has routinely stated his goal to have the most transparent Administration in history, calling it the touchstone of his presidency. Therefore, Western Members expect the DOI to answer all of the following requests for information relating to past, present and future planning of potential national monument designations as well as the involvement of all outside groups and individuals.
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Highlights from the letter:
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“We request the following information no later than March 26, 2010.”
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1. All pages of the “Internal Draft” document of which we obtained only pages numbered 15 to 21.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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