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Utah Governor Herbert Emphasizes Success of Western States in Land Management

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation held an oversight hearing featuring testimony by Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Chairman of the Western Governors’ Association. The hearing highlighted the challenges of western states regarding federal and state land management.

At the hearing, Members and Governor Herbert discussed how states are able to find their own solutions to land management, tailored to their unique circumstances. In contrast, the federal government is bound by a statutory and regulatory framework that keeps them from effective land management. Utah and other states are successfully managing their lands in ways that protect natural resources and promote a healthy economy, and protect public access.

“Governor Herbert illustrated during today’s hearing that states are effectively and efficiently managing the lands and resources located within their borders and can handle this in the future,” said Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01). “As we heard today, the federal government isn’t always the better option and as federal budgets get appropriately tighter, we ought to begin examining redundancies between state and federal land management programs. Frankly, the federal government is so often more of a hindrance than a help. If we want to get serious about responsible development of our resources, better land management practices, and real recovery of wildlife species, we ought to be looking more to the states for solutions and not to federal bureaucrats in Washington. I appreciate Governor Herbert’s insight and it is encouraging to see that states are truly leading the way. It is my hope that Washington will finally wake up and see that states are better suited to deal with many of the issues which Washington has managed poorly over the years.”

“Sadly, we have strayed far from this vision of states as independent and robust policy innovators,” said Gov. Gary Herbert, UT. “No one understands state challenges and demographics better than the people who reside and govern there. No one is more committed to the most effective use of limited resources for the best possible outcome, for both our lands and our citizens, than those who will directly live with the consequences of those decisions.”

Governor Herbert also highlighted how poor federal government management has impacted the health of our national forests and public lands.

“National Parks have an estimated $11 billion maintenance backlog. The U.S. Forest Service has its own multi-billion dollar backlog,” said Gov. Gary Herbert. “Meanwhile, millions of acres of national forests have fallen victim to bark beetles and other insect and disease plights and are at risk to catastrophic wildfire. At the same time, a good portion of our federal grazing lands throughout the West are in poor condition. All of these conditions have resulted in an increase in the number and complexity of wildfires, leading further to exponentially higher suppression costs. Unfortunately, federal land management agencies operate within a statutory and regulatory framework that keeps them from effectively addressing rapid declines in range and forest health. Similarly, federal land management decisions today are paralyzed by litigation. Often, special interest groups use the judicial process to simply delay in an attempt to either wear out or bankrupt the opposition. This leads to further gridlock and the infamous ‘analysis paralysis’.”

Rep. Bishop Meets with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Welsh and Air Combat Commander Gen. Mike Hostage

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01) along with Senator Orrin Hatch (UT), Senator Mike Lee (UT), Congressman Jason Chaffetz (UT-03), and Congressman Chris Stewart (UT-02) today met with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh to discuss several key issues important to Utah’s military installations, especially civilian defense worker furloughs and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Following the meeting with Air Force Chief of Staff General Welsh, Congressman Bishop, Congressman Stewart, and Senator Lee met with Air Combat Commander General Mike Hostage.

"I appreciated the chance to talk personally with the Air Force Chief of Staff General Welsh about the detrimental impact that furloughs of civilian defense workers will have at Hill Air Force Base. General Welsh agreed that the planned furloughs ordered by Secretary Hagel will unfortunately be disruptive and costly to our dedicated civilian workforce. He pledged to continue to work with the delegation and Pentagon Leadership on trying to find ways to mitigate those impacts as much as possible," said Bishop.

“Our meeting with Air Combat Commander General Mike Hostage was positive and reaffirmed that the Utah Test and Training Range remains vitally important to the future of Hill Air Force Base and is essential to the strengthening of our nation's defense capabilities. General Hostage, who flew and served as a unit commander at the UTTR and Hill AFB, spoke highly about Utah's role in the future of the Air Force,” Bishop added.

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Documents Sought on High Costs Associated with Eisenhower Memorial Gehry Design

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON– House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) and Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01) sent letters to the National Park Service, General Services Administration, and seeking information about the activities and costs associated with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission and the current design and construction of the planned presidential Memorial in Washington, D.C.

· Click here to view the letter to the National Park Service.

· Click here to view the letter to the General Services Administration.

· Click here to view the letter to the Eisenhower Memorial Commission.

The current plan for the Memorial, created by architecture firm Gehry Partners, LLP, has faced intense scrutiny for both a poor, flawed design and potential construction and maintenance costs. Subcommittee Chairman Bishop has introduced legislation, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Completion Act, that would implement a new design competition and eliminate nearly $100 million in future funding the Commission has said would be needed to build the Memorial as currently designed. The bill would also provide a three-year extension of the site designation approved by Congress in 2006, which included a seven-year sunset on the site.

At a Subcommittee hearing last March, Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Eisenhower, expressed concern that the cost, scale, and design of the planned Memorial are not in keeping with President Eisenhower’s values and do not enjoy a consensus of support.

Since 1999, Congress has appropriated $63 million in taxpayer funds for the design of the Memorial and operations of the Commission, and the Commission has requested an additional $51 million in Fiscal Year 2014 to begin construction.

“Many outstanding questions remain about the accounting of millions of taxpayer dollars, and a full accounting of the funds is necessary before we can move forward with this project in any way. Right now, the accountability of the Commission and the integrity of the process remain in question, and I look forward to the responses to these letters. The bottom line is that the Eisenhower Memorial must be an appropriate and fitting tribute to one of our nation's greatest leaders and it must be done the right way,” said Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop.

In the letters, the Chairmen seek specific information on how appropriated funds for the Memorial and Commission have already been spent and clarification on the costs and future liabilities that could result if the Commission were to move forward with the current design.

“Tens of millions of taxpayer dollars have already been spent on a design that is inherently flawed and does not even have the support of President Eisenhower’s family. These letters seek to hold these agencies and the Commission accountable and provide greater clarity of how this money has been spent. Meanwhile, I will continue to work with Rep. Bishop to move forward with his legislation to seek a new design and build consensus around constructing an appropriate memorial for President Eisenhower,” said Chairman Doc Hastings.

Bishop Calls New DOI Rule on Hydraulic Fracturing “Duplicative”

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) today released updated draft regulations of hydraulic fracturing on public lands. The draft rule will only be open for public comment during the next 30 days. Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the new draft regulations:

“The existing regulatory system already works. State-led efforts, as well as the practices of energy producers, have already proven to ensure the safe and responsible development of our nation’s oil and gas resources. Their record illustrates this point. These new rules are duplicative and serve only to hinder energy development. The Department of Interior would be better served directing its efforts toward ensuring that our country is self-sufficient with regards to energy supplies so we can stop importing from unstable foreign countries.”

Rep. Bishop’s Hill Creek Bill Passes House

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act [H.R. 356], which was introduced by Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on January 23, 2013. The legislation would facilitate the exchange of approximately 20,000 acres of state-held mineral rights within the Hill Creek Extension of the Ute Indian Reservation for mineral rights on approximately 20,000 acres of land in the northern portion of the reservation. This long-sought exchange will preserve tribal cultural lands located within the southern part of the Reservation while also providing new opportunities for energy development further north away from cultural and environmentally sensitive areas.

“I am pleased that we are one step closer to making this long-sought exchange a reality for the Ute tribe and the State of Utah. This bill balances the unique interests of both the Ute tribe and the State of Utah. With this legislation we accomplish the goals of protecting both sensitive tribal lands and the state’s and tribe’s ability to generate funding for public education and other vital needs,” said Bishop.

Congressman Jim Matheson (UT-04), Congressman Jason Chaffetz (UT-03), and Congressman Chris Stewart (UT-02), as well as Senator Mike Lee (Utah), are original co-sponsors of the legislation.

Bishop Comments on Department of Defense Furloughs

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) today announced that civilian defense employees will face 11 furlough days through the end of the fiscal year. Early projections estimated that civilian employees would be subject to as many as 22 furlough days when defense sequestration cuts kick in, but the official word today from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is that the days will be cut by half

The Continuing Resolution passed by Congress in March to avoid a government shutdown and continue government operations through the remainder of the fiscal year included a provision that provided the DOD with increased flexibility to shift funds within its current budget. This increased flexibility was intended to help alleviate some aspects of sequestration, including furloughs.

“There is absolutely no reason why hard-working defense civilian employees must shoulder the burden of this Administration’s record of bad decisions. These furloughs are among the many reasons I voted against sequestration in the first place. While I don’t oppose efforts to reduce spending in many other areas of the federal government, I strongly oppose the defense sequester. Congress and the President both have a constitutional responsibility to provide for the common defense and I find it troubling that the Commander in Chief has somehow overlooked his responsibility. Since taking office he seems to have made it a priority to weaken our nation’s military and civilian support capabilities,” said Bishop.

Of the total $85 billion in cuts expected to occur during sequestration, half, or approximately $44 billion will come out of defense spending. Congressman Bishop voted against the Budget Control Act of 2011 that established the sequestration trigger.

“Foisting off these furloughs as a cost-saving measure is disingenuous because they could be avoided entirely and are extremely disruptive. Funds provided in the March CR ought to have prevented this from happening and I am disappointed that the DOD went ahead with the furloughs anyway. I agree that the DOD should not be exempt from budgetary scrutiny but the President already made $800 billion in cuts to defense during his first term. Top military leaders say that further gutting of the defense budget could have severe consequences to national security. That’s not something to be taken lightly,” Bishop added.

Congressman Bishop plans to examine the DOD’s request to reprogram existing funds, which could help reduce the need for furloughs.

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Bishop Issues Statement on Administration's Decision to Keep Ogden-Hinckley Tower Open

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the recently passed Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 will not only allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to end employee furloughs, it will also keep all 149 FAA contract towers open, including the Ogden-Hinckley tower. Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), who has fought to keep the Ogden tower open and operational, issued the following statement:

"I am pleased that Secretary LaHood announced that the Ogden-Hinckley air traffic control tower will remain open. This was the final confirmation we have been fighting and waiting for and I am pleased that the Administration made the right decision. The Ogden tower provides essential support to air traffic around Hill Air Force Base and to have closed it down would have been a serious mistake. Ensuring the safety of air spaces in and around critical air defense installations like Hill AFB ought to be a key priority," said Congressman Rob Bishop.

Lee, Bishop ask FAA for clarification of conflicting statements on Ogden tower closing

Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee and Rep. Rob Bishop released a letter they wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta requesting information regarding conflicting statements about the decision to close the tower at Ogden-Hinckley Airport (OGD).

The letter states that in March, Rep. Bishop wrote to Mr. Huerta at the FAA pointing out how the closure of the tower at OGD, located less than 3 miles away from Hill Air Force Base, would “result in significant negative safety impacts upon military flight operations and readiness”, and asked if the FAA had considered these impacts.

In April, write Lee and Bishop, “The FAA informed Senator Lee’s office that DOD reviewed all 189 contract towers under consideration and provided no feedback on the tower closure at OGD.”

However, DOD did confirm to Lee’s office that they had in fact provided a detailed report to the Department of Transportation, which oversees the FAA, listing the closure at OGD as having a “severe” impact on defense department operations.

“Recently, it has come to our attention that DOD identified in their report to DOT and FAA 38 contract towers whose closures would result in a ‘severe impact to operations.’ This list of severe impact’ rated towers included Ogden-Hinckley Airport,” wrote Lee and Bishop.

Lee and Bishop have asked FAA to explain why their representatives told Lee’s office they received no feedback when they had, and to describe the process of deciding which of the closures listed as “severe” would close and which would not.

“We request that FAA explain why Senator Lee’s office was told in response to the April 1, 2013 request that ‘there was no feedback provided’ by DOD on the tower closure at OGD when in fact DOD had provided a detailed report to DOT on March 21, 2013 identifying 38 Contract Towers whose closures would result in a ‘severe impact to operations’, including OGD. We also request an explanation for its decision regarding the closure of these Contract Towers, and specifically as it relates to those towers that DOD determined would have a severe impact on mission operations.”

They added, “Our highest priority is ensuring the safety of our service-members and those who utilize these Contract Towers. This is a serious matter and we request your attention and prompt reply.”

See the full letter here: http://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ee4bebaf-089e-4d52-9a26-750c0a02270b

Bishop Reacts to Reports that Obama Administration May Keep Ogden Tower Open

Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01) today praised reports that Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood has said that 149 FAA towers, including Utah’s Ogden and Provo towers, will be spared from closure. Last week, Bishop voted in support of legislation to give the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) greater flexibility to shift funding in order to support necessary programs and prevent furloughs. That legislation passed both the House and the Senate and the President is expected to sign it into law.

Since the legislation does not directly prevent the closure of 149 air traffic control towers, Congressman Bishop has signed on to a letter urging Secretary LaHood to officially guarantee the towers will remain open and operational.

Excerpt of the letter:

This legislation gives the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation flexibility to use unobligated funds to ensure the safety of our nation’s air transportation system. The unobligated funds of the Airport Improvement Program account made available to the FAA through this legislation should be used to prevent the closure of the 149 contract air traffic control towers as well as halt the furloughs of our air traffic controllers.

To ensure responsible action by FAA and DOT, and to ensure the safety and efficiency of our skies, the Congress has directed this reprogramming of funds by law. We expect to hear very soon how the FAA and DOT will take immediate steps to fund the 149 contract air traffic control towers.

“I am very encouraged by Secretary LaHood’s apparent statements about keeping the towers open. However verbal commitments seem to be broken by this Administration all the time and therefore, I will be more comfortable with a more official guarantee that the towers will in fact remain open,” said Bishop. “The legislation passed by Congress gives the Department of Transportation and FAA greater flexibility to maintain essential operations, and that should definitely include the Ogden tower. The Ogden tower provides strategic assistance to flight operations and air traffic surrounding Hill Air Force Base. To close this tower would be a mistake and could be detrimental to air traffic around one of our nation’s preeminent air defense facilities.”

IN THE NEWS: Bishop seeks grand bargain on public lands

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

By Thomas Burr, Salt Lake Tribune

April 16, 2013

LINK TO ONLINE STORY

Washington • Tired of the gridlock over how to manage federal lands, Rep. Rob Bishop is attempting to bring together all sides of the issue to find common ground to either preserve or drill.

The Utah Republican is one of Congress’ top cheerleaders for oil and gas development and a dogged critic of environmentalists — but he says it’s time to tone down the rhetoric and seize on a change at the Interior Department to get beyond the bitter feud in the public-lands debate.

Bishop has invited energy companies, green groups, local officials and other interested parties to submit their plans for what they want to get done and hopes to craft legislation to bring up later this year.

“There is some land that needs to be preserved and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Bishop said in an interview recently. “There’s also land that needs to be developed, and there’s no reason why the two can’t coexist.”

Bishop’s office has held more than 100 individual meetings with environmentalists, oil and gas officials, county leaders and other interested parties to gauge input on a grand bargain of sorts aimed at ending the back-and-forth sparring about what to do with millions of acres awaiting a designation.

“I think we know that we’re not going to agree on everything. In fact, we may not agree on many things,” says Paul Spitler, director of wilderness campaigns with The Wilderness Society, who has met with Bishop about the proposed collaboration. “But there are some areas we will agree.”

With the exception of a few small parcels, there hasn’t been agreement on how to divvy up federal lands in Utah since then-Sen. Bob Bennett pushed through his Washington County Lands Bill in 2009 that sought the same type of compromise solution. Similar efforts have stalled or are still in the early stages in a few other Utah counties.

About 12.7 million acres in Utah are already set aside for national parks or monuments, conservation areas, wilderness or wilderness study areas as well as wild and scenic river corridors and Forest Service roadless areas. About 4.3 million acres are currently leased for oil and gas exploration by the Bureau of Land Management, meaning about 36 percent of the state is off-limits to development while 12 percent is for oil and gas drilling, according to Bishop’s office.

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Deadlock • Congress is equally deadlocked on wilderness. The past congressional session was the only one in modern times during which not a single acre in the United States was set aside. President Barack Obama, however, circumvented Congress last month to declare five new national monuments that had been awaiting designations.

Bishop, who heads a House subcommittee over federal lands, says he wants to widen the effort, looking regionally in Utah for potential compromises and not just county by county. His first target, he says, is eastern Utah, and he hopes to unveil legislation this summer to start the process.

Unlike Bennett’s legislation — which was tacked onto another bill in the waning hours of a congressional session — Bishop wants to run his bill through the regular process, including a full committee hearing and floor debate.

“I want to bring some conclusion to the issues we’re dealing with there,” Bishop says, noting that, as a former teacher, he wants to bring more revenue in for Utah students from school trust lands and energy company royalties.

The timing is right, the congressman adds, since new Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has taken office and signaled an interest in working with local officials to tackle land concerns.

“If we can do it now, while we have a new Interior secretary coming in, [and] before everyone gets too locked down in their habits or biases, I think this is an opportunity to finally get something done,” Bishop says. “There’s a window of opportunity now, which if we were to wait too much longer would probably get closed.”

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Fresh start • Jewell, the former head of Recreational Equipment Inc., whose first full day in office was Monday, said during her Senate confirmation hearing that she is committed to public input and working with communities on issues “so that it’s not a surprise” when an action is taken.

“I think people in our states [who] are on the ground by these spectacular places or important places know that better than anybody else around the country,” she said.

In his letter to various groups seeking compromise, Bishop said the history of public lands in Utah is “long on episodes of contention and conflict and short on examples of compromise and consensus.”

“Much of the debate has centered on a false choice between multiple use or land conservation,” Bishop wrote in the letter obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune. “I reject this either-or proposition.”

The prospect of a deal, or series of deals, has generated some optimism that perhaps for the first time the parties can sit down and settle some of the long-standing land disputes.

“We’re weary of the struggle,” says Kathleen Clarke, the former BLM director who now heads up Gov. Gary Herbert’s Public Lands Policy Coordination Office. “We’re tired of the endless battle, and nobody is winning. Everyone is anxious to see something break loose.”

Herbert has endorsed the process and twice met with Bishop to go over the concept, Clarke said.

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, too, is on board.

“We look for every opportunity to protect wilderness,” says Richard Peterson-Cremer, SUWA’s legislative director based in Washington. “We’re open to see how this progresses.”

Uintah County Commissioner Mike McKee, who also met with the congressman and his staff on the proposal, says it’s time to put the controversy aside and work it out.

“Special interests have dug in, counties have dug in, and there has been an impasse here for a bunch of years,” McKee says, noting that the Washington County Lands Bill paved the way for others to follow.

“There is probably more of a willingness of the parties to work together and for that to happen,” McKee adds. “It has to benefit all parties.”

Bishop Connects Energy and the Economy

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Budget Debate provides chance for Energy Discussion

Rob Warns Against Increased Federal Ownership of Lands

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Rob speaks against the huge public lands omnibus bill

Congressman Bishop Argues Against Rule for Land Bill

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Rob points out the 2nd Amendment holes in the new legislation

Rob Defends 2nd Amendment Rights on Public Lands

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Bishop speaks on the House floor during morning hour about the need for clear and consistent protection of 2nd Amendment Rights on public lands

Rob speaks against lands omnibus bill

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Rob Bishop helped lead the charge against S22, the Public Lands Omnibus bill

Rob compares monkey bite bill and massive spending bill

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Rob compares monkey bite bill and massive spending bill

Rob Discusses Problems with Lands Omnibus Bill

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Rob Discusses Problems with Lands Omnibus Bill

Rob Floor Discussion on Stimulus and Energy

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Rob Floor Discussion on Stimulus and Energy

Bishop Speaks on Energy Impacts in VA/Military Construction Bill

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Bishop Speaks on Energy Impacts in Veterans Bill