[Senate Hearing 117-124]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 117-124
BEAUDREAU NOMINATION
=======================================================================
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
to
CONSIDER THE NOMINATION OF TOMMY P. BEAUDREAU TO BE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF
THE INTERIOR
__________
APRIL 29, 2021
__________
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
44-472 PDF WASHINGTON : 2022
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
JOE MANCHIN III, West Virginia, Chairman
RON WYDEN, Oregon JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho
BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont MIKE LEE, Utah
MARTIN HEINRICH, New Mexico STEVE DAINES, Montana
MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska
ANGUS S. KING, JR., Maine JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota
CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma
MARK KELLY, Arizona BILL CASSIDY, Louisiana
JOHN W. HICKENLOOPER, Colorado CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi
ROGER MARSHALL, Kansas
Renae Black, Staff Director
Sam E. Fowler, Chief Counsel
Richard M. Russell, Republican Staff Director
Matthew H. Leggett, Republican Chief Counsel
Darla Ripchensky, Chief Clerk
C O N T E N T S
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OPENING STATEMENTS
Page
Manchin III, Hon. Joe, Chairman and a U.S. Senator from West
Virginia....................................................... 1
Barrasso, Hon. John, Ranking Member and a U.S. Senator from
Wyoming........................................................ 15
WITNESS
Beaudreau, Tommy P., to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior...... 16
ALPHABETICAL LISTING AND APPENDIX MATERIAL SUBMITTED
American Woodcock Society, et al.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 7
Barrasso, Hon. John:
Opening Statement............................................ 15
Barrasso, Hon. John, et al.:
Letter for the Record addressed to the Hon. Debra Haaland,
dated
4/22/2021.................................................. 94
Beaudreau, Tommy P.:
Opening Statement............................................ 16
Written Testimony............................................ 19
Responses to Questions for the Record........................ 47
Brightline Defense, et al.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 9
Center for Biological Diversity, et al.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 95
Jewell, Hon. Sally:
Letter for the Record........................................ 4
Manchin III, Hon. Joe:
Opening Statement............................................ 1
National Wildlife Refuge Association:
Letter for the Record........................................ 12
Outdoor Alliance:
Letter for the Record........................................ 13
BEAUDREAU NOMINATION
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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:07 a.m. in
Room SD-366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Joe Manchin
III, Chairman of the Committee, presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOE MANCHIN III, U.S. SENATOR FROM
WEST VIRGINIA
The Chairman. The Committee will come to order. Before we
turn to our hearing today, I want to take a moment, a
privilege, for my Chief Counsel on the Committee, Sam Fowler.
This year Sam reached 30 years of service on this Committee,
providing sage counsel to me, six of my predecessors, and all
Committee members, I think, on both sides of the aisle on a
broad range of issues, including Senate and Committee history.
If you need to know anything about this Senate and how it
operates and works, Sam is your man.
He is only the second person to have served as Chief
Counsel for the Democratic side since the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources was established in 1977. In fact, only
four Senators have been in the Senate longer than Sam. So I
would like to now present him his 30-year service pin and
certificate along with a plaque to commemorate our appreciation
for his years of dedicated service to our country. I cannot
thank him enough.
Sam?
I will put the pin on you, but I get to pin you. This is a
good pin, Sam.
[Laughter.]
I think this is an official pin.
[Applause.]
The Chairman. Sam, say something. A person, after 30 years,
has a right--what do you think, Senators? Okay?
[Laughter.]
Mr. Fowler. Well, certainly the number of years I have
worked here is one measure of my career, I suppose, but one of
the other measures that I take a special pride in is the number
you mentioned earlier, that out of the eight democrats who have
served as either the Chair or Ranking Member, I have managed to
be Chief Counsel for seven of them, and it has been a great
honor with each and every one and especially with Senator
Manchin.
The Chairman. We are not going to have him rate them
either, okay.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Thank you, Sam.
[Applause.]
The Chairman. Turning back to our hearing.
We meet today to consider the nomination of Tommy Beaudreau
to be the Deputy Secretary of the Interior (DOI). Welcome to
the Committee, Mr. Beaudreau. It is so good to have you and
your family with us. I want to thank you for being here this
morning and for your willingness to serve in this important
position, and thank you to your family for joining you here
today.
If you want to, Tommy, why don't you introduce your family
with you right now, and then I will go ahead and finish up on
my----
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you so much, Chairman.
So I'm joined this morning with my wife, Carrie Beaudreau,
and my boys, August Beaudreau and Alex Beaudreau.
The Chairman. Welcome to all of you. Thank you so much for
your service.
The Department of the Interior has a bipolar mission in a
highly polarized, political environment. On the one hand, the
Department is charged with preserving and protecting our
national parks and public lands. It is the guardian of our
iconic landscapes and our most sacred historical sites. It is
the steward of our natural resources and must take into account
not only our present needs but the needs of generations to
come. On the other hand, the Department of the Interior is
called upon to provide a large part of the energy and mineral
resources that we need to power the nation. The lands and
waters managed by the Department produce nearly 20 percent of
the nation's energy, including 43 percent of our coal, 24
percent of our oil, 2 percent of our natural gas, half of our
geothermal energy, and much of our wind, solar, and hydropower.
The lands and waters managed by the Department generate $12
billion a year for the Federal Treasury, support 1.8 million
jobs, and contribute an estimated $315 billion to our economy.
The Department does not have the luxury to choose one mission
over the other. It must fulfill both and find the right balance
between the two. As the Secretary's top lieutenant, the Deputy
Secretary of the Interior plays a major role in striking that
balance and keeping the Department on course. I am not telling
Mr. Beaudreau anything he does not already know. He learned the
importance of responsible resource development at an early age
from his father, who worked in the Prudhoe Bay oil fields in
the North Slope of Alaska. At the same time, he learned the
value of the great American outdoors growing up hunting,
fishing, hiking, and skiing in the Alaskan wilderness. He
brought those experiences and values with him to the Department
of the Interior in 2010 when our former colleague, Ken Salazar,
called on him to help reform the offshore drilling program
after the tragic Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of
Mexico.
As the first Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, he learned firsthand the importance of not only
developing energy resources, but developing them wisely,
safely, and with careful regard for the environment. He saw
what happened when the Department cut corners, and he played a
major role in reforming the Department's regulatory program so
that energy production could resume in the Gulf more safely
than ever before. Perhaps one measure of the outstanding job
Mr. Beaudreau did as head of the offshore oil program is the
fact that Secretary Salazar soon put him in charge of onshore
leasing as well, as Acting Assistant Secretary of Land and
Minerals Management, and Secretary Jewell ultimately made him
her Chief of Staff with oversight over the Department's broad
portfolio.
On that note, without objection, I will enter into the
record former Secretary Jewell's letter to the Committee
endorsing Mr. Beaudreau.
Objections? No objections. It will be entered in.
[Letter of endorsement from former Secretary Jewell
follows:]
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The Chairman. Her letter endorses Mr. Beaudreau ``for his
intellect, capacity to listen to multiple points of view, deep
understanding of the law, respect for elected officials and
constitutional processes, and a pragmatic knowledge of how to
get things done.'' Like former Secretary Jewell, I am very
pleased that the President has nominated Mr. Beaudreau to be
the Deputy Secretary of the Interior. I think he is extremely
well qualified for this important position, and I strongly
support his nomination.
Before I turn it over to Senator Barrasso for his opening
statement, I ask unanimous consent to enter another additional
five letters for Mr. Beaudreau's nomination in the record.
Without objection.
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The Chairman. Now I want to recognize my dear friend and
colleague, Senator Barrasso, for his opening statement.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN BARRASSO,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WYOMING
Senator Barrasso. Well thank you very much, Mr. Chairman,
and I also would like to welcome Tommy Beaudreau to the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee as well as to your
family. Thank you all for joining us and for your service to
the country.
The Deputy Secretary of the Interior is a critically
important job to my home State of Wyoming and to the entire
West. If confirmed, you are going to work alongside the
Secretary to lead an agency with more than 70,000 employees.
Department of Interior employees manage 20 percent of the
nation's lands, including all of our national parks, our
national monuments, our wildlife refuges, our multiple-use
lands, and the Outer Continental Shelf. They also manage the
largest water supply in the West, our nation's trust
responsibilities to American Indian tribes and Alaska Natives,
and our nation's responsibilities to U.S. territories and
freely associated states. One of the most vital functions is
overseeing the development of traditional and renewable energy
supplies on public lands and waters.
In Wyoming, we are proud to be America's leading producer
of coal, uranium, trona, and bentonite. Almost 50 percent of
Wyoming's surface area and 69 percent of Wyoming's minerals are
owned by the Federal Government. Energy production on public
lands is the engine of Wyoming's economy. It creates good-
paying jobs. It provides tremendous revenue for our state. In
Wyoming, energy and mineral activity on Department of Interior
land had a $17.3 billion economic impact in 2019 and supported
over 57,000 jobs. For years, the State of Wyoming has collected
over $1 billion annually in royalties and taxes from energy
production on federal lands. Wyoming is not the only state that
benefits from energy production on public lands. Mr.
Beaudreau's home State of Alaska and Secretary Haaland's home
State of New Mexico, as well as many others, rely on the
production of oil and natural gas on public lands.
Mr. Beaudreau, you know from personal experience the
critical importance of energy production to the livelihoods of
Americans all across the United States. In 2013, you came
before this Committee as President Obama's nominee to be
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and
Budget. You testified that your family moved to Alaska so your
father could ``get a good job working in the Prudhoe Bay oil
field on the North Slope,'' as Senator Manchin has mentioned.
You stated, ``Because of my upbringing I have a firsthand
understanding of the importance of responsible resource
development to the economic well-being of communities and
families.'' Your appreciation of the benefits that energy
production on public lands affords to millions of Americans is
very welcome news. If you are confirmed it is imperative that
you keep those Americans who have jobs in energy production on
public lands at the forefront of your mind. The Biden
Administration seems intent on destroying the livelihoods of
oil, natural gas, and coal workers in the West, seems to want
to rip away all the advantages in the traditional energy
production that those sources bring to our states, our local
communities, and our families. Mr. Beaudreau, the Biden
Administration has given every indication that it wants to
throw oil and gas workers, who have jobs like your father's,
out of work. So I hope that if you are confirmed you can serve
as a voice of reason in an Administration that is waging an
economic war on energy workers in my state and across the
country.
I want to thank the Chair and look forward to your
testimony. Thank you, Mr. Beaudreau.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
The rules of the Committee, which apply to all nominees,
require they be sworn in connection with their testimony. So
Mr. Beaudreau, if you would please stand and raise your right
hand?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to
give to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
Mr. Beaudreau. I do.
The Chairman. Please be seated.
Before you begin your statement, Mr. Beaudreau, I will ask
you three questions addressed to each nominee before the
Committee.
Will you be available to appear before the Committee and
other Congressional committees to represent the Department's
position and respond to issues of concern to the Congress?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes.
The Chairman. Are you aware of any personal holdings,
investments, or interests that could constitute a conflict of
interest or create the appearance of such a conflict should you
be confirmed and assume the office to which you have been
nominated by the President?
Mr. Beaudreau. No.
The Chairman. Are you involved or do you have any assets
held in a blind trust?
Mr. Beaudreau. No.
The Chairman. You are now recognized, Mr. Beaudreau, to
give your statement. Please proceed.
STATEMENT OF TOMMY P. BEAUDREAU, NOMINATED TO BE DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you so much, Chairman Manchin, Ranking
Member Barrasso, and the members of the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee. I'm honored to be with you today
as President Joe Biden's nominee to be the Deputy Secretary of
the Department of the Interior. I'm very happy to be appearing
before this Committee again.
I am joined this morning by my wife, Carrie, and my two
sons, Alex and Auggie. I thank their school for allowing them
to be with me today for this hearing. Alex graduates next
month, so I'm pretty sure he doesn't mind missing class at all.
If I may, I will begin with a brief personal introduction which
will help explain why I'm here today seeking your consent to
return to the Interior Department as Secretary Haaland's Deputy
and the Department's Chief Operating Officer.
I am and always will be a Westerner. I was born in
Colorado, and my first home was in a small town called Brush in
Morgan County. My father was a Marine who served in Vietnam,
and, as Senator Barrasso pointed out, in the late 1970s he got
a job working in the Prudhoe Bay field on the North Slope and
moved my family to Alaska where I was raised and graduated from
high school. I'll always be grateful for my upbringing in
Alaska. Alaska is where I learned to hunt, fish, ski, backpack,
and appreciate the beauty, adventure, and the power of
America's vast landscapes and wild places. I am proud to say
that my children are developing their own connections with the
outdoors. Alex takes frequent weekend camping trips and hiking
trips to national and state parks in Virginia and Maryland, and
I joined Auggie for his first wilderness backpacking adventure
in Olympic National Park two summers ago.
Secretary Salazar brought me into the Interior Department
in 2010 to help the Department respond to the Deepwater Horizon
crisis and implement sweeping reforms to the federal offshore
oil and gas oversight, including the successful reorganization
of the offshore regulator. These reforms withstood a change in
administration because the case for the reorganization was
compelling. We enlisted the career staff to help define the
responsibilities and design the functions of the new agencies,
and we worked with Congress and this Committee to stand up the
agencies and ensure that they were properly resourced. My
perspective on leadership as well as my understanding of how to
be effective in government also is shaped by my unique career
path at Interior. I started at DOI as a Senior Advisor in an
agency that no longer exists. Secretary Salazar appointed me to
be the first Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
where, among other things, I conducted the first offshore wind
lease sales in the United States. I also served as the Acting
Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management overseeing
several agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management.
Finally, I spent three years as the Department's Chief of Staff
under Secretary Sally Jewell. All of these roles and
experiences have given me a profound respect for the work of
the 70,000 career staff at the Interior Department.
When I first joined government, then-Deputy Secretary David
Hayes told me I could expect to meet two kinds of folks in
government, show horses and work horses. I love the Interior
Department because it is truly a team of work horses, which
brings us to today. If confirmed, I would be honored and
humbled to rejoin the Interior Department and to work with
Secretary Haaland. Secretary Haaland has inspired millions of
Americans with her historic vision for the Department, and I
will be deeply invested in supporting her in achieving that
vision, promoting equity and confronting injustice; bringing
America's lands, water, and people to bear in tackling the
great climate and conservation crises facing us today; and
ensuring that the nation's public lands and wildlife are
conserved for future generations. Interior is front and center
in meeting the Biden Administration's targets for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. This effort includes bringing public
lands and waters to bear in building a clean energy economy
that supports good-paying union jobs as well as strengthening
working communities. Interior brings to the table the premier
science agency in the Federal Government, the USGS, and is on
the front lines addressing drought and partnering across the
Federal Government and with Western states to combat wildfire.
As stated by the Supreme Court, the Federal Government has
charged itself with moral obligations of the highest
responsibilities and trust toward Native Americans.
Fundamentally, this responsibility means honoring the
government-to-government relationship with tribes, including
through genuine and meaningful consultation, respecting tribal
sovereignty, and recognizing that self-determination is the
path to strengthening communities and living up to the United
States trust and treaty obligations.
Interior, as steward of the national parks, public lands,
and largest wildlife refuge system in the world, has the
awesome responsibility to conserve these lands, nature, and
wildlife for the benefit of all Americans and for future
generations. I'm grateful to this Committee and to Congress for
its investments in protecting our shared heritage and legacy to
the Great American Outdoors Act and funding the Land and Water
Conservation Fund. If confirmed, I will have an open door and
an open mind to the important challenges that are before all of
us. I hope this hearing will be the first of many conversations
I have with each of you, and thank you, and I'm ready to answer
your questions.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Beaudreau follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Beaudreau.
I will start with the questioning. The United States became
a net total energy exporter in 2019 for the first time in 67
years, in large part due to the surge of domestic oil and gas
production. Do you believe that it is in our best interest to
maintain our energy independence?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, I believe it is extremely important on
the national stage that America maintain its energy security.
The Chairman. Do you believe that we can strike the right
balance between environmental protection and responsible energy
development so that we can maintain our energy security and
independence without sacrificing our environmental quality?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes.
The Chairman. Each year, the Office of Surface Mining
transfers up to $750 million to the United Mine Workers of
America (UMWA) Health and Retirement Fund. This is because in
1946 the Federal Government made a promise to the UMWA, the
only one that we have ever had between labor and government. In
1940, the Federal Government made that promise. It was called
the Krug-Lewis Agreement that ensured hard-earned health care
and retirement benefits would be secured for the lifetimes of
back-breaking work in the coal mines. These programs are very
important to coal miners, their widows, and their dependents.
So will you commit to ensure the timely and uneventful transfer
of funds from the Office of Surface Mining to the necessary
UMWA funds as directed by Congress?
Mr. Beaudreau. Senator, the AML program is a tremendous
success story. In my previous service at the Interior
Department, it was always an important moment to be able to
oversee the transfer of those funds. Obviously, I haven't been
at the Department for some time now, but with your consent when
I return, I absolutely will look into the program.
The Chairman. I believe more needs to be done to reduce
methane venting and flaring, and we have been told that
methane, the venting of methane, is 84 times more detrimental
to our environment than just CO2. So we know it is
very lethal. The other thing is, it has a value to it. So do
you believe that there is an opportunity from the federal
lands, both to mitigate an environmental impact of this
extremely potent greenhouse gas and to ensure taxpayers receive
a fair return for the resources? We already have technologies
to reduce methane emissions, and we will continue that
innovation, but one of the missing pieces seems to be the
gathering lines. The gathering lines that it takes to take the
methane from the well head to the main pipeline and ultimately
to market, instead of venting or flaring it. What role does the
Bureau of Land Management play in approving the construction of
gathering lines?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you for the question, Senator. There
is no doubt that--and President Biden has spoken about this,
and Secretary Haaland has spoken about it--we absolutely need
to address greenhouse gas emissions emanating from public
lands, and that includes methane. It's an important part of the
challenge facing us with respect to climate, and, as you
pointed out, that resource belongs to the American people, and
to have it vented or flared or wasted is not only not in the
American people's interest but is contrary to law. If I return
to the Interior Department, I'll work across the board to
develop solutions to prevent the waste of that resource, both
for the benefit of the taxpayer and the benefit of our fight
against climate change.
The Chairman. There are steps that will need to be taken,
basically, to make sure that we can get the product to market,
and the lack of gathering lines is what is impeding it right
now, and they are flaring it because flaring is better than
just venting it. So it is going to be all-hands-on-deck on that
one.
The 1872 Mining Laws for hard rock mining, do you have any
comments on that and the need to upgrade that?
Mr. Beaudreau. So----
The Chairman. It has been quite a while since we have
approached this. The last time was 1872.
Mr. Beaudreau. I will say, I consider myself extremely
fortunate to be present today for your honoring of Sam Fowler's
long career here at the Senate.
The Chairman. Well, he does not go back to 1872.
Mr. Beaudreau. No, but he----
The Chairman. But he understands----
Mr. Beaudreau. He and I have joked and made observations
about this, and so our view is it would be great to bring that
law into the 21st century and if we can't, at least the 20th
century.
The Chairman. If you can give me just a quick, because my
time is running out, a little bit. I know you were very much
involved in offshore wind along the Atlantic Coast. Can you
explain to me what we can do and why you think it is such a
valuable resource that we should be developing?
Mr. Beaudreau. Offshore wind, so President Biden, Secretary
Haaland have talked about building a clean energy economy. The
potential that offshore wind has is three-fold. One, producing
30,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2030. Two, it aligns with
the state goals to bring that energy in that's really created
the market that's unlocked offshore wind potential. And it
means jobs. And so, part of the President's entire program
around clean energy is not only to fight climate change but to
bring high-paying, union, domestic jobs through the clean
energy sector, and offshore wind will be a big part of that.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Senator Barrasso.
Senator Barrasso. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Beaudreau, I have a couple of questions along the lines
of how Senator Manchin started his questioning. Just as a
general matter, should the Federal Government continue to
permit oil and gas wells in this country?
Mr. Beaudreau. I think the Administration has been clear
that permitting of oil and gas will continue even during the
penancy of the Interior Department's review of the BLM's oil
and gas programs.
Senator Barrasso. As a general matter, should the Federal
Government continue to permit coal mines in this country?
Mr. Beaudreau. I think, again, the Administration has been
clear that we need to answer the bell in terms of reducing
carbon emissions emanating from public lands, and while we step
up to do that the programs will continue.
Senator Barrasso. As a general matter, should the Federal
Government continue to process actions related to coal mines
already authorized and permitted in this country?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes.
Senator Barrasso. As a general matter, should the Federal
Government continue to permit copper, lithium, and other hard
rock mines in this country?
Mr. Beaudreau. There's no question that critical minerals
play a role in advanced technology development as well as
renewable energy. Responsible mining is something that I look
forward to, if I'm confirmed and joining the Department,
helping to oversee. But we do, as everyone on this Committee
appreciates, we must be extremely attuned not only to the
potential environmental effects, but potential effects on
historic and cultural resources.
Senator Barrasso. General matter, should the Federal
Government continue to permit natural gas pipelines in this
country?
Mr. Beaudreau. Again, as I discussed with Senator Manchin,
we need to look at ways of preventing waste of that resource as
well as preventing it from being released into the atmosphere,
and if I return to the Interior Department, I will have an open
mind about all potential solutions to accomplish those goals.
Senator Barrasso. As a general matter, should the Federal
Government continue to permit oil pipelines in the country?
Mr. Beaudreau. Similar answer, sir.
Senator Barrasso. General matter, should the Federal
Government continue to permit electric transmission lines in
the country?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes. Transmission and modernization of the
grid are critical to achieving President Biden's goals for a
clean energy economy.
Senator Barrasso. General matter, should the Federal
Government continue to permit natural gas and nuclear power
plants in the country?
Mr. Beaudreau. Again, the overall climate picture requires
bold action. I believe the President has articulated that
vision. If I'm confirmed, it'll be first and foremost among my
responsibilities to achieve that. And again, I will be open to
solutions to get us there.
Senator Barrasso. I want to visit about grazing. You know,
throughout the West there are hundreds of vacant allotments
that could be permitted for grazing activities, and this would
help ranchers and rural economies to be more resilient when
disasters or drought strikes. That is why last week I
introduced a bill called the RANCH Act, stands for Resiliency
for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health Act. The bill will
allow temporary use of vacant grazing allotments during extreme
weather events and disasters. Currently the vacant allotments
need updated environmental reviews under NEPA. So, if
confirmed, would you commit to prioritizing vacant allotments
in NEPA evaluations for future livestock grazing?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you for describing your bill. If I'm
confirmed, I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and looking
into that. I also believe strongly that conservation includes
partnerships, especially in the American West, and working with
ranching and farming communities are extremely important to
helping step up to meet the conservation crisis. And so, yes, I
will work with you on those issues.
Senator Barrasso. Thank you.
I want to ask about the 30 by 30 initiative. You know,
President Biden issued an Executive Order establishing a
directive to conserve at least 30 percent of America's land and
waters by 2030. This does not define what constitutes
conservation, and it is really unclear what percentage of
America's lands would be impacted. According to the U.S.
Geological Survey, about 12 percent of America's lands are
currently permanently protected. So to raise that number from
12 to 30 you would need to keep land off limits to multiple use
equal to seven times the size of the State of Wyoming. You are
talking about vast amounts of the United States. I am wondering
how the 30 by 30 initiative is consistent with multiple-use,
private landownership in the country, voluntary conservation
efforts. I do not know if you have any thoughts on that?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, and again, I look forward to joining
the Administration to advance the 30 by 30 initiative, if I'm
confirmed. I think Secretary Haaland has said it best.
Conservation, in order to meet the 30 by 30 goals, is about
partnerships. It's about inclusivity. It's about working with
folks on the ground. And your mention about grazing and
ranching and agricultural communities absolutely should be a
part of that effort. And so, I think there are real
opportunities across the board to achieve those goals by
working together.
Senator Barrasso. Finally, in his first few weeks in office
President Biden issued orders banning new oil and natural gas
leasing on federal lands and waters. It is estimated that a
long-term leasing ban will cost my home State of Wyoming about
33,000 jobs, over $1 billion in royalties and in taxes which
are collected annually on oil, gas, and coal production on
federal lands within our borders. This money is a principal
source of funding for public education, for roads, for water
projects, other essential services. So we need lease sales to
resume, and it is not just Wyoming, it is the Rocky Mountain
West. How quickly can we get back to the legally required lease
sale process?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, thank you for that question. There is
no doubt in my mind that the BLM and the federal oil and gas
leasing program needs modernization and needs reform in order
to address, among other things, the climate crisis and to
achieve fair value for taxpayers. I appreciate your points
about the uncertainty that pausing leasing may cause, and I
look forward when I join the Interior Department, with your
consent, to participating in the review of the program and
charting the path forward for the program.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
Now we have Senator King by WebEx.
Senator King. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First, I want to join your congratulations of Sam for his
extraordinary service to the Committee over 30 years. That is
an amazing record, and I just want to thank him for all that he
has done for us.
Mr. Beaudreau, first, there has been some criticism of your
nomination because of your associations in your private sector
experience in recent years with fossil fuel companies and other
commercial entities that may have an interest in the work that
comes before the Department of the Interior. Can you answer
those questions and address any allegations of conflict of
interest or tainting of your views in terms of the issues that
will come before the Department?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, thank you for very much for that
question, Senator King.
I have been in government service for a long period of time
during the Obama Administration. I am accepting of the scrutiny
and criticism that comes with holding these roles. I'll admit
that I'm a little bewildered by some of the criticism given
what I believe was a very strong track record during the Obama
Administration on conservation, including things we worked
together on in Maine and, for example, the designation of
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and my reputation
as a regulator, both tough but, I think, fair minded.
In terms of the ethics rules, I've already begun working
with the career ethics staff at the Interior Department to
ensure that procedures are in place to ensure and obviously I
will be mindful at all times about complying with my ethical
obligations as I have in the past.
Senator King. I want to be clear that I do not necessarily
hold those concerns, but I wanted to give you an opportunity to
address them simply because they will be part of our Committee
consideration of your nomination.
One comment, and perhaps you could respond. The National
Park Service has been leaderless for four or five years, four
years anyway. What kind of priority do you place upon helping
the President and the Secretary to find a Director of the
National Park Service and making sure that we have consistent
and strong leadership in charge of that critically important
part of our federal responsibility?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you, Senator. I couldn't agree
more with that sentiment. The National Park Service is
essential to connecting the American people with our shared
natural resources and encouraging a next generation of
Americans to be involved in conservation. In order to carry
those values forward, I agree with you. I think it's extremely
important that the National Park Service have a Director.
Senator King. I am going to go out on a limb and predict
that this summer is going to be the biggest summer ever for the
national parks, and we better be ready. As you and I have
discussed in our meeting prior to this hearing, we really need
to talk about the national parks in terms of the pressure on
them. That brings me to the Great American Outdoors Act. The
implementation of the Great American Outdoors Act, which
involves both the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the
Restore our Parks Act, maintenance in the parks, is critically
important. Here in Congress, we can provide the vision, but
your agency has to provide the implementation.
Is this going to be a priority for you when you go into
office, and will you commit now to being clear and transparent
with this Committee in terms of the steps taken by the
Administration to implement the Great American Outdoors Act?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you for that. As I said in my
opening statement, I am profoundly appreciative of the work of
this Committee and Congress to pass the Great American Outdoors
Act and to bring much needed resources into the Park Service
and our public lands. We've talked for many, many years about
the maintenance backlog and infrastructure crisis facing the
national parks and to have Congress step up in such a
significant way to address that problem is really amazing. I
know everyone has frustrations sometimes about getting stuff
done, Congress really got some important work done and, yes, I
look forward to working with the Interior Department and this
Committee on making sure that we bring maximum value out of
each one of those dollars.
Senator King. And will you commit to remaining in close
contact with this Committee on the implementation in a fully
transparent way?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes.
Senator King. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
Next, we have Senator Hyde-Smith.
Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you
Mr. Beaudreau for being here and your willingness to serve.
Congratulations on your nomination, and I certainly hope that
today's hearing will have the answers that we are seeking of
how you would assist the Secretary.
One of the things that I am concerned about from my home
State of Mississippi is forestry is just such an important part
of Mississippi economy. It is 46,000 jobs and nearly $2 billion
in payroll and contributing more than $8 billion to the state's
sales and manufacturing economy. So we are a wood basket in
Mississippi, and we have plenty of that, and it is just very
important. But multiple countries and intergovernmental
organizations have declared that forest management and biomass
play an essential role in an all-in approach to reduce
dependence on fossil fuels.
Mr. Beaudreau, what role can sustainable biomass play in
our nation's overall energy strategy, and what is your
understanding of how strong forest products markets benefit
rural communities such as the ones that we have in Mississippi
that really depend on this?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you very much for that question.
I recall during the previous Administration listening very
closely to Secretary Vilsack on exactly these issues and his
belief in the role that the Forest Service has on that type of
resource. And I can tell you, if I'm confirmed and join the
Interior Department, that I will be committed to one, an open
mind on all of those potential resources, again, to meet, among
other things, the climate crisis, and two, be absolutely
committed to making the best use of science to inform those
decisions.
Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you for that answer. I want to
focus on your experiences as former Director of the Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management to expand upon the issue of offshore
oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico. I know you have been
asked about this, but not everybody has had the chance to ask
you the same question. In an interview you gave in 2013 you
stated that the Gulf has tremendous resource potential, but it
is also one of the most mature fields in the entire world and
has a very sophisticated, widespread infrastructure. Given the
detrimental impact that pausing offshore oil and gas leasing
has for the Gulf Coast and the Gulf States, how do you view the
Gulf in terms of American oil and gas production now and in the
future?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thanks very much for that question. I
do have, you know, based on my previous roles, a very good
understanding of the Gulf of Mexico and the offshore oil and
gas industry like the entire federal management of oil and gas
in those programs, it is appropriate and as Secretary Haaland
has articulated, necessary to undertake a review of those
programs, how they're implemented, including through the lens
of fair return to the taxpayer and climate. I believe that the
offshore industry should be at the table for all those
discussions as reflected during the roundtable hosted by
Secretary Haaland to discuss the review of the oil and gas
program. It's important that that industry be at the table
because I believe they can offer a lot of solutions to move the
ball forward on achieving these goals.
Senator Hyde-Smith. And when do you think the
Administration should lift its freezes on new offshore leases?
Mr. Beaudreau. So I'm not in the Administration yet. I
haven't been part of the discussions with respect to the
review. If I'm confirmed, I'd look forward to joining those
discussions and working with the Department and the full range
of stakeholders necessary to plot out the appropriate path for
the offshore oil and gas programs. And so, I don't have that
direct answer to that question of how long the review should
be. It should be a thorough review. It should achieve the
goals, as articulated by the President as well as the
Secretary, and it should be mindful of, you know, uncertainty
that is inherent to conducting those reviews. But at the end of
the day, the program needs to be modernized, and I look forward
to being part of that effort.
Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
Now we have Senator Cortez Masto.
Senator Cortez Masto. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to Mr.
Beaudreau, congratulations on your nomination.
First of all, like everyone else, let me just recognize Sam
as well for 30 years of service to the Committee. We are so
fortunate to have your experience and your knowledge, and I
look forward to continuing to work with you on the Committee.
Thank you for your commitment.
Mr. Beaudreau, we have talked. Thank you for taking the
time to talk with me. As you well know, in Nevada, 85 percent
of the land is owned by the Federal Government, and 60 percent
of that is managed by the BLM. So our relationship with the
Federal Government, particularly the Department of the
Interior, is crucial to how we manage and develop our land in
our state and make sure that everybody has an opportunity to
thrive in the State of Nevada.
So the first question I have for you--as you well know, we
talked about this--the Las Vegas Valley in Clark County is home
to nearly two million people, and it is growing. The valley is
essentially land locked by Interior Department-managed lands,
and the BLM is the manager of hundreds of small parcels
throughout the metropolitan area there. In order for mundane
city management actions to occur, it often requires
collaboration with federal land managers. In order to ensure
local land management needs are being met and to support our
local government facilitating a growing population and economic
diversification efforts, the Interior Department must be
focused and be a present partner. It will require BLM to
prioritize permitting and realty applications. It will require
greater alignment between BLM and state and local governments
on renewable energy and transmission siting. It will require
prioritizing the distribution of funds from the Southern Nevada
Public Land Management Act's special account for regional
conservation and environmental enhancement projects, among
other priorities. Mr. Beaudreau, can I have your commitment
that you will prioritize efficient land management and greater
collaboration in Southern Nevada with all of the key
stakeholders and leaders there?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you very much. And again, thank
you for taking some time to visit with me in advance of the
hearing.
I look forward to, with your consent, rejoining the
Interior Department. In my previous roles in the Department, I
worked very hard and very closely with the BLM on the full
range of issues facing Nevada that you describe and,
absolutely, I'm committed to continuing that work and would
look forward to doing so.
Senator Cortez Masto. Wonderful.
The other area or component that is important for us in
Nevada involves critical mineral development. Outside of a few
domestic mines, including our nation's only lithium mine exists
in the State of Nevada, critical minerals are produced outside
of the country. Our country has a very small critical mineral
supply chain industry, and we rely heavily on foreign countries
for procurement, processing, and manufacturing of these
materials. What do you see as the Interior Department's role in
fostering the development of a domestic critical mineral supply
chain?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thanks very much.
Critical minerals are, I mean, they're well named, right?
It's essential to not only unlocking the renewable energy
potential and the future clean energy economy that President
Biden and Secretary Haaland seek to build, it is also essential
to driving technological innovation where the United States is
a leader and needs to continue to be. So I look forward, if I'm
confirmed, to continuing to work on the Interior Department's
role in overseeing hard rock mining, including with respect to
critical minerals to ensure that those resources would be
responsibly developed, but also, especially in an
environmentally sensitive way and in a way that is considerate
of and avoids impacts to cultural and historic resources.
Senator Cortez Masto. Great, thank you.
And then, let me touch on one other area: wildfire
prevention, suppression, and restoration. We have seen the
devastating impact of wildfires in our state. Most of that is
rangeland and wildland urban interface areas where the fires
have occurred. And key to that prevention, suppression, and
restoration is collaboration amongst the federal agencies, not
just with our state and local government leaders but with
private ranchers and individuals that can really be good, great
partners in not only helping to prevent and suppress but
restoring the land after a fire. So if confirmed, would you
commit to a greater amount of prevention, suppression, and
restoration resources to the rangeland and wildland urban
interface areas?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you.
Wildfire, especially in the American West, I mean, we used
to talk about wildfire seasons, and even that concept is
becoming a difficult one given the expanded and, you know,
greater intensity of wildfire across the American West. And so
yes, I couldn't agree more that all-hands-on deck, all
partnerships need to be brought to bear on meeting that
challenge.
Senator Cortez Masto. Mr. Beaudreau, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
Now we have Senator Lankford.
Senator Lankford. Chairman, thank you very much.
Mr. Beaudreau, good to see you again. Thanks for our
conversation before to be able to go through some issues here.
I need to just provide a little bit of clarity here for the
public record. Do you believe that on federal lands we should
be able to use federal lands to explore for critical minerals,
rare earth minerals, and any other mineral that may be there
for the public good?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you for that question.
The answer is yes, subject to the environmental and
cultural, historic safeguards that we've talked about.
Senator Lankford. Right, are those anything different than
what has existed in the past? Do you feel like those have not
been honored in the recent days?
Mr. Beaudreau. So, again, not being in the Department yet,
if I'm confirmed, I do think it is essential, as I mentioned in
my opening statement, that with respect to, you know, the full
range of responsibilities that the Federal Government has and
the Interior Department has, I do think we need to do better
relative to Indian Country around issues of consultation and
respect for tribal sovereignty and self-determination, and that
will have a role, again, across all of the Interior
Department's responsibilities, including with respect to hard
rock mining.
Senator Lankford. I would agree on that as well. Several of
the tribes have asked, very point blank, is this new
Administration going to step in and going to prevent us on
tribal lands from being able to explore for energy? You and I
have spoken before about the Osage Nation and their Minerals
Council and the challenges they have had with DOI since 2014,
that the rules were changed, they cannot get access to land
records without doing a FOIA request and is dramatically slowed
the process for energy development there based on that demand
for a FOIA request which was unusual, to say the least, and
unique to them. Is that something you would be willing to be
able to explore when you get there, why that is happening and
how that could be expedited?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, and thank you for raising that issue,
and we talked a little bit about it earlier this week in our
meeting. I'm not familiar with it, but, absolutely, I will look
into that if I'm confirmed and join the Department.
Senator Lankford. That would be great. Thank you.
The McGirt decision in the Supreme Court, obviously, is
significant for all tribes, but especially for Five Tribes in
Oklahoma, in particular. That particular decision was a
criminal decision, is that correct, based on your
interpretation of the reading of that law, of the, actually it
was passed by the Supreme Court?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, the specific controversy at issue in
the McGirt decision had to do with criminal jurisdiction.
Senator Lankford. Do you have a sense that McGirt decision
from the Supreme Court changed the authorities that the
Department of the Interior has in that area based on the
decision that the court came down with?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you. So, as you know, the McGirt
decision was heralded across the country and especially in
Indian Country for representing a powerful acknowledgement by
the Supreme Court of the Federal Government's trust and treaty
responsibilities. I have not undertaken a, you know, a review
of that decision in the context of the Interior Department's
authorities but, if confirmed, I look forward to doing so.
Senator Lankford. Yes, I look forward to that conversation.
Obviously, the Department of the Interior has already reached
out and started the process of changing their authorities based
on the McGirt decision, and we are trying to explore what does
that mean, and where is that coming from, and where is the
consultation with the tribes and with the state, and is that
still occurring? Tribes will need engagement from the
Department of the Interior in this transition. Is this
something the Department of the Interior would continue to be
able to engage with tribes as they ask questions, as they try
to be able to deal with the decisions on the McGirt decision as
well?
Mr. Beaudreau. Absolutely, that is, as Secretary Haaland
has said very clearly, that is one of this Administration's top
priorities.
Senator Lankford. Mr. Beaudreau, we have 2.6 million miles
of pipeline in the ground right now across the country, and
some people think pipelines are new or rare. We have 2.6
million miles of pipeline across the country. Do you think
existing pipeline owners should be able to have access to the
right of way to be able to inspect, to be able to repair, to be
able to do what they need to on that existing pipeline in the
ground?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you.
As a general matter, pipeline operations have
responsibilities for the maintenance and oversight of pipelines
in order to ensure they're safely operated and, among other
things, controlling potential fugitive emissions. Each
circumstance, obviously, is unique; it needs to be considered
on its own merits, but, yes, the maintenance of pipelines for
safety and environmental purposes is important.
Senator Lankford. Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, I will submit one more question for the
record dealing with the Endangered Species that will be
important to all of us as well, but thank you for your
testimony.
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Senator Murkowski.
Senator Murkowski. Mr. Chairman, thank you. Mr. Beaudreau,
welcome, it is good to see you before the Committee again. I,
too, want to acknowledge Sam Fowler a little. There he is back
there. Sam, 30 years, you have not only been advising me, but
you have been advising other Murkowskis, and I think Mr.
Beaudreau probably has had the benefit of your guidance and
wisdom as well. So thank you for your years of dedication.
So a couple of things, and I do appreciate our conversation
on the phone. It is important that we get updated here.
We have used the expression in Alaska that the Department
of the Interior is our landlord. Under the Trump
Administration, I really felt like the Federal Government went
from landlord status to more of a partner status. Right now, I
am not feeling that same partner status. I am starting to feel
more like a tenant to the Department of the Interior's
landlord. And so, I want to get back to that partnership, and I
think that you can be one that can help us do that. You have
had experience in Alaska. You know and understand the value of
development of our public lands recognizing the very special
nature of them, but also the great contribution that these
resources can provide to us all.
So I am hoping that as you move forward, I am assuming you
will make it through this process and become confirmed, but my
hope is that you will see that some of the very directed
initiatives that have, kind of, come out of the Administration
in the very early days, these Executive orders, seven of them,
were directly targeted toward Alaska, called us out. Folks back
home are looking at this as a significant threat to our
responsible resource development in the state.
I guess I would just like for you to state on the record
what will your approach be to responsible oil, gas, and mineral
resource development on public lands, particularly in Alaska
and then, more specific, if you could detail for me your
understanding as to the impact on a state like Alaska when you
have a pause or a halt for two years on permitting, drilling,
or development of existing leases and here the code to you is
Willow, recognizing and understanding what that means to delay
a project like Willow that has been decades in the process
through multiple Administrations beginning with the Obama
Administration, but again, allowing for a couple thousand
construction jobs, considerable resources, not only to the
State of Alaska but to the Federal Treasury and to those
contributions. So it is a wide-ranging question, but I would
like your response here.
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you very much, Senator Murkowski, and
thank you for welcoming me back to the Committee.
We've worked together a lot over the years, including
during the Obama Administration, and fundamental to that
working relationship between the Department, the State of
Alaska and the Department, and the Alaskan delegation has been,
in my view, transparency, honesty, and good communication. I
will say some of the most harrowing experiences of my career
have been sitting in your office and talking about issues that
I know we had a difference of opinion on. I managed to come out
of each of those meetings with all of my limbs which I was
thankful for, but I'm also thankful for a number of times,
including in the Obama Administration, when we were able to
work together and come up with solutions that were good for the
state, good for the United States, and good for the Interior
Department, and it was one of my proudest moments to come to
your office and let you know that the President and Secretary
Jewell were restoring the name of Denali in advance of
President Obama's trip to the state.
So that's a long way of saying I have a deep appreciation
for how important energy development is for the state, and I
also have a deep appreciation for how important close work with
the state, state officials, local communities, Alaska Natives,
and this delegation represented on the Committee is. I'm
pleased to say that I've started having these conversations
again with a host of folks, including the Alaska Federation of
Natives, and I look forward to taking those relationships and
conversations forward.
Senator Murkowski. As you point out, we have a lot to do.
We are certainly still trying to provide for a level of
environmental justice, if you will, to the good people of King
Cove after these many years trying to get a simple road to be
able to access a lifesaving runway over in Cold Bay. We need
you to be working with us on these PLOs, the withdrawal that,
again, I think, was not only extraordinarily unfortunate and
short-sighted when that decision was made just a couple months
ago. But again, the impact to our Alaska Native veterans who
have been waiting decades now to be able to select their Native
allotments and who are now facing yet even more delay due to
the actions of the Administration with regards to these
withdrawals. So we have a lot of work to do to help a lot of
people, and I am looking forward to moving quickly to resolve
some of these long-standing issues.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
And now, Senator Daines.
Senator Daines. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Beaudreau,
welcome.
As you know, Montana is home to hundreds of wildlife
species, several of which are either endangered or threatened.
Unfortunately, the Endangered Species program is broken. If you
look at the data, less than four percent of species listed have
ever recovered. Due to litigation, in fact, like the 2015
Cottonwood case and the recent Grizzly Bear lawsuit, our
limited resources are not always going to species that need it
most. And more often than not, landowners view ESA decisions as
punitive, heavy-handed which can actually hinder conservation
efforts. One sage Montanan said the Endangered Species Act
(ESA) is like a 40-year-old ranch pickup. It once served a
useful purpose, but it is in bad need of repair. The Endangered
Species program is broken, and what areas would you prioritize
for improving, if you are confirmed?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thanks very much.
The Endangered Species Act has been a really powerful tool
for wildlife and habitat conservation. And so, I believe,
overall, the Endangered Species Act has been a tremendous
success story. It has recovered, as you know, species like the
Bald Eagle and has been very effective in protecting habitat.
In terms of implementation of the Endangered Species Act going
forward, if I'm confirmed, I bring the same principles to bear
that I always have while at the Interior Department, and that
is to be grounded in the science first and foremost and to work
closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service as well as state
wildlife agencies to ensure that species recover, are
resilient, and can be success stories under the ESA.
Senator Daines. Mr. Beaudreau, you brought up a good point
around working with the states, and I think about Montanans,
and nobody cares more about protecting Montana wildlife than
Montanans, and we have seen that in the unprecedented
investment in sage grouse conservation throughout the State of
Montana. However, I am worried that if we do not adequately
consider the state efforts in listing decisions and allow time
to determine effectiveness, we might discourage future
conservation and have an unintended consequence. Do you believe
that states should be afforded time to play out, and should
these efforts and plans be considered in listing decisions?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thanks very much.
As, you know, during the Obama Administration we worked
under Secretary Jewell's leadership, extremely hard with the
Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, the
Forest Service, and, especially, the states to develop plans
for sage grouse and sage grouse habitat conservation. The
states are critical to continuing with the conservation efforts
for the benefit of the sage grouse, and so, to answer your
question, absolutely, the states and state wildlife plans are
essential to sage grouse conservation. It's an unlisted
species.
Senator Daines. Thank you, Mr. Beaudreau.
Last month, the Fish and Wildlife Service determined that
two, two grizzly bear populations in Montana had biologically
recovered. Tragically, just a few weeks ago, we lost another
Montanan to a grizzly bear mauling, just north of West
Yellowstone. If confirmed, when wildlife populations or the
population segments do meet the recovery criteria, would you
support delisting the species and returning it to state
management?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thanks very much.
I have to return to those fundamental principles about
being guided by the science, working closely with the Service,
and understanding what the outlook is, both in terms of
recovery and management and resiliency for the species. And so,
I can commit to you that if confirmed and I join the
Department, I will do all of that, you know, including with
respect to the grizzly.
Senator Daines. Thank you, Mr. Beaudreau.
Another topic I want to talk about is the net zero carbon
emissions the Biden Administration has set by 2050, that goal.
Healthy forests, we believe out in Montana, are a fantastic way
to store carbon, but Montana is one of seven states with
forests that actually emit more carbon than they are storing.
This is largely due to dying tree stands and massive reduction
in wood products coming out of Montana. When I was a kid
growing up there, we had 30 active sawmills. Today we are down
to seven. The biggest issue has been not being able to get
access to timber on public lands. Our carbon sequestration was
actually the highest in the 1990s when timber harvests were
much higher.
My question, Mr. Beaudreau, is do you believe that
increasing the scale of forest management should be a component
of reducing our carbon emissions?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, thank you very much.
It is my view that there are forest management practices
grounded in science that can be very effective in not only
providing for sustained yield from timber on public lands but
also improving the quality of forests as carbon sinks. This
will be a major priority. It already is for the Interior
Department, and, if confirmed, I look forward to becoming
involved in those issues again.
Senator Daines. Last, before I comment, I'll be done, Mr.
Chairman.
I am working to reintroduce a very bipartisan forestry bill
with Senator Feinstein like we talked about on the call earlier
this week. It would seek to really take that issue head on as
California has faced catastrophic wildfires, as many of us
across the West have, including my colleague to my left from
Alaska, Senator Murkowski. Would you commit to work with us to
help get a critical bill like that across the finish line?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, if confirmed, I would look forward to
reviewing that legislation and as the Interior Department is
very good at doing, providing any input and our thoughts on
that legislation.
Senator Daines. Thank you, Mr. Beaudreau.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Cassidy.
Senator Cassidy. Yes, sir. Thank you.
I thank you, sir and thank you for your answers. Sometimes
these nominees come in so coached you end up with nothing to
think about except that they do not know how to answer a
question. So I thank you for your, kind of, thoughtful
responses. And I also thank you because it is clear that you
are using science to, kind of, guide your decisions. I cannot
help but note that when the President revoked the cross-border
permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, an Obama Administration
State Department report said, revoking such a permit would
actually increase global greenhouse gas emissions. And I just
say that, to, kind of, in context.
We spoke, you have spoken already of the halt to the new
lease scene on the Outer Continental Shelf. I am from
Louisiana. Despite the EIA science saying that in 2019 methane
emissions in federal waters accounted for roughly 2.5 percent
of nationwide emissions while the Gulf accounted for 17 percent
of nationwide production, and I am not quite sure the rationale
of why they shut down the new leasing. Any thoughts about that?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thanks very much.
You know, obviously, I'm not at the Interior Department yet
and haven't been part of the review or internal discussions
about how the review is proceeding. As I've spoken about before
though, I think, the federal oil and gas programs, as
administered by the Interior Department, ought to undergo a
periodic review in order to understand----
Senator Cassidy. Now, let me ask, let me ask, sir, because,
again, you have been very straightforward, and I understand you
are not in a position, and, by the way, I appreciate your dad
worked on that pipeline. A lot of people from Louisiana did as
well, and it just provides great jobs. You know that. My
concern is the fact that they ignore the science on the
Keystone XL pipeline that suggests that it is a politically
motivated halt and that it is not just a temporary halt, but it
evolves into something which will be permanent despite the
science now saying that the ratio of emissions to the amount of
production is the lowest in the world, if not the lowest, one
of the lowest in the world.
I ask you, are you aware, and I know you are, but this is
for the record, that when you inject uncertainty into a leasing
process that not just those who lease, but all the oil fields
service industries, it stills investment, and those jobs that
would normally be created begin to be shed because of the
uncertainty. Is there any way that those involved in
development of the Outer Continental Shelf should not receive
this pause as creating uncertainty?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you.
Again, not being at the Department I haven't been part of
these conversations, but I have seen what Secretary Haaland,
for example, has said about the review, and, during the
roundtable that the Secretary convened, I think, what's very
clear about the purpose of the review and the desire to have
everybody at the table as part of it, including the offshore
industry. And so, I appreciate very much your question. I
appreciate very much the points about uncertainty, but I also
have faith in the Secretary's statements about the purpose of
the review, the intent of the review, and the desire to have it
take into account all perspectives, including the regulated
communities.
Senator Cassidy. Let me ask you, again, just for the
record. We have had testimony from others on this Committee
before that developing, that producing oil and gas in the
United States for domestic consumption has a lower greenhouse
gas profile than if we import from elsewhere, if only because
of the cost, the emissions profile of the transportation
vessels which bring it here that is ignoring the ecologic
impact of some countries having poor regulatory standards than
we. Would you agree with that assessment?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thanks very much.
I agree that as part of the review and, again, I'm not part
of the review yet, but with the Committee's consent, and, if
I'm confirmed and become part of it, I agree that the entire
set of information, including what you've described needs to be
considered in plotting the path forward for the Interior
Department's oil and gas programs, including with respect to
offshore.
Senator Cassidy. And so, one more question, but I am out of
time. I yield, sir, and I thank you for your commitment to
serve our country.
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you, Senator.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Hirono.
Senator Hirono. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Beaudreau, I ask every nominee on all of the committees
I sit on the following two preliminary questions.
The first question, since you became a legal adult, have
you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed
any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual
nature?
Mr. Beaudreau. No.
Senator Hirono. Second question, have you ever faced
discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of
conduct?
Mr. Beaudreau. No.
Senator Hirono. When I spoke with Secretary Haaland ahead
of her confirmation hearing, we discussed the unique importance
of Hawaii's indigenous Native Hawaiian community, and I look
forward to working with you and the rest of the Department as
you work to support this community. So of course I would invite
you to come to Hawaii so that you can meet with some of our
Native Hawaiian leaders and come to an understanding of the
uniqueness of the indigenous people of Hawaii.
The other thing----
Mr. Beaudreau. I absolutely accept that invitation.
Senator Hirono. Great.
[Laughter.]
Senator Hirono. What is not to like about coming to Hawaii?
The United States enjoys unique and mutually beneficial
relationships with the independent nations of the Republic of
the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and
the Republic of Palau. These nations are governed by compacts
of, the relations as you say, are governed by compacts of free
association, which promote U.S. national security interests
while bolstering our alliances and aid and the development of
these nations. Economic assistance provisions of the compacts,
which are administered by the Department of the Interior, are
set to expire in 2023 and 2024. Clearly these compacts are
vital to our national interest, and I would like our country to
do more to support these nations.
So, if confirmed, will the Department provide my office and
the Committee with regular updates on compact negotiations,
especially with the view of what more we can be doing to
support these nations?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you very much for that question.
Among the most important responsibilities that the Interior
Department and the Secretary have are with respect to the U.S.
territories and the freely associated states subject to those
compacts. And so, absolutely, I believe it is extremely
important to make sure that those relationships are supported,
healthy, and that the compacts are fully well negotiated and
work for the communities who, among other things, and we'll
have these conversations as well, are, you know, on the front
lines of issues like climate change and the potential for
inundation. And so, we have, Senator, a lot of work to do, and
I look forward to that.
Senator Hirono. Thank you, because they do face some unique
challenges, and it took me years to enable the COFA citizens to
become eligible for Medicaid coverage--and that is not within
your ``ko'ehana,'' as we say in Hawaiian--but these are the
kinds of ways that we can be helpful to our COFA citizen
friends.
I think I have more time. So another issue that I would
like to highlight is the importance of protecting Hawaii's
native species. As this month is national Native Plant Month,
it is important to note how Hawaii's native species, like the
Ohi'a, are under continual threat. As the Department works to
implement President Biden's conservation initiatives, like
protecting 30 percent of land and water by 2030, outreach to
local communities is crucial to ensure that efforts can be
successfully implemented on the ground. I would like to be able
to count on your Department to work with me and the
stakeholders in Hawaii on advancing efforts to protect our
native and endangered species, because we have more endangered
species than any other state. We also have, well, let us just
say that we want to have your assistance in protecting our
native and endangered species.
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, thank you, Senator.
If confirmed, absolutely and I do have an appreciation for
the vulnerability of Hawaii's native species to a host of
threats including invasive species. And so, yes, and we also
have a lot of work to do together on those issues.
Senator Hirono. Thank you for understanding the nature of
our fauna, because we are also the invasive species capital of
our country.
I think I have a little bit of time left. The U.S.
Geological Survey's monitoring of volcanoes is very important
to Hawaii. The Lava Lake at Kilauea has been filling up over
the past couple of months, and scientists are closely watching
Mauna Loa. USGS is also in the process of building a new
volcano observatory in Hawaii, as the old one was destroyed by
the 2018 Kilauea eruption. I appreciate that the Department has
been providing me with regular updates on the rebuilding of the
observatory in Hawaii and ask that USGS continue to provide
these updates.
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you. I'd look forward to working
with USGS on exactly that. Their seismology and volcanology
programs are, among other things, just really cool.
Senator Barrasso [presiding]. Thank you, Senator Hirono.
Senator Hirono. Thank you.
Senator Barrasso. Thank you, Senator Hirono.
Senator Lee.
Senator Lee. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Beaudreau, the Antiquities Act states regarding
national monuments that, ``the limits of the parcel should be
confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care
and management of the objects to be protected.'' Do you believe
that the national monuments designated by President Obama,
including the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, adhered to
that limitation?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes.
Senator Lee. Now, to be clear, every time the Antiquities
Act is used to designate a monument, every acre of that
monument becomes restricted, significantly restricted in its
use. That means constituents in my state are restricted from
certain types of use on every acre. So when designating the
Bears Ears National Monument, were the objects to be protected
identified on each and every one of the 1.35 million acres, an
area nearly as large as the State of Delaware?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you very much.
As reflected in the proclamation by President Obama, there
is very, sort of, thorough description of the basis for the
designation and the objects that were covered by the
designation. Obviously, as with all monuments, part of the
implementation of the management of the monument is the
development of the management plan and participation in the
governance and, you know, as I think you're aware, Senator,
part of the innovations around the Bears Ears Monument were to
provide for a very inclusive mechanism for participation in the
management of the monument for exactly those reasons.
Senator Lee. But just to be clear, there was no inventory
doing what I just described, identifying the objects to be
protected in every one of the 1.35 million acres.
Mr. Beaudreau. So, respectfully, there is a huge body of
evidence supporting the monument designation, including the
resources within the monument to be protected.
Senator Lee. Right. I would note here that there is a
significant difference between conclusory assertions and
specifications, specifications of the sort required by the
Antiquities Act were required or Presidents are required to
make sure that monuments designated under that Act are confined
to the smallest area compatible.
For the record, do you acknowledge that you will uphold the
fact that it is, in fact, the policy of the United States that
public lands be managed in a manner that recognizes the
nation's need for domestic resources for domestic sources of
minerals, food and timber, and fiber from the public lands,
including the implementation of the Mining and Minerals Policy
Act of 1970, as it pertains to public lands?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you for that question, and, yes,
if I'm confirmed and once again, you know, work with public
land managers, including those at the Bureau of Land
Management, we will work consistent with the law on multiple-
use and sustained yield.
Senator Lee. Okay, thank you.
Do you believe that public lands, federal public lands
should be managed according to the multiple-use principles that
allow for activities like grazing, mining, and energy
extraction?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, consistent with the broad mandate under
FLPMA, you know, the Bureau of Land Management, in my view and
if I'm confirmed, will continue operating under the principles
of multiple-use and sustained yield.
Senator Lee. Do you believe President Biden's directive to
halt oil and gas leasing is compatible with that statute?
Mr. Beaudreau. And again, I'm not in the Administration
yet, but my understanding from the Executive Order is to pause
oil and gas new leasing in order to allow for a broad review of
the federal oil and gas leasing program which Secretary Haaland
has initiated and made clear is intended to be an inclusive,
comprehensive process for the review of that program and if
confirmed, I'd----
Senator Lee.--As it is written in federal regulations,
implementing them do, in fact, require regular leases to be
done. I am not aware of anything in the applicable legislation
and regulatory framework that allows those simply to be
suspended.
But in the brief time I have left, I want to point out,
livestock producers in the West are fighting for space on the
range every day. In my state we are talking about approximately
5,700 wild horses and burros, while the appropriate management
level calls for there to be only 1,900. It is about three times
the acceptable limit, the acceptable amount. So tell me how
will you work to preserve the ability of producers to be able
to operate and reduce horse and burro populations on the range?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thanks very much for that question.
I'm looking forward to becoming involved in a host of
issues, again, if I return to the Interior Department. I can't
say wild horse and burros is my favorite issue. I appreciate
how challenging it is and, yes, absolutely, Senator, I look
forward to continuing to work with everybody, including you, on
figuring out solutions because it is a massive challenge for
the Department and BLM.
Senator Lee. I appreciate that commitment, sir, and I would
point out here, I understand regardless whether it is your
favorite issue or regardless of whether it is an issue that
gets a lot of attention from a lot of people. In many of the
communities I represent, this is everything to them, and this
could mean the difference between their survival or their non-
survival. This can mean the difference between whether they are
able to make a living or not. So we are at the mercy,
especially in federal public land states like mine, where the
Federal Government owns 67 percent of the land, we are at your
mercy. So I appreciate your commitment to this and hope you
will make it a priority. Thank you.
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, thank you, Senator.
And please, I, by no means, meant to minimize the issue. I
just was remarking on how difficult it is. And so, and so thank
you for the question.
Senator Lee. Thank you. I appreciate that.
The Chairman [presiding]. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Hickenlooper.
Senator Hickenlooper, are you there? It is that little
button, John, over on the left that says, unmute. He must not,
we must have lost him.
[Laughter.]
Senator Hickenlooper. I am here.
The Chairman. Oh, there. I knew it. I knew it. Thanks.
Senator Hickenlooper.
Senator Hickenlooper. My phone is going off.
The Chairman. He is the only scientist we have in the whole
Senate. Sometimes it gets challenging.
[Laughter.]
Senator Hickenlooper. Thank you for the opportunity to ask
Mr. Beaudreau a question. I can really just ask one question. I
was so impressed the last couple years when Sally Jewell was
the Secretary of the Interior, during the Obama Administration.
I was the Governor of Colorado. But you were able to bring all
the Republican and Democratic Governors together. You were able
to help find ways to bring together ranchers and the oil and
gas industry and the environmental community and the outdoor
recreationists. I mean, things like the sage grouse plan were
monumental efforts of collaborative results where things got
done.
What is the magic? How do you do that? And do you think you
can do that now?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thank you very much, Senator.
I think, in part, it's, and we've talked about this a
little bit, and it's part of what I appreciate about this
Committee, in particular. I think when you go out West there's,
obviously, you know, there's politics and there's, you know,
noise, but at the end of the day, especially among the Western
Governors, because of the commonality of the challenges and
issues, there's actually a lot more collaboration and work that
gets done. And your leadership when you were Governor of
Colorado was key to all of that. And while, you know, like any
family we have our differences and quarrels along the way,
again, part of what I've always appreciated about this
Committee is there is that, sort of, Western spirit of working
together, and at the end of the day I think that's the key.
Senator Hickenlooper. Great. And that is--I have more time,
and I realize everybody else has more questions, so I will
yield my time back, but I think that is one of the key
questions in looking at this position. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
And now we have Senator Risch.
Senator Risch. Well, thank you very much. First of all, Mr.
Beaudreau, thank you for taking the time to speak with me, and
we had a really good discussion. As I pointed out, I am one of
the Western states where the Federal Government owns two-thirds
of us, and it is a struggle, as always. And so, I appreciate
your view of the importance of collaborating with the
Governors, with the constituents in the state, as you manage
the state.
I supported you in your nomination for Assistant Secretary
in 2014. I was not disappointed, and I will be supporting your
nomination again. I think you are the right guy for the job.
And what I really appreciate is the collaboration and the
willingness to listen to us when it comes to decision time
before you actually make the decision. So thank you for your
willingness to serve. Look forward to working with you.
I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
Now we have Senator Hoeven.
Senator Hoeven. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate it.
Mr. Beaudreau, thanks for visiting the other day, I
appreciate your time and, of course, for being here today. I am
concerned about the Administration's moratorium on oil and gas
leasing on federal lands. Isn't there a value in resuming
scheduled lease sales while Interior conducts its review so
that we can fully realize the resulting job creation and
revenue benefits? And as you know, you know, we are talking
many, many, many millions of dollars in revenue, to the Federal
Government, to the states, to the counties.
Mr. Beaudreau. Thanks for that question.
Obviously, I'm not part of the Department yet and haven't
been involved in those conversations. If I join the Department,
with your consent, I do look forward to participating in the
review. I think, you know, part of the idea is to ensure that
leasing has the benefit of input into that review. You know,
I've heard the Secretary talk about, you know, oil and gas
remaining part of the United States energy mix for the
foreseeable future, and I think part of the idea with the
review, as I understand it, is to make sure that one, we're
doing our best on a host of issues, including fair return to
the taxpayer and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but two,
ensuring that the program benefits from all of the input that's
coming through the review.
Senator Hoeven. Will you come out to our state and see the
kind of energy development we are doing on federal lands so we
can show you that we can do it well and with good environmental
stewardship?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, I'd commit to that, sir.
Senator Hoeven. Will you commit, in regard to the Dakota
Access Pipeline, if confirmed, will you commit to ensuring the
Department reviews the EIS objectively and in a prompt manner?
Mr. Beaudreau. Thanks very much for the question.
Obviously, you know, the permitting decision rests with the
Army Corps in that case, but because of the Interior
Department's, sort of, unique position and role relative to
Indian Country, I know they'll be a lot of communication with
the Department, and I look forward to ensuring that all of
those views are fairly communicated into the permitting process
before the Army Corps.
Senator Hoeven. In our Theodore Roosevelt National Park we
are doing substantial maintenance including to the scenic loop
which we have had great cooperation from both the Departments
of Transportation and Interior, and that work is now in
process. Will you commit to work with us to get that done
expeditiously?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, I think--and we spoke a little bit
about this in our conversation this week. I think part of what
is really exciting about the American Great Outdoor Act is, you
know, these opportunities to invest in the National Park
system, and I do look forward to working with you and talking
about the needs of Teddy Roosevelt.
Senator Hoeven. The Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water
Supply Project is one that we have worked very hard to get
approved and so forth and vitally important for water in the
eastern part of the state, River Valley--Grand Forks, that
area, which is growing rapidly. Will you work with my office
and our state to ensure that these projects are adequately
funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, consistent with federal
responsibilities under the Dakota Water Resource Act?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, thanks very much for the question. If
confirmed, absolutely look forward to ensuring that vital water
infrastructure is, you know, provided for.
Senator Hoeven. In regard to Indian affairs, five tribes
are located either fully or partially within North Dakota, and,
you know, I served as Chairman of the Indian Affairs
Commission, and I guess, just, I would say, want to make sure
that you are willing to work with us on issues that the tribes
face and making sure that we uphold our trust and treaty
responsibilities to the tribes, and I'd just like you to
address that and your commitment to doing that.
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, and I'm quite sure Secretary Haaland
will have the highest expectations of all of us to do exactly
that.
Senator Hoeven. Again, I want to thank you for visiting the
other day, taking significant time to do that and for being
here today. I appreciate it.
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, thank you, sir.
The Chairman. Senator Marshall.
Senator Marshall. Thank you, Chairman, and welcome, Mr.
Beaudreau.
I think I want to start by talking about 30/30, and of
course, I wish I had more details, but I just want to make sure
that we are on the same page. Do you recognize that private
property is protected by the Constitution and is really a
foundation of every right we have, and as we put that into
context here, I am just very concerned about private property
being seized or being taken out of production. I wish you could
tell me what 30/30 means and the direction that you would take
the Department if given the opportunity, but I think the real
question, that I think you could answer, is the economic impact
of taking productive farm or grazing land out of production. So
Kansas is only about 3 percent of the land is in parks, so to
speak, the other 97 percent is in private hands and production.
What do you think the economic impact would be of taking 30
percent of the farmland out of production to rural America and
to this nation?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you very much.
Obviously, I'm not part of the Administration yet but, if
confirmed, look forward to becoming involved in the 30 by 30
conservation initiative. My understanding, and I think
Secretary Haaland has been very clear, that 30 by 30 is meant
to be an inclusive approach to comprehensive conservation which
includes where, you know, you have willing private parties'
participation from private landowners in conservation. We've
seen great examples of that, you know, earlier, you know,
speaking with Senator King about the Katahdin Woods and Waters
National Monument. That was a donation by the Quimby family to
the Federal Government to establish a national monument for the
purpose of conservation. That was voluntary. That is, you know,
private landowner thinking through what she thought was best
for that land.
And so, I fully respect private property and the rights of
landowners over their private property, and where a landowner
wants to be, use that land for conservation, I think there
should be avenues by which to do that.
Senator Marshall. Certainly I am in favor of voluntary
conservation, too, but I just want you to hopefully acknowledge
the economic impact of even of what you described. I am not
sure what that land was in, but even permanent easements of
land that was being used for cattle grazing or was being used
for agriculture, turning it into a voluntary easement certainly
hurts the local economy, and the idea of taking 30 percent of
Kansas farmland and pasture land out of production would
literally ruin the Kansas economy.
Let us move on to invasive species and endangered species.
I think we can talk about them in the same context and just,
kind of, get your philosophy. I think of these challenges
together and former member of the Wildlife and Parks Board
there in Kansas. I have seen these two interact constantly, and
I think the lesser prairie chicken is a great example that the
successes of bringing that species back, including burning
pasture which would get rid of invasive species, maybe cattle
grazing, helping to manage the invasive species, but the
greatest success I have seen is private landowners working in
conjunction with the government as opposed to all the
government grant projects have been miserable failures.
How do you feel the interaction should be between the
private property owners and the government in managing invasive
species and endangered species?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, thank you so much for that question. I
am a big believer in incentivizing conservation on private
lands for the benefit of species and their habitat. And I think
there are a number of examples of that, and especially in
states like Kansas where you don't have a lot of public lands,
it's absolutely essential to wildlife conservation and agree
wholeheartedly with your sentiments on that point.
Senator Marshall. Thank you so much. I yield back,
Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. I have one final question, and
then I know Senator Barrasso has a couple he wants to go over
very quickly.
In a letter to the Committee endorsing your nomination,
former Secretary Jewell credits you with standing up wind
development along the Atlantic seaboard, working to harness the
nation's renewable energy. I think increasing deployment of
renewables on fairly managed lands and waters really makes all
the sense in the world to me. Renewables have come a long way,
but much work needs to be done. The permitting process is still
so extremely slow.
So my question would be, what actions do you think are
needed to increase deployment of renewables on federal lands
and waters and, my second follow-up would be, what role can
geothermal energy play in our energy future, and what more can
be done on public lands to expand that?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yes, I think those are tremendous questions
and just taking offshore wind for example. I know from my
previous work the permitting process, federal permitting
process, is a complex one. There are a host of agencies with
relevant authorities and permitting authority in order to get,
you know, a project like that developed, and then you also
include, you know, the near shore and onshore components with
states. And so, my philosophy on that is there has to be strong
leadership to really drive coordination through the permitting
process and ensure that all the regulatory requirements and
legal requirements are strictly adhered to in the interest of
the defensibility of those permits. But it takes an enormous
amount of leadership, effort, and coordination to make sure
that those projects are permitted in a timely way and properly.
The Chairman. We are going to need your help. We are diving
into that pretty rapidly to find out why, for many, it takes so
long, and looking at all the leases we have and how we can
accelerate that, especially if we are going to maintain our
energy independence, but also be able to reduce the methane and
do so much with the pipelines and everything else we can do,
but a lot of this is very instrumental.
But I appreciate it. We will get into it further. We have
to get you confirmed first, and we will get that done as
quickly as possible.
With that, I turn to Senator Barrasso.
Senator Barrasso. Well, thanks so much, Mr. Chair. Just one
final question, just like you had a final question.
Last year, the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into
law. The law directs the Secretary of the Interior to address
the maintenance backlogs at our national parks, at our wildlife
refuges, our national forests, and at the Bureau of Indian
Education. Well, these maintenance backlog projects are, you
know, funded by federal energy revenues. So if the Department
ends or restricts leasing and production on oil and gas and
coal on federal lands, I think it is going to greatly impact
these revenues, and I wondered how you propose to alternatively
fund these many important and necessary projects?
Mr. Beaudreau. Yeah, thank you for the question. I think,
you know, again, in the context of the review and I'm not there
yet. I look forward to becoming involved in the review. I've
not heard an indication from the Administration or Department
to, you know, end leasing, but rather to conduct a review of
the federal program. And so, I'm excited about, as we've talked
about, I'm excited about Congress' investment in public lands
and addressing the maintenance backlog for the National Park
Service, and I look forward to working, with your consent,
working with the Department to implement that.
Senator Barrasso. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Let me just say, Mr. Beaudreau, it was great
having you today. I think it was a great hearing that we had, a
lot of activity, a lot of questions. You did very well. And I
want to thank your family for attending and welcome them back
anytime. We appreciate all the responsiveness to our questions,
and I think that we had a very good meeting.
Members are going to have until 6:00 p.m. this evening to
submit additional questions for the record.
The Committee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:48 a.m. the committee adjourned.]
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