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Fisheries Resources and Ocean Issues

Bishop Statement on BOEM’s Denial of Six Seismic Permit Applications

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) denied six pending geophysical and geological (G&G) permit applications to conduct seismic surveys in the Atlantic Ocean. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement: “First, Director Hopper told us she doesn’t support leasing until new seismic data is collected. Now she tells us she doesn’t support seismic surveying…

House Passes Bipartisan Poliquin Bill to Strengthen U.S. Seafood Industry

| Posted in Press Release

Today, H.R. 4245 sponsored by Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) passed on suspension by voice vote. H.R. 4245 exempts sea urchins, sea cucumbers and other seafood exports from duplicative federal requirements imposed on buyers and sellers of related products by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). “This is a big win for Maine jobs,” Rep. Poliquin said. “Our…

Members Call Out Administration for Following the Fixed-Pie Fallacy

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a budget oversight hearing to review irresponsible spending and harmful regulation under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Bureau of Reclamation and the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs). Members criticized the Administration for continuing  to curtail…

Bishop: If the President Cared About the Will of the People He Would Reverse Course on WOTUS

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House passed S.J. Res. 22, Congressional Disapproval of the “Waters of the United States” Rule. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) released the following statement: “When 27 states object to an action of the President we know something is wrong. Waters of the United States is the President’s latest unilateral act to extend the power of his Administration beyond constitutional limits.…

Committee Requests Information on Obama Administration's Intentions to Designate or Expand Marine Monuments in Nation's Waters

| Posted in Press Release

Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT), and Reps. John Fleming (R-LA), Don Young (R-AK), and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS) sent a letter today to Council on Environmental Quality Managing Director Christy Goldfuss and Assistant Administrator for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Eileen Sobeck to request further information on the Obama…

Bishop, Fleming, Young and Radewagen Letter to Christy Goldfuss and Eileen Sobeck

| Posted in Letters

TO: Ms. Christy Goldfuss Ms. Eileen Sobeck  FROM: Rob Bishop, Chairman John Fleming Don Young Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen Dear Ms. Goldfuss and Ms. Sobeck: The House Natural Resources Water, Power and Oceans Subcommittee recently held an oversight hearing on the potential designation of marine national monuments, including one off of the coast of New England. We are sending…

Committee Pushes Back on Potential Marine Monument Designations

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the designations of Marine National Monuments, which are unilateral executive actions that usurp established regional fisheries management plans and impose significant economic and environmental impacts regionally and nationwide. In particular, the hearing focused on the threat of Marine National Monument…

Bishop: “You violated the law. Period.”

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a joint hearing with the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Animas River spill, which resulted in 3 million gallons of toxic water spilling into the Animas and San Juan Rivers from Colorado and into New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) questioned EPA…

Bishop: Throwing Salt in the Wound In Latest Water Diversion Decision

| Posted in Press Release

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in response to the Bureau of Reclamation’s latest announcement to flush Trinity River water towards non-listed fish species.  “As California and the West are drying up, the Obama Administration has announced another unjustified water grab that prioritizes fish over people. People out West…

Field Hearing Highlights Draconian Rejection of Science, Local Stakeholder Input with National Park Service’s General Management Plan for Biscayne Bay

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Small Business Committee held a joint field hearing in Homestead, Florida, on the National Park Service’s (NPS) General Management Plan (GMP) for Biscayne National Park released in June 2015.  The GMP, which includes a Marine Reserve Zone (MRZ) that would be closed to all commercial and recreational fishing, conflicts with…