Letter to The Honroable Ken Salazar

Letter

Dear Secretary Salazar,

We write today to reiterate our strong concerns with a memorandum written at the Department of the Interior that seeks to prevent multiple use and lock up landscapes in our state. We recently received copies of the full memorandum and are extremely disappointed to see specific reference to using the land use planning process at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to circumvent congressional intent when it comes to limiting multiple use in Wyoming.

The internal memorandum recognizes that "Congress has limited the President's Authority to designate new national monuments in Wyoming and Alaska." Despite this recognition that Congress dos not approve of restricting multiple use in Wyoming, the document further states, "The BLM therefore proposes that the Administration use the BLM's land use planning process to identify management action, including possible mineral withdrawals...in Wyoming and Alaska."

The language in the document suggests that the Department of the Interior will not work in good faith during the land use planning process in Wyoming. It suggests that the planning process will have a predetermined goal - to lock up federal land and prevent mineral development. Rather than having a predetermined outcome, Western States like Wyoming and Alaska would be better served if you worked with us and the County Commissioners and local representatives in the areas that will be impacted by these designations when you seek to "protect" areas in Wyoming.

We seek your assurance that the Department of the Interior will not engage in any underhanded activities to prohibit multiple use in our state. Congress has made it clear that the Administration cannot simply lock up lands in our state without the support of Congress, and we expect that you will follow Congressional intent on this matter.

Sincerely,

Michael B. Enzi
Unted States Senate

John Barrasso
United States Senate

Cunthia Lummis
United States Congress

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