Dianne Feinstein

I extend heartfelt thanks to you and the subcommittee for providing an additional $4 million for SHPOs in fiscal year 2010.

Thank you Chairwoman Feinstein, Ranking Member Alexander, and members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies for the opportunity to provide testimony.

Consequently, I urge that the item requested here be approved by the subcommittee and included in the bill that is forwarded by the full Appropriations Committee to the floor of the Senate.

I thank you very much. Mr. Tidwell, let me just say that I think this subcommittee is very interested. You are a new Chief. That is always an exciting time.

How dare you to see a more difficult permit process than the State of California has anywhere.

But we have to find out what is the public good and move with the public good.

In California, you get a suit over almost anything.

As far as I know, there is no opposition, which is unusual.

The delays associated with the unprecedented level of review of Sunrise jeopardize the timely completion of a crucial energy infrastructure project for southern California.

If you would give me a specific date, I would appreciate it.

The record of decision would enable construction of a $1.7 billion power line that would put 400 to 500 people to work.

The governor has called Secretary Vilsack twice and the White House once in order to try to get the USFS to act on the project.

This is really a very big deal.

I mean, we know that forest management works if we do it. The question is to do enough of it.

The thing is that you do not have to take the stuff over the mountains.

I think the question is a system that makes some sense economically that can be set up.

I think that is right. I think you hit the nail on the head actually.

I am more concerned about a rational policy for protecting treasured landscapes as we move in appropriate ways to take advantage of renewable energy.

I do intend to follow that.

I was hoping you could go to 40,000 acres.

$26 million for 2011?

I have proposed the Mojave Trails National Monument, and I have endorsed your effort to establish solar study zones.

For me, it really is very fine what you are doing. You are listening. You are taking in arguments.

I want to protect land--see, I view the fact that the reason the Federal Government has land is to conserve it.

I think, with your help, we are prioritizing the importance of bringing habitat conservation planning on the ground in California.