Richard Pombo: “Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has intentionally ignored the…”

“Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has intentionally ignored the direction from the Congress and commitments made to myself on this issue. The Service has been actively seeking and approving land purchases for the Stone Lakes refuge. One documented purchase used CVPIA funds, Land and Water Conservation Funds, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Funds, Packard Foundation grant money, and Stone Lakes environmental grant money. The amounts used for these various sources totaled over $1.9 million. It gets better. When the Director of Fish and Wildlife Service was asked about this, she was not immediately aware of the purchase of land at Stone Lakes. Apparently the regional manager initiated and approved the purchases without consulting her office. This action was in violation of congressional direction, and violated instruction from the director that proposed purchases for this refuge be brought to her attention.”