Political Quotes

“I want to let my colleague from Colorado know that this is an unnecessary amendment, so I would ask Members to oppose it. There already is a lot of built-in notification that does take place. I don't know if my colleague is aware of this or not, but when an expression of interest for leasing is made, the BLM requires that all of the surface owners, wherever this expression of interest for leasing applies to, are notified by mail. Secondly, before a permit is issued, there is another notification to the surface owners of wherever that lease is located. Thirdly, under the NEPA process, before the leases are even issued, the public is notified. I know this amendment talks about notifying everyone within 1 mile. The public notification is a lot broader than just 1 mile, so, actually, current law does more than what this amendment calls for. But there are two different steps, in addition to the public notice, where the surface landowner actually is notified by mail by a good faith effort required by the Bureau of Land Management for Federal lands. On top of all that, Mr. Chairman, I ask opposition for this amendment because it is poorly written. It is ambiguous as to whether it is only applying to Federal lands or is broader and would include tribal lands, private lands, and things way out of the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. But, in any case, even if it would just apply to the Federal lands, it is unnecessary.…”