Ron Wyden

I believe that the legislation which Senator Bingaman has introduced addresses that issue in part with the kinds of financial sureties that have to be provided for mining operations.

In my view, after decades of taxpayer rip-offs and environmental destruction, it is long past time to reform the 1872 Mining Law.

They ought to have to pay their fair share.

So you believe that as part of royalty reform there should be more openness and more transparency so that the public can actually see how these decisions are made.

The Secretary's letter to Senator Wyden on July 13, 2009, highlights the need for the Administration to conduct formal Government to Government consultation

I couldn't really get your predecessors to look at speculators.

I would just ask that you not miss this kind of opportunity for a bold change in Federal forestry policy.

They need an answer, quickly. That's why we asked for a fast response from the administration.

You have my pledge to work with you if I'm confirmed on all issues, but this is certainly an issue of importance.

Fairly shortly I plan to introduce legislation to move forest management on Federal lands in Oregon beyond a lot of these old conflicts.

I'm very much concerned that we now have the future decisions based on sound science.

I still have an obligation as a United States Senator to get some kind of sense of what's going to be done to go in there and as I told Secretary Salazar to drain the swamp.

I very much appreciate your outstanding background and long history of public service.

It's an opportunity to create good paying jobs that take this wood waste and get it to the mills.

I thank my colleague. Let me join Senator Murkowski in thanking the three of you.

I just hope that this will be approached with a real sense of urgency because it has not been in the past.

I believe you said, yes which I liked.

I plan to offer this legislation pretty soon. Can I have a pledge from you today to get back to us quickly and to work in a cooperative kind of fashion?

If you were standing up in front of a town hall meeting in rural Oregon and you said that.

We will protect the Leap.

Does the company object to adding this sort of provision to the actual legislation?

We need, with respect to making sure we have a complete record.

I think the Arizona Senators, and this subcommittee, have a right to know when we will get the administration's complete comments on the bill.

So, can I take out of this hearing that, I mean, the fall, that sounds like, essentially, 90 days, that we can talk in terms of 90 days.

I still don't understand how an economically depressed community with few resources is going to be able to compete with commercial developers.