Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Senate Western Caucus Chairman Steve Daines (MT) sent a letter urging Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to consider the “Western Conservation Principles” document developed by Members of the Congressional and Senate Western Caucuses as the Department develops the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas, a component of the Administration’s 30x30/America the Beautiful initiative. The letter was submitted as a public comment to the Department. 
 
“Despite reassurances by the Department that the America the Beautiful initiative will be locally-led, science-based, and voluntary, the annual progress report released last month touted several actions that locked up land and dismissed local voices and management needs. We are concerned that the Atlas being developed will be similarly weighted towards preservation – as opposed to effective and active conservation – and infringe upon private property rights,” wrote the Chairmen.
 
In October, Congressional Western Caucus and Senate Western Caucus Members revealed the “Western Conservation Principles” as an alternative to the Biden Administration’s “30 by 30” initiative and subsequent America the Beautiful report. The proposal is a blueprint for responsible, effective conservation supported by rural communities across the United States. Click here to learn about the “Western Conservation Principles.”
 
They concluded, “As Chairmen of the Senate and Congressional Western Caucuses, we believe that conservation is synonymous with our western way of life and should be a unifying issue – but we remain concerned this is not the direction the Administration is headed. We once again urge you to refocus your conservation efforts with the ‘Western Conservation Principles’ in mind, and we welcome further discussion.”
 
Full text of the letter can be found here and below: 
 
Dear Secretary Haaland,  

In response to the Biden Administration’s invitation to submit public comment on the development of an American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas (Atlas) as a component of the America the Beautiful initiative, we write to submit and urge your consideration of the values and direction advocated for in the attached document, “Western Conservation Principles.” 
 
While we appreciate the Department of the Interior is finally holding a public comment period on this initiative, the Administration has yet to provide transparent and substantial information in which to inform comments. Additionally, three virtual listening sessions is insufficient given the scale, scope, and impact of this initiative and the so-called Atlas. We urge you to hold in-person meetings in western states and develop a more formal and transparent process to consult and collaborate with States. 
 
Despite reassurances by the Department that the America the Beautiful initiative will be locally-led, science-based, and voluntary, the annual progress report released last month touted several actions that locked up land and dismissed local voices and management needs. We are concerned that the Atlas being developed will be similarly weighted towards preservation – as opposed to effective and active conservation – and infringe upon private property rights. Furthermore, conservation should not be viewed as a static land designation or status, but instead as actions needed to sustain the health and productivity of lands and resources and to meet the needs of local communities. 
 
We fail to see how an Atlas identifying which lands political leadership believes meet an ambiguous standard will lead to real conservation outcomes and improved land and water health. We also fail to see how an Atlas could possibly encompass ever-changing environmental and human dynamics impacting landscapes. Resources would be better utilized conducting active conservation work such as implementing shovel-ready projects, promoting public-private partnerships, treating forests and lands, and improving permit administration and public access. 
 
As Chairmen of the Senate and Congressional Western Caucuses, we believe that conservation is synonymous with our western way of life and should be a unifying issue – but we remain concerned this is not the direction the Administration is headed. We once again urge you to refocus your conservation efforts with the “Western Conservation Principles” in mind, and we welcome further discussion.