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Thursday U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo) and the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee (Doc Hastings (R-WA)), announced an Oversight Field Hearing entitled, “State and Local Efforts to Protect Species, Jobs, Property and Multiple Use Amidst a New War on the West.”  The hearing is part of a larger effort by Rep. Hastings and Rep. Lummis as co-chairmen of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Working Group to find ways to improve the ESA for both species and people.  The Casper hearing will focus on efforts in Wyoming to preserve wildlife while maintaining good paying jobs in agriculture, energy, and recreation. 

“The ESA was designed to protect some of our nation’s most iconic species.  In some limited respects, it has worked,” Rep. Lummis said. “Unfortunately, it’s also been neglected for the better part of two decades.  Since its inception in 1973, the ESA has had only a 1% success rate.  We can and should do better for both species and people.  Wyoming is in a position to lead the way on a new, 21^st century conservation ethic defined not by courtrooms, but by ground-up consensus.  I am grateful that Chairman Hastings has agreed to come to Casper to hear about the boots-on-the-ground conservation taking place in our state, and to hear directly from people in Wyoming affected by the ESA. “

The two part hearing will be held in Casper, WY and Billings, MT at the following locations and times:

What:      House Natural Resources Committee Oversight Field Hearings on “State and Local Efforts to Protect Species, Jobs, Property, and Multiple Use Amidst a New War on the West”

Attendees:Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA), U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), U.S. Representative Steve Daines (R-MT), other members of the House Natural Resources Committee

Where:    

Part 1: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. MDT, at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 2211 King Blvd., in Casper, Wyoming and

Part 2:  Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. MDT, at Cisel Hall (MSU-Billings) 1500 University Drive, in Billings, Montana.

Hearing is open to the public. Witnesses by invitation only.