Norm Dicks

Mr. DICKS

Mr. DICKS. Again, I plead with my friend from Alaska. You have made your case. You have gotten the relief for your constituents. The rangers have been reassigned. Accept victory and don't give us an amendment that would undermine boat safety inspections. That's what this amendment does. Let me read this amendment: No other funds made available by this Act may be used by the Secretary of the Interior to implement or enforce regulations concerning boating and other activities on or relating to waters located within Yukon Charlie National Preserve, including waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Pursuant to section 3(h) of public law, or any other authority.

Mr. DICKS. It's within a national park. Announcement by the Acting Chair

Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DICKS. We have people in the law enforcement area who make mistakes, but we don't get rid of law enforcement. We don't say we're no longer going to protect people, the other people. We go through a process to see what that officer did. I think the gentleman gets the gist.

Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DICKS. I would hope we could clarify this. There seems to be a misunderstanding here. I hope that we can, if my amendment doesn't prevail, that we could try to work together to clarify this before conference.

Mr. DICKS. Again, I ask for support for my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DICKS. I am told that the ability to offer a temporary restraining order is very narrowly drafted. So irreparable harm, that wouldn't do it.

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DICKS. Section 119 exempts from judicial review any final rule of the Secretary of the Interior that delists wolves in Wyoming or the Western Great Lakes States, provided the Fish and Wildlife Service has entered into an agreement with the State for it to manage the wolves. The irony here is that the majority does not trust any action of Secretary Salazar except if it involves the delisting of wolves. The rider undercuts the public's right to petition a Federal court to review an agency's decision and blocks the court's ability to carry out its customer authority to review executive branch decisions. Now, I have been a strong proponent of the re-introduction of the gray wolf into Yellowstone and in other areas. This has been one of the most successful operations in restoring a species that had been nearly wiped out in our country. And today we're seeing all of the benefits of this. So I don't think we should undercut the people's right to go to court if they don't think the agency has done this according to the law. And I have great respect for Secretary Salazar, and I'm sure he would agree with me that there should not be a prohibition on judicial review. And I'd like to yield to the distinguished ranking member for any comments he would have on this.

Mr. DICKS. Again, I ask for support for my amendment. I think it corrects a flaw in this bill. And believe me, there are a lot of flaws. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DICKS. Will the gentlelady yield?

Mr. DICKS. I appreciate that very much. I think the problem is that the State of Wyoming, unlike Idaho and Montana, has not come up with a plan where the State would protect the wolf if it were delisted.

Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DICKS. As I recall, the fact was that Montana and Idaho had plans that would protect the wolves if they were delisted, and then at some point they would take further action if necessary to protect the wolves if too many of them were killed. The problem with Wyoming was Wyoming's plan didn't have credibility. Now I understand that it does. But what the judge was saying is that you have to protect the wolf throughout the area, which included Wyoming. That's why they couldn't delist it without dealing with Wyoming, and Wyoming wasn't ready. So, I hope that Wyoming will come up with a credible plan at the State level to keep the wolf going.

Mr. DICKS. I want to say to the chairman, if you would yield, I also tried to reintroduce the wolf in western Washington, but the chairman of the Interior Committee in the other body disagreed with me.

Mr. DICKS. We'd like to have them.

Mr. DICKS. The Olympics too.

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. DICKS. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DICKS. Section 120 provides that for 2012 through 2014, the movement of livestock across public land shall not be subject to NEPA review. Proponents of this provision will argue that moving cattle from one location to another shouldn't require a NEPA review. However, this movement of cattle can be across wide swaths of public lands and take weeks, not just days. The impact on water, plants and other wildlife species, including bighorn sheep, can be significant. I would like to yield to the ranking member to further discuss this amendment.

Mr. DICKS. I yield back the balance of my time.