"The longer our requests for documentation are avoided, the more evident it seems that these settlement agreements may have been entered in an unscrupulous manner," the Senators wrote in the letter. "We are deeply concerned at the lack of transparency surrounding these ‘sue and settle' agreements and the complete disregard of our requests for documentation and explanation. Both the Committee and the public deserve proper insight into the manner in which these settlement agreements were reached."

Of the 250 listing that could occur as a result of the 2011 closed-door settlements, many could have a significant impact on states and local governments, private property rights, and economic growth.

EPW Republicans have investigated the "sue and settle" technique that the Administration, including the FWS and EPA, has used to advance its environmental agenda, through which far-left environmental groups will sue the federal government claiming that the government is not satisfying its regulatory obligations. Then behind closed doors, the groups and Administration officials will draft a settlement agreement without consulting affected parties. Once a judge approves the settlement, the Administration will move forward with implementing costly regulations that had been privately agreed upon with those far-left environmental groups.

Signing today's letter includes the original requestors, Subcommittee on Oversight Ranking Member Inhofe and Subcommittee on Clean Air Ranking Member Sessions, as well as Subcommittee on Water & Wildlife Ranking Member Boozman.

Click here to read then-Ranking Member Inhofe and Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife Ranking Member Sessions' letter from May 24, 2012.

Click here to read Committee Republicans' follow-up letter on February 28, 2013.

Text of today's letter is below. Click here for the PDF version.

June 26, 2013

The Honorable Daniel M. Ashe
Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240

Dear Director Ashe,

Republican Senators on the Environment and Public Works Committee have sent you two letters over the past year requesting information on the 2011 settlement agreements between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Center for Biological Diversity, and WildEarth Guardians. We are disappointed that you have not responded to our requests and question why the FWS refuses to provide information that promotes transparency and will help the public understand the reasons your agency entered into these settlement agreements.

You received the first letter more than a year ago on May 24, 2012 from then-Ranking Member Inhofe and then-Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife Ranking Member Sessions. The letter requested documents and answers to a series of questions about the closed-door settlement agreements to make final listing determinations for more than 250 species over the next six years. On February 28, 2013, you received a second letter from Committee Republicans requesting that you provide information to improve the transparency of what have thus far been closed-door settlement negotiations that have locked the public out of the process.

Twice now you have been asked for a record of the communications between the Administration and the plaintiffs of the aforementioned settlement agreements. Because you had cited certain issues, including a district court's local rules, as cause for not releasing this information, both letters ask for full explanations with supporting documentation as to why you are unable to provide the information we request. The longer our requests for documentation are avoided, the more evident it seems that these settlement agreements may have been entered in an unscrupulous manner.

As members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, we have oversight responsibility with respect to your Agency's actions under the Endangered Species Act. We are deeply concerned at the lack of transparency surrounding these "sue and settle" agreements and the complete disregard of our requests for documentation and explanation. Both the Committee and the public deserve proper insight into the manner in which these settlement agreements were reached.

The desire to understand FWS' decision-making process for endangered species listings is not unique to Republicans who have oversight jurisdiction. On May 22, 2013, the Department of the Interior was sued by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility with a request to release records of a meeting with states to discuss the Department's wolf strategy. Similar to our request, the group believes such records will shed light on Interior's decision-making process.

Many of the more than 250 listings that could occur as a result of these settlements will have a tremendous impact on states and local governments, private property rights, and economic growth. Yet, FWS chose to make these agreements with two litigious environmental groups without any consultation from Congress or affected stakeholders like state wildlife agencies who are the traditional land managers in states. Without such consultation their views remain unrepresented in the process.

It has also come to our attention that FWS entered into an additional agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity in April 2013 to make final listing determinations on ten additional species. This raises further questions as to why your agency would reach settlement agreements with these groups before providing members of the Senate with information we requested to determine whether such agreements are lawful and appropriate. In addition to the information we have already requested, we formally request that you provide us with all records of communication between the FWS and the Center for Biological Diversity pertaining to the April settlement agreement. These "sue and settle" agreements are already under public scrutiny. They most certainly do not accomplish President Obama's goal of operating "the most transparent administration in history".

During a meeting with Ranking Member Vitter on April 17, 2013, you further claimed that you are unable to provide us with the requested information because the determination for what documents can be provided rests with the Department of Justice. Congress has a responsibility to ensure oversight of the agencies we fund, and more importantly to ensure private citizens are not abused in a process devoid of transparency and consideration. Your fear of transparency in an effort to protect a handful of ideological bureaucrats is unacceptable.

Therefore, for the third time, we request that you provide us with the information initially sought in the May 24, 2012 and February 28, 2013 letters, as well as the information related to the April 2013 settlement. We take our oversight responsibilities seriously and look forward to an expeditious response to our requests.

Sincerely,

David Vitter
Ranking Member
Committee on Environment & Public Works

John Boozman
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Water & Wildlife

James M. Inhofe
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Oversight

Jeff Sessions
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Clean Air

-30-