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Sen.
Salazar Pushes for Senate Hearing on Interior Department Scandal
Asks that Secretary
Kempthorne Be Called to Testify
WASHINGTON, DC
– Today, United States Senator Ken Salazar called for a Congressional
hearing to investigate the allegations of unethical and potentially
criminal misconduct at the Interior Department’s Minerals Management
Service (MMS) that were brought to light yesterday by the Department’s
Inspector General.
In a letter to Energy and
Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman and Ranking Member Pete Domenici,
Senator Salazar asks that Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne be called
to testify before the Committee. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee, of which Senator Salazar is a member, has oversight jurisdiction
over the Department of Interior.
The letter is below and
here.
Dear
Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Domenici:
I am writing
to request that a hearing be scheduled as soon as possible to
examine the allegations of unethical and potentially criminal
misconduct at the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service
(MMS) brought to light yesterday by the Department’s Inspector
General. I specifically request that the Inspector General and
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne be called to testify. It is
imperative that committee members have the opportunity to question
Sec. Kempthorne regarding these allegations and the specific steps
his agency is taking to implement and comply with the recommendations
spelled out in the Inspector General’s report.
I am deeply
troubled that a substantial number of the most egregious alleged
abuses originated in the Denver office of the MMS. As the Senate
works to expand our oil and gas production from public lands,
which will result in expanded MMS activities with respect to oil
and gas royalty collection, we must do everything we can to restore
the integrity and financial rigor of these critical programs to
ensure America taxpayers receive fair value from our precious
national resources. The scrutiny of Congressional hearings will
be essential to beginning the long process of restoring public
trust in the MMS.
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Sincerely,
U.S.
Senator Ken Salazar |
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