Press Releases
Subcommittee Examines Forest Service's Plan to Manage Groundwater
Washington, DC,
September 10, 2014
Rep. Glenn 'GT' Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry, held a public hearing to review the U.S. Forest Service's proposal to manage groundwater resources on Natural Forest System land.
MEDIA CONTACT: Today, Rep. Glenn 'GT' Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry, held a public hearing to review the U.S. Forest Service's proposed groundwater directive. The U.S. Forest Service has developed a proposal to manage groundwater resources on Natural Forest System land. This proposal manages groundwater uses, establishes new processes and procedures for special use authorizations that involve access to and withdrawal of groundwater resources, and addresses components of numerous Federal initiatives involving water, the Forest Service’s emphasis as a water agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary’s vision for water management in the National Forest system. Members of the subcommittee heard from the chief of the U.S. Forest Service who explained more about the policy and potential outcomes. Other witnesses included stakeholders from state organizations and the agricultural community who discussed their perspectives and concerns about the proposal. "The topic of water and forest management is critically important for all Americans - especially so for our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities who live off the land. I am gravely concerned that this directive would create more problems than it proclaims to solve, and will further undermine the ability of the Forest Service to carry out its management responsibilities. Furthermore, I and many others question the agency’s legal authority to regulate groundwater in the manner proposed in the directive. I strongly believe that this action is a direct infringement of the states’ authority. I look forward to working with Chief Tidwell and the Forest Service to ensure that the concerns of states, private landowners, and users of the National Forest System, including timber producers, are addressed," said Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-PA-5). The National Forest System encompasses 193 million acres of Federal land – much of which is located in the headwaters and recharge areas of the nation’s streams and aquifers, and as a result, provides sources of drinking water for 66 million people in 33 States and Puerto Rico. The Forest Service issued the proposal in May with public comment until October 3. Written testimony provided by the witnesses is linked below. Click here for the archived webcast. Witness List: Panel I Mr. Thomas L. Tidwell, Chief, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Panel II Mr. Tony Willardson, Executive Director, Western States Water Council, Murray, Utah Mr. Don Shawcroft, President, Colorado Farm Bureau, Centennial, Colorado Mr. Scott A. Verhines, New Mexico State Engineer, Santa Fe, New Mexico
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