In Key Hearing, Heinrich Expresses Support For BLM Director Nominee, Secures Critical Commitments For National Monuments Management Plans, SunZia Transmission Project
Senator Heinrich also secured a commitment from DOE Office of Minority Economic Impact nominee to increase renewable energy investment opportunities for Tribal communities
WASHINGTON – Today, in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to consider pending nominations, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) expressed support for Tracy Stone-Manning’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Senator Heinrich noted that Stone-Manning’s experience in Tribal issues, land and wildlife conservation, and water settlements offers a return to qualified and competent management of America’s public lands. The BLM has been without a confirmed director for almost four and a half years.
VIDEO: Heinrich Expresses Support For BLM Director Nominee [HD DOWNLOAD LINK HERE]
In the hearing, Senator Heinrich detailed how Stone-Manning’s willingness to work across the aisle and history of working with ranchers and wilderness advocates, hunters and mountain bikers, and unions and Tribal leaders makes her a prime candidate to lead the BLM. “I hope we can confirm Tracy Stone-Manning for BLM director very soon so that she can get to work,” said Heinrich.
Senator Heinrich secured a commitment from Stone-Manning that, if confirmed, she would work with the communities around the Rio Grande del Norte and Organ-Mountains Desert Peaks National Monuments to finally complete their monument management plans. A planning process allows local residents, Tribal leaders, public land users, and business owners to weigh in on how the monument can be best managed.
Senator Heinrich also secured a commitment from Stone-Manning to ensure that the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project in New Mexico stays on track and meets its schedule.
SunZia, a project that is critical to fully developing New Mexico’s carbon-free energy resources, began the BLM process to finalize its route last week. The two lines will carry 3 gigawatts of carbon-free electricity and will create more than 6,000 construction jobs.
Senator Heinrich also secured a key commitment from Shalanda Baker, the nominee for Director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact at the U.S. Department of Energy, to work together to increase private capital investments for Tribal renewable energy projects in Tribal communities.
Find the full video of today’s hearing and list of witnesses by clicking here.
