Statement of the Honorable J. Steven Griles

Nominee for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior

Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

United States Senate

May 16, 2001

The Virginia Department of Conservation was responsible for the oversight of numerous state programs including management of the Commonwealth's parks, forests and mining activities. During my tenure some of the Department's many accomplishments were creating five new state parks, creating Virginia's litter control and prevention program, and leading the effort for Virginia to secure state administration of the Federal Coal Surface Mining and Reclamation Act.

I ended my service with the Commonwealth of Virginia to join the Department of the Interior in 1981. I originally served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement. I held several other positions within the Department before being confirmed by this Committee and the full Senate for the position of Assistant Secretary of Land and Minerals Management in 1985. Two of the more significant achievements during this time period at Interior were directly related to my close working relationship with members of Congress. Let me briefly explain.

As this Committee is well aware, energy and mineral laws and regulations are complex. Occasionally the laws enacted to address these complexities result in the unintentional creation of loopholes - paths for "bad actors" to circumvent the spirit and intent of the law. In other cases, there is the opportunity for outright fraud. I took these challenges and worked as a common sense problem solver. I was privileged to work in a bi-partisan manner with the late Congressman Mo Udall to eliminate the abuse of the Coal Surface Mining and Reclamation Act known as the "two-acre exemption." I also had the honor of working closely with Senator Dale Bumpers to secure the passage of amendments to the Mineral Leasing Act that eliminated fraud in onshore oil and gas leasing. As in Virginia, I also worked to protect our most treasured unspoiled landscapes and recommended the increase of federally designated wilderness areas by more than 6 million acres.

At the time I left the Department of the Interior in 1989, I had spent my entire professional career in public service. I looked forward to taking my extensive experience from government and use it to foster better partnerships between public and private groups to work in concert to solve many of our Nation's most serious and challenging problems. While in the private sector, I have had the opportunity to work with all forms of energy production. For example, I have worked closely with one of the largest renewable energy companies in America - specializing in geothermal, solar and wind energy. I have worked to secure additional electrical generation capacity in California, and I have extensive experience working with coal bed methane development in the West. In that effort, I was successful in securing additional funds to hire more Bureau of Land Management personnel to review and inspect coal bed methane development, not only to issue permits but also to ensure environmental protection.

My combined public and private sector experience has afforded me the opportunity to gain different, and very valuable, perspectives to the issues that the Department of the Interior now faces. I realize the decisions relating to our nation's parks, wildlife, minerals and lands are complex. In addition, I am keenly aware of the Department's special obligation to American Indians, Alaska natives and the citizens of our territories. There are no easy solutions to the problems confronting the Department's leadership - but I look forward to tackling problems and finding solutions through collaboration and partnerships.

Over the years, I have had the good fortune of working with this Committee on many critical issues. I've learned a great deal about how government works with the private sector. I've learned the importance of community input. But just as importantly, I have learned the value of listening to all interested parties before making decisions. This is crucial to ensuring the public's interests are served. The decision making process must include a visible and participatory process where all parties have a seat at the table.

The issues and challenges facing the Department of the Interior are many and varied. The Department has the mandate to balance many interests and needs, and to be exceptional stewards of our precious lands for the sake of our children and for future generations of Americans.

Under Secretary Norton, the Department of the Interior has adopted a protocol known as the FOUR Cs: Consultation, Cooperation, and Communication, all in the service to the shared national idea of Conservation. My role as Deputy Secretary will be to ensure that the Secretary's mandate is applied to all aspects of the Department's activities.

If confirmed, I pledge to work in a forthright, bi-partisan and cooperative manner with this Committee, and with all members of the House and Senate. I pledge to listen to your interests and hear your concerns. It's my commitment to you that I will represent President Bush, the Department of the Interior and the American public to make sure that when we leave office, our water will be cleaner, our environment will be safer, and our public lands will be in better condition than when we found them.

Thank you again for the opportunity to appear before you, and if there are any questions, I would be pleased to try to answer them.