STATEMENT OF BENNETT W. RALEY

Nominee for the position of Assistant Secretary of the Interior

for Water and Science,

Before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

June 20, 2001

It is a great honor to be before you today. When President Bush and Secretary Norton announced their intent to nominate me to serve as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Department of the Interior, I pledged that if confirmed, I would repay their trust with honesty and hard work, and with an unceasing search for the common ground that reflects the desire of the American people for fair and balanced solutions to the complex water and energy issues that we face as a nation. I also expressed my belief that protection of property rights, respect for our environment and fulfillment of the trust responsibility of the United States to Indian tribes cannot be viewed as irreconcilable goals. I believe that our obligation to future generations requires that we protect each of these elements of our heritage.

I hold these beliefs notwithstanding the fact that I have been involved in water issues since I was a child. In fact, my first exposure to the complexities of water policy was with my father 33 years ago, attending meetings where the subject of discussion was proposed Reclamation projects in Southwestern Colorado.

More recently, I have served as an attorney for the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District since 1983. This District is the local sponsor and repayment entity for the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. In that capacity I have addressed a wide range of issues, including over a period of many years the development of collaborative programs that meet the needs of the Endangered Species Act in a manner that protects water rights and recognizes a state's authority over its water resources.

I also have had the honor, Mr. Chairman, of serving the great State of New Mexico for the past two years as a Special Assistant Attorney General in federal court litigation related to water rights and the Endangered Species Act in the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers.

Through this experience, I know full well that there are no easy answers or quick solutions to the complex water and environmental issues that I will address if I am confirmed. I have also learned that patience is perhaps the greatest virtue in the search for creative solutions to difficult problems. For example, the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program has been 15 years in the making. I am proud to have played a part in this cutting-edge effort to avoid a conflict between attainment of the goals of the Endangered Species Act and the protection of water rights and state water allocations. Likewise, I have supported and participated in years of work to develop a program that will achieve ESA-related goals in the Central Platte through a Cooperative Agreement between the federal agencies and the States of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado.

My participation in these efforts to find cooperative solutions and my short service on United States Senate staff have proved to me that it is almost always possible to find common ground so long as people are committed to resolving complex and even highly contentious issues in the context of the laws and process of our democracy. My experience on Senate Staff also has demonstrated that it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable, to join with someone on an issue even though they oppose you on another issue, and to serve the citizens of the United States with dignity.

If I am confirmed, I am particularly proud to have the opportunity to serve with the United States Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation. Throughout my career I have considered the Geological Survey to be the premier science agency in the Nation, and if I am confirmed I will work to protect the scientific integrity that is an absolute prerequisite for good science. Their expertise is frequently sought by those engaged in the most contentious and difficult to resolve conflicts over resources. In addition, their work to help predict and mitigate the effects of hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes and floods has enabled many communities to weather devastating natural disasters with minimal loss of life and property. I look forward to learning more about the USGS' scientific capabilities, and to being a strong advocate for science-based decision-making in the Department of the Interior.

As I mentioned earlier, I have grown up in the Reclamation community. I believe that the legacy of Reclamation's century of service to the Nation is reflected in the strong families and vibrant communities that exist in part because of the Nation's investment in the future through the Reclamation Act. This legacy is worthy of protection. I refuse to accept the proposition that it is necessary or appropriate to destroy these families and communities in order to achieve other national goals. I also refuse to accept the proposition that the protection of the environment is not equally important -- I love the West because of its environment and know that it must be protected for future generations.

Finally, I share the commitment of the President and Secretary Norton to conservation of our natural resources. I know from personal experience that broad consultation produces better decisions, that good communication avoids needless conflicts, and that cooperation is preferable to litigation. I promise you that if confirmed, I will consult with you on issues that are of interest to this Committee, I will communicate with your constituents, and I will search for cooperative solutions to the complex issues that will be within my responsibility.

Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.