Statement of P. Lynn Scarlett

Nominee for the position of

Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget

of the Department of Interior

Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

United States Senate

June 20, 2001

I am deeply honored that President Bush has nominated me for a position that, should the Senate confirm my nomination, will allow me to bring together my personal interest in conservation with my professional interests in public policy.

On behalf of the American public, the Department of the Interior is guardian of more than 20 percent of America's lands. It manages the world's greatest national park system--a system that connects us to a common landscape and shared national treasures. The Department works with more than 500 Indian tribes. It oversees public lands and offshore waters that produce 28 percent of the Nation's energy. It is steward over the wildlife, wilderness, resources and habitat that it conserves, manages, and protects for the American people.

These are awe-inspiring responsibilities. They present a complex interface of environmental, economic and cultural values. I understand the management challenges that result from this complexity. I am committed to bringing a problem-solving focus to these challenges.

Secretary Norton has outlined a vision for the Department of the Interior of conserving the wildlife, habitat and resources of America's public lands "while maintaining America's prosperity and economic dynamism, respecting constitutional rights, and nurturing diverse traditions and culture." Her proposed tools for realizing these goals center around three themes--collaboration, communication, and consultation.

I share her vision. For the past six years, I have led a project to research and document environmental programs for air, water, waste and land management that use incentives, cooperative decision-making, and performance measures to achieve environmental goals while maintaining prosperity and reducing conflict. My organization teamed with the Environmental Council of the States, an association of state environmental officials, to discuss these environmental innovations and expand our understanding of their promise. With my staff, I have developed a website clearinghouse of information on cooperative approaches to environmental management. This research provides me with a rich depth and breadth of knowledge about current experiences with cooperative approaches to conservation and resource management.

In her proposed 2002 budget, Secretary Norton included the establishment of a new landowner incentive and stewardship program to help Americans protect imperiled species, enhance habitat, and conserve fragile land. The proposed budget would also facilitate conservation partnerships through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund and the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program would help foster voluntary partnerships for conservation purposes between the Fish and Wildlife Service and private landowners.

Through my own research, I have glimpsed the results that such cooperative approaches to resource management can bring. For example, on the Cosumnes River in California, the Bureau of Land Management is working with local nonprofit organizations and local farmers to enhance habitat along the river. This and other partnerships like it show the promise of pursuing environmental and economic goals in tandem. They show the promise of working with the private sector and voluntary associations to achieve environmental, economic and other community goals.

Good resource management requires more than new programs and adequate funding. It requires performance goals, relevant information, and accountability. I have spent much of my professional career working to understand best practices for performance-based budgets and management, public-sector contract management, and related tools of good governance.

My organization has conducted workshops for public officials across America on how to use these tools. Two years ago, I helped the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency develop a full-cost accounting guide for local waste managers. Most recently, we teamed with the National Academy of Public Administration, the Council for Government Excellence, George Washington University, and others to explore challenges and tools for improving government performance. I look forward to working with Secretary Norton to ensure that all the Department's programs are implemented efficiently and effectively.

I have always maintained a practical, problem-solving focus in my policy research. A decade ago, when I first suggested that local governments might want to consider using incentive-based fees for local solid waste service, a handful of cities used such fees. After helping the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others to explain how to implement these waste-reduction incentive programs, today more than 7,000 local governments have such programs. My research and writing to explain how to calculate recycling program costs received a special award for its clarity and usefulness.

My approach to the policy and management challenges at the Department of the Interior will emphasize Secretary Norton's 3 C's--collaboration, communication, and consultation. During my professional career, these three C's have shaped my approach to addressing land-use, conservation and other resource management policy issues.

If confirmed, I will work in a bipartisan and cooperative manner with the Committee, and with all members of the House and Senate. I have a reputation among those who know me for being a good listener and always respectful of the ideas and concerns of others. If confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget at the Department of the Interior, I will work with Secretary Norton and this Administration to secure a safe environment, maintain the beautiful landscapes of our national parks, and prudently manage the resources of our public lands.

Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you. I would be pleased to try to answer any questions you might have.