Central Wyoming News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), delivered remarks at a full committee hearing to consider the nomination of Shannon A. Estenoz to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior. Ms. Estenoz currently serves as Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of Interior.

Senator Barrasso began his remarks by welcoming Ms. Estenoz back to the Committee and congratulating her on her nomination. He acknowledged her tenure as Assistant Secretary, during which she oversaw the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service, both significant agencies in Wyoming.

Barrasso highlighted Ms. Estenoz's willingness to listen, learn, work across party lines, and find common ground on difficult issues. He emphasized that if confirmed, one of her key responsibilities would be overseeing energy and mineral development on federal lands—a critical aspect for Wyoming’s economy.

"We in Wyoming are proud to be America’s leading producer of coal, uranium, trona, bentonite, helium," Barrasso stated. "Proud to be a leading producer of oil and natural gas."

He detailed the economic impact of energy production in Wyoming, noting that nearly 50 percent of Wyoming’s land and almost 70 percent of its minerals are federally owned. In 2021 alone, oil and gas production contributed nearly $12 billion to Wyoming’s economy and supported 58,000 jobs.

Barrasso criticized current Secretary Deb Haaland's policies, accusing her of laying "the groundwork for my state's economic ruin." He cited actions such as canceling oil and gas leases, extending permit timelines, holding existing leases, raising operational costs on federal lands significantly, and refusing lease deliveries from a 2020 sale.

He expressed concerns over proposals to prohibit coal leasing in the Powder River Basin—responsible for supplying 45 percent of all coal mined in the United States—and banning various activities on over 2 million acres of federal land in southwest Wyoming.

"Time and again," Barrasso asserted, "Secretary Haaland has shown contempt for the law... hostility towards the people of Wyoming... indifference to the energy and mineral security of our nation."

Concluding his remarks, Barrasso expressed his desire to hear from Ms. Estenoz whether she would exercise independent judgment or continue with what he described as destructive policies under Secretary Haaland.

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman," he concluded.