WASHINGTON, D.C., April 2, 2015 - TO: The Honorable Joseph Pizarchik 

FROM: Rob Bishop, Chairman

Dear Director Pizarchik: 

On February 23, 2015, eleven state agencies that had previously entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement ("OSM") concerning the development of an environmental impact statement ("EIS") for the new Stream Protection Rule ("SPR") sent a letter to you expressing concern about their role as cooperating agencies.  According to the letter, OSM has "not provided for meaningful participation by the cooperating agency states" and has repeatedly limited their involvement in the EIS development process. 

Read the Chairman's entire letter HERE.