Full Committee Oversight Hearing on "Oversight of the Actions, Independence and Accountability of the Acting Inspector General of the Department of the Interior"

August 2, 2012

BACKGROUND:

As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Committee has been conducting more than a year-long oversight investigation into why an Obama Administration report that recommended a six-month drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico was edited to appear as though the moratorium was supported by a panel of engineering experts when in fact it was not. Last week, Chairman Hastings invited the Department of the Interior's Acting Inspector General ("IG") Mary Kendall to appear before the Full Committee and answer questions on her role in overseeing the operations and actions of the IG office. This oversight hearing will specifically focus on the IG office's participation in the editing of the Department of the Interior's May 2010 Drilling Moratorium Report; whether the Obama Administration intentionally misrepresented the views of engineering experts in order to justify the unilateral 6-month Gulf of Mexico drilling moratorium decision and the Administration's response to complaints by the engineering experts; actions by the Office of Inspector General concerning its investigation into these matters; the IG's response to a Committee subpoena for documents; the independence and effectiveness of an Inspector General in an Acting Capacity; and previous testimony before the Committee by the Acting Inspector General and other matters.