Sec. Burgum Asked About Closing West Coast Offshore Oil Maintenance Office

Water Smart Program Funding

• 💡 Representative Brownley questioned Secretary Burgum on the proposed zeroing out of funding for the Water Smart program.
• 🎯 The program is described as having a strong return on investment, with $2.70 of nonfederal money matched to every $1 of federal money.
• 📈 The Water Smart program has supported approximately 2,910 projects, according to the Bureau of Reclamation's dashboard.
• 💧 The program is critical for communities like Ventura, California, which relies solely on local water sources for projects like water recycling.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Office

• ⚠️ Secretary Burgum was asked if he would commit to not terminating the lease for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Regional Office in Camarillo, California.
• 📍 This office is the only regional BSEE office on the West Coast and is responsible for ensuring offshore oil platforms remain in compliance with environmental law.
• 🏢 Burgum stated that while the work is crucial, he cannot commit to specific leases, citing excess space within the Interior Department and the need to save on real estate costs.
• 💰 He suggested that savings from real estate could allow for more spending on essential projects and frontline work.

Commitment to Notification

• 💬 When asked if he would commit to providing notice to the committee and Representative Brownley if the office lease were considered for closure, Burgum agreed to provide notification.
• ✅ He clarified that this notification would pertain to decisions about discontinuing work, not necessarily about the specifics of renting, leasing, buying, or owning property.