North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer sought answers from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams about the easement appeals process during a Senate committee hearing. Cramer said he has heard from hundreds of North Dakota landowners about Fish and Wildlife Service easements during his time in office. “Their experience has been disastrous through Democratic administrations and Republican administrations alike with the Service trampling private property rights, not living up to contractual obligations and using confrontational enforcement tactics like showing up on people’s property armed and wearing body armor.” During Thursday’s hearing, Williams said the agency has spent considerable time on this issue but acknowledged she has not met personally met with any landowners. “I have not picked up the phone nor have I been asked for meetings, but I’d be happy to work with you and landowners.” Cramer also challenged the Biden Administration’s 30×30 initiative which seeks to conserve 30 percent of all U.S. land and water by 2030.
