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Secretary Salazar hosted a rooftop reception for youth working for the Department of the Interior and its agencies under Washington, D.C. recovery act funding. The students included 55 working under the D.C. Summer Youth Employment Program and 26 working for the Youth Conservation Corps. more Salazar Calls Two-Year ‘Time-Out’ from New Mining Claims near Grand Canyon National Park
After carefully considering the issue of uranium mining near Grand Canyon National Park, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has decided to segregate nearly 1 million acres of federal lands in the Arizona Strip for two years while the Department evaluates whether to withdraw these lands from new mining claims for an additional 20 years. more
Interior Withdraws Legally Flawed Plan for Oregon Forests, Presses For
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Old growth forest in Western Oregon. ( Photo courtesy BLM) Hi-Res |
Because the previous Administration failed to follow established administrative procedure before leaving office, its plan to intensify logging in western Oregon - known as the Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR) - is legally indefensible and must be withdrawn, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced. more
Secretary Salazar and Senator McCaskill Announce Two Major Projects in St. Louis under President’s Economic Recovery Plan
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The Gateway Arch in St. Louis will receive almost $1 million in Recovery Act funding to improve electrical systems. (Photo credit National Park Service) |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Senator Claire McCaskill announced that the National Park Service will invest more than $5 million to undertake two major projects to renovate historic sites at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial under President Obama’s economic recovery package. more
Salazar: Time Has Come to Reform Outdated Mining Law
Secretary Salazar told members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources that the time has come to update the nation’s 19th century mining law to ensure reasonable royalty payments for extracting gold, silver and other minerals from federal land and to provide more effective regulatory, clean-up and reclamation tools. more
Secretary Salazar Cites Interior's Efforts
To Develop Renewable Energy, Respond to Climate Change
The Department of the Interior is accelerating the development of renewable energy on its vast public lands and offshore areas “to help power President Obama’s vision for a new energy economy,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today. more
Salazar Welcomes First Visitors to Tour Re-Opened Crown of Statue of Liberty
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Secretary Salazar was joined by Governors David Paterson, Jon Corzine, Senator Robert Menendez, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Congressmen Gregory Meeks and Anthony Weiner to celebrate the Fourth of July by welcoming the first visitors to tour the crown of the Statue of Liberty since it was closed following the 9/11 attacks for safety and security reasons. The first thirty visitors, from all over the world, climbed the 354 steps to the crown accompanied by National Park Service rangers. more
Secretary Salazar Announces Recovery Act Award for Reclamation's Mid-Pacific Region in California
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation's Mid-Pacific Region has issued a cooperative agreement award under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The $5.25 million award is for the Red Bluff Fish Passage Improvement Project on the Sacramento River in northern California. more
Secretary Salazar Announces $134.3 Million in Economic Recovery Investments to Improve Water Reclamation and Reuse in the West
Washington, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation has identified 27 water reclamation and reuse projects that will share in a total of $134.3 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The water projects - known as "Title XVI" projects for the title of Public Law 102-575 that established the program - facilitate the reclamation and reuse of wastewater and naturally impaired ground and surface waters. more
World Heritage Committee Takes Critical Step to Protect Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
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Heaven's Peak in Glacier National Park (Photo Credit: Glacier National Park) Hi-Res |
The 21-nation World Heritage Committee took an important step to protect Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in Montana and Alberta, Canada, calling for a full report from a joint mission of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Heritage Centre on the potential threats from proposed coal mining and oil and gas development in the region. more
Secretary Salazar, Senator Reid Announce 'Fast-Track' Initiatives
for Solar Energy Development on Western Lands
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| The development of commercial solar arrays like this one for utility scale renewable energy production would be accelerated under Interior initiatives announced today. (Photo courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories) Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) announced new initiatives today that will have federal agencies work with western leaders to designate tracts of U.S. public lands in the West as prime zones for utility-scale solar energy development, fund environmental studies, open new solar energy permitting offices and speed reviews of industry proposals. more
Secretary Salazar, Senior Administration and Congressional Officials Hold Town Hall Meeting on California Water Shortage
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| Secretary Salazar, Deputy Secretary David Hayes, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation Mike Connor and California Secretary for Natural Resources Mike Chrisman at a packed town hall meeting in Fresno to address the California water shortage. (Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann, DOI) Hi-Res |
At a town hall meeting in Fresno, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor and members of the California Congressional Delegation today announced multiple steps the Obama Administration is taking to alleviate the heavy toll on Californians resulting from the ongoing water shortage. more
Secretary Salazar Announces $93 Million in Economic Recovery Investments to Improve Rural Water in the Dakotas
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has identified three Rural Water projects in North Dakota and South Dakota that will share $93 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). These investments will help address public health needs of rural and Native communities and create significant economic development in these distressed areas. more
Ceremonial Swearing in Ceremony Held for Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry EchoHawk
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Secretary Salazar, Assistant Secretary EchoHawk and other members of the secretary's staff participate in a Friendship Dance with members of the Shashone-Bannock Tribe. (Photo credit: Tami A. Heilemann - DOI) Hi-Res |
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk was administered the oath of office by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today. The former Idaho state Attorney General and Brigham Young law professor is the department's eleventh individual to hold the position. Echo Hawk is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
Salazar Moves to Place Everglades National Park Back on
List of World Heritage Sites in Danger
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| A great egret habitat in Everglades National Park. (PhotoCredit: National Park Service). Hi-Res |
Secretary Salazar announced he is taking steps to have Everglades National Park added again to the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger by the United Nation’s World Heritage Committee. The Everglades was hastily removed from the list in 2007 at the request of the previous Administration without adequate consultations with the National Park Service, the state of Florida and other stakeholders and without appropriate measures in place to evaluate the progress of on-going efforts to restore the South Florida ecosystem.more
Secretary Salazar Announces Five Exploratory Leases for Offshore Wind Energy Development off Coasts of New Jersey and Delaware
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| Secretary Salazar was joined Governor of New Jersey Jon C. Corzine in Atlantic City, New Jersey to announce the ground-breaking exploratory leases. (Photo credit: Tami A. Heilemann - DOI) Hi-Res |
In a major step forward in President Obama’s new energy frontier, Secretary Salazar issued five exploratory leases for renewable wind energy production on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore New Jersey and Delaware. more
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| Secretary Salazar and volunteers from the Youth Conservation Corps kick off the United We Serve initiative in Shenandoah National Park.(Photo credit: Tami A. Heilemann - DOI)Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today joined volunteer and youth groups at Shenandoah National Park as part of a national kickoff for President Obama’s new “United We Serve” campaign. The Secretary helped the groups remove nonnative plants that have invaded the natural ecosystem adjacent to Big Meadows Swamp. more
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today lauded the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Anne Castle as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science. more
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar lauded the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Hilary Tompkins as Solicitor of the Department of the Interior, the agency's top general counsel. more
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar named Sylvia V. Baca, a senior public and private sector manager in energy and environmental policy and programs, as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management. The appointment does not require Senate confirmation. more
The United We Serve initiative is a call to all Americans to dedicate time to volunteer work in their communities. This initiative will officially kick off on June 22, 2009, when Secretary Salazar and other members of the administration participating in service events throughout the country. In the meantime President Obama is encouraging Americans to get started now by visiting Serve.gov to register and find service opportunities in their areas.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar was in Park City, Utah on Monday at the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association where he participated in a discussion panel entitled "Tapping the West's Renewable Energy Potential." Secretary Salazar was joined by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff to provide perspectives on developing large amounts of clean energy in the West and to announce several Obama Administration initiatives to advance the development of a smarter electric grid and more reliable transmission system, protect critical wildlife corridors and habitats, promote the development of renewable energy sources, and lay the groundwork to integrate these energy sources onto the national electricity grid.
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| Secretary Salazar spoke at a plenary session on renewable energy at the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association in Park City, Utah. (Photo credit: Tami A. Heilemann - DOI) Hi-Res |
Secretary Salazar announced that approximately 1,850 local governments with federal land in their jurisdictions will receive $381.6 million this year under the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program to help offset forgone tax revenue. more
A report released by the U.S. Department of the Interior reveals flaws in the process through which a controversial set of oil and gas leases were offered in Utah in the waning days of the previous Administration, including several near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and Dinosaur National Monument. more
An unprecedented two-year undercover operation led by agents from Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the FBI began rounding up what prosecutors call a ring of archeological grave robbers who looted pristine sites in the Southwest, desecrated ancient American Indian burials and stole priceless artifacts, selling them to dealers and collectors who were associated with the network. more
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Secretary Salazar with a team from the Department of Justice and the FBI announce the indictments of 23 antiquity thieves. Left to right are Utah FBI Field Office Special Agent in Charge Timothy Fuhrman, U.S. Attorney in Utah, Brett Tolman, Secretary Salazar, Interior Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, Larry Echo Hawk and Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden. Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar praised President Obama's announcement that he intends to nominate Bob Abbey, a veteran public land policy leader and chief architect of the Great Basin Restoration Initiative, as Director of the Bureau of Land Management. more
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar praised President Obama's announcement that he intends to nominate Sam D. Hamilton to be the next Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hamilton, a career senior biologist and manager with the Service, currently is director of the agency's Southeast Region. The nomination requires Senate confirmation. more
Shenandoah National Park is one of 107 National Park |
| s that will have economic recovery projects underway in the next 100 days. (Photo Credit: National Park Service) Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today informed President Obama and the Cabinet that the National Park Service will begin economic recovery projects at 107 national parks in next 100 days, creating new jobs and stimulating local economies while making parks better places for Americans to visit. more
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Secretary Salazar announces the Office of Youth in Natural Resources at the Department of the Interior. Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett and Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland are also pictured. (Photo credit: Tami A. Heilemann - DOI) Hi-Res |
Joined by Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett and several hundred schoolchildren on the National Mall, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today signed a Secretarial Order establishing an Office of Youth in Natural Resources at the Department of the Interior. more
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Secretary Salazar with Park Ranger Keith Newlin visits the citizen-created memorial at the site where United- Flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001. (Photo credit: Tami A. Heilemann - DOI) Hi-Res |
Secretary Salazar reiterated his commitment to complete the Flight 93 Memorial in time for the 10th anniversary and directed Dan Wenk, Acting Director of the National Park Service, to negotiate for one more week to reach an agreement with the landowners over the property needed to build the memorial. The Park Service and the landowners have been working to find agreement for several years. more
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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, standing at left, congratulates Minerals Management Service Acting Director Walter Cruickshank and Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Rowan W. Gould as they sign a Memorandum of Understanding. Also pictured is Brad Blythe, a Presidential Management Scholar at Interior. (Photo by Tami Heilemann, DOI) Hi-Res |
At the first of twelve regional public workshops on the Obama Administration's new offshore renewable energy program for the Outer Continental Shelf, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the Department's Minerals Management Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have signed an agreement to strengthen the Department's efforts to protect and conserve migratory bird species during offshore renewable energy development. more
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today sent Congress his recommendations for a national program to help reduce greenhouse gases by selecting appropriate underground geological formations on public lands to inject and store carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants and other carbon-dioxide producing facilities. more
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Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado is one of the hundreds of National Parks that will offer fee-free weekends this summer. (Photo Credit: National Park Service) |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service will offer three fee-free weekends this summer to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit these national treasures. There are 391 national parks located across the country in 49 states. more
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Department of the Interior will host 12 public workshops this month to discuss the newly-issued regulatory program for renewable energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. The new offshore renewable energy regulations become effective June 29, 2009. more
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Secretary Salazar delivers closing remarks at a ceremony to rededicate the Lincoln Memorial. (Photo credit: Terry J. Adams - NPS) Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar took part in the Rededication Ceremony of the Lincoln Memorial on May 30, 2009. The event, taking place during the bicentennial year of President Abraham Lincoln's birth, is the third and final event honoring the President.
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Secretary Salazar takes a close look at a Burmese python held down by Everglades National Park biologist Skip Snow and Theresa Walters. The python is an invasive species in the Everglades. Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar took an airboat tour of Alligator Bay and got a close-up look at the Burmese python, an invasive species, while on a visit to Everglades National Park. The Secretary announced that the Obama administration is committed to working with Florida to restore the Everglades and that the administration is calling for $600 million to fund ongoing projects and to generate good jobs in design, engineering, construction and rehabilitation work. more
![Secretary Salazar lays a wreath at the gravesite of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King. He is accompanied by left to right; Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Superintendent Judy Forte; Ebenezer Baptist Church Pastor Reverend Raphael Warnock; Secretary Salazar; Mrs. Christine King Farris (sister of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.); and National Park Service Southeast Regional Director David Vela. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/salazar/05282009/photos/0528094h.jpg) |
Secretary Salazar lays a wreath at the gravesite of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King. He is accompanied by left to right; Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Superintendent Judy Forte; Ebenezer Baptist Church Pastor Reverend Raphael Warnock; Secretary Salazar; Mrs. Christine King Farris (sister of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.); and National Park Service Southeast Regional Director David Vela. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar met with Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to get an update on water issues in the state. The Secretary took a two-hour helicopter tour of areas previously affected by drought conditions including the Chattahoochee River and Lake Lanier. Secretary Salazar also visited the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Site where he laid a wreath assisted by Dr. King's sister, Christine King Farris and the Senior Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rev. Raphael Warnock.
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Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry EchoHawk, Secretary Salazar, and Deputy Secretary David Hayes after the swearing in ceremony in Secretary Salazar's office. Hi-Res |
Secretary Salazar swore in David J. Hayes as Deputy Secretary and Larry EchoHawk as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in a ceremony in the Secretary's office on May 22, 2009. David J. Hayes, one of the nation's foremost natural resource experts, is now the second-highest-ranking official at the department. Larry EchoHawk is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and will now head the Office of Indian Affairs.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today lauded the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Michael L. Connor as Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.As Reclamation Commissioner, Connor oversees the largest wholesaler of water in the country, bringing water to more than 31 million people and providing one out of five Western farmers with irrigation water for farmland that produces much of the nation's produce. more
David J. Hayes was confirmed as Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior on May 20, 2009. He was nominated for the position on February 27, 2009, after serving as a leader in President Obama's Transition Team, heading the agency review process for the Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Environmental Protection Agency.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar lauded the Senate’s approval of Larry EchoHawk, a law professor and former Idaho Attorney General and state legislator, as Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. The President had nominated EchoHawk on April 20, 2009. more
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today lauded the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Rhea S. Suh as Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, the top official overseeing financial, administrative and programmatic policy for the Department. more
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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar meets Bob Eggle, the father of National Park Service Ranger Kris Eggle. Kris was killed in the line of duty in August, 2002 at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. (Photo by Tami Heilemann, DOI) Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar participated in National Police Week by honoring the Department of the Interior's own combined force of 3,321 officers serving in agencies throughout the United States. In a ceremony held at the Department's Washington headquarters, Secretary Salazar laid a wreath for each law enforcement organization under the Department of the Interior and he met with family members of fallen officers.
Brian O'Neill (1941-2009) Hi-Res
On Wednesday, May 13, 2009 General Superintendent of Golden Gate National Recreation Area Brian O'Neill passed away from heart related complications. Brian is considered one of the grand pioneers of the National Park Service. Hundreds of people have been inspired by his leadership in the park which has spanned over 28 years.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar asked the Department of Justice to seek clarification from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on the scope of its April 17, 2009 decision that Bush Administration officials did not conduct sufficient scientific and environmental analysis before scheduling oil and gas lease sales on the Outer Continental Shelf off Alaska. More
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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that he will retain a special rule issued in December for protecting the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act, but will closely monitor the implementation of the rule to determine if additional measures are necessary to conserve and recover the polar bear and its habitat. More
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| Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), at a press conference announcing the reopening of the Statue of Liberty's crown. (photo credit Tami Heilemann DOI) Hi-Res |
The American public will once again be able to visit the crown of the Statue of Liberty, which was closed after the 9/11 attacks for safety and security reasons, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today. "On July 4th, we are giving America a special gift," Salazar said. "We are once again inviting the public to celebrate our great nation and the hope and opportunity it symbolizes by climbing to Lady Liberty's crown for a unique view of New York Harbor, where the forbearers of millions of American families first saw the new world." more
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| Secretary Salazar announces the FY2010 budget for the Department of the Interior at an all employee meeting. (Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann DOI) Hi-Res |
President Obama's proposed $12 billion budget for the Department of the Interior in FY2010 will allow the nation's largest land manager to play a central role in carrying out the President's vision for addressing the challenges of our times. more
To expedite production of renewable energy on public lands while protecting land, water, and wildlife, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar pledged to create four Renewable Energy Coordination Offices, one each in California, Nevada, Wyoming, and Arizona, along with smaller renewable energy teams in New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Oregon. more
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| Interior Secretary Salazar talks about the potential of alternative energy development on the Atlantic's Outer Continental Shelf. To the Secretary's right is Delaware Senator Tom Carper. (Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann DOI) Hi-Res |
Vice-President Joe Biden, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) visited the University of Delaware Monday, where they underscored the importance of alternative energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), especially offshore wind resources for Delaware and other Atlantic coastal states. On Earth Day, President Obama announced that Interior had finalized a long-awaited framework for renewable energy production on the OCS.
"This Administration sees the ever-lasting benefits in a clean-energy future. With this rule, the Interior Department is unlocking our vast offshore renewable resources," said Vice President Biden. "By harnessing offshore wind power and other resources we will be able to power tens of millions of homes using clean, renewable power." more
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| Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar at the Red Rock National Conservation Area near Las Vegas, Nevada, announces $305 million will be invested by the Bureau of Land Management in funds that will restore landscapes, development renewable energy and create jobs. (Photo credit: Andy Pernick, Bureau of Reclamation) |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced $305 million will fund more than 650 Bureau of Land Management projects across the country under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The investments will restore landscapes and habitat, spur renewable energy development on public lands, and create jobs.
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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar praised the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Thomas Strickland for Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. President Obama nominated Strickland for the position on Feb. 20, 2009. More
![Secretary Salazar visited Philadelphia today and discussed his first 100 days in office, his major reform efforts at the Department of the Interior and America’s Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Secretary visited Independence Hall and announced Recovery Act funding for long needed repairs. [Photo Credit: Ian Crane - NPS]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/SecPhilly.JPG) |
| Secretary Salazar visited Philadelphia today and discussed his first 100 days in office, his major reform efforts at the Department of the Interior and America’s Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Secretary visited Independence Hall and announced Recovery Act funding for long needed repairs. [Photo Credit: Ian Crane - NPS] Hi-Res |
In his first 100 days in office, Secretary Salazar has made it clear that the Department of the Interior must change how it does business, regain the trust of the American people, and chart a new path. As the steward of America's natural resources, the Department of the Interior has a solemn responsibility to carry out its mission with openness and accountability to the American people, and must base its decisions on public input and the best science available.
Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the two departments are revoking an eleventh-hour Bush administration rule that undermined Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections. Their decision requires federal agencies to once again consult with federal wildlife experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - the two agencies that administer the ESA - before taking any action that may affect threatened or endangered species. more
![Secretary Salazar addresses all DOI employees and announces the new Office of Youth at the Department of the Interior [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/images/SecAllEmployee.jpg) |
| Secretary Salazar addresses all DOI employees and announces the new Office of Youth at the Department of the Interior [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI ]Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that he will establish an Office of Youth to provide Department-wide leadership for programs to educate, engage and employ youth. The Secretary made the announcement at an all-employee meeting to discuss the Department's progress on President Obama's agenda. more
Human cases of 2009 H1N1 Flu (swine flu) have been identified in several states and in other countries. It is important to recognize the ongoing nature of this event and the fact that public health
guidance may change as this event transpires and more becomes known about this new virus. Public health officials advise that good health habits like covering your cough and
washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. more
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced his determination that the mountaintop coal mining "stream buffer zone rule" issued by the Bush Administration is legally defective. Salazar directed the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to file a pleading with the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. requesting that the rule be vacated due to this deficiency and remanded to the Department of the Interior for further action. more
![Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announces $280 million investment in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during a press conference at the Montana State Capitol in Helena. The secretary was joined by U.S. Senator Jon Tester (standing) and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer (seated). [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/FWS%20Mt%201.jpg) |
| Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announces $280 million investment in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during a press conference at the Montana State Capitol in Helena. The secretary was joined by U.S. Senator Jon Tester (standing) and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer (seated). [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will invest $280 million in more than 770 projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to build visitors centers, improve infrastructure, and bolster conservation at national wildlife refuges and hatcheries across the country. more
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| Secretary Salazar announced $134.6 million in funding under the Recovery Act for school replacement construction and $141.1 million in school improvements and repairs for schools on tribal lands. Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the Department will fund $500 million in new school and housing construction, road and bridge improvements, and workforce development projects for federally recognized tribes across the nation. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Department's Indian Affairs office will also offer federally guaranteed loans for American Indian-owned businesses. These investments will significantly improve the quality of life in tribal communities nationwide. more
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Secretary Salazar discusses the Department of the Interior's plans for a new energy frontier with forward-looking policies that help us protect our environment while powering a clean energy economy that will create millions of new jobs right here in America.
![Secretary Salazar at the podium, behind him left to right Craig Obey, Vice President of the National Parks Conservation Association, Tom Kiernan, President of the National Parks Conservation Association and Terry Jones, President of the Wolftrap Foundation. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/NPSRecov3.jpg) |
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Secretary Salazar at the podium, behind him left to right Craig Obey, Vice President of the National Parks Conservation Association, Tom Kiernan, President of the National Parks Conservation Association and Terry Jones, President of the Wolftrap Foundation. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Wednesday an investment of $750 million in the national park system under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, part of more than $3 billion the Interior Department is investing in the nation's economy under President Obama's recovery plan. All the projects announced today are long-standing priorities of the National Park Service based on its capital planning process. more
![L to R President of the Navajo Nation Joe Shirley, New Mexico Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, Congressman Martin Heinrich
BLM New Mexico State Director Linda Rundell [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/salazar/04202009/photos/0420091h.jpg) |
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L to R President of the Navajo Nation Joe Shirley, New Mexico Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, Congressman Martin Heinrich BLM New Mexico State Director Linda Rundell [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall and Congressman Martin Heinrich at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, Friday, April 17, to highlight the many benefits to New Mexico from the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, recently signed into law by President Obama. Benefits include the designation of the Sabinoso Wilderness in northeastern New Mexico, the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument near Las Cruces, and the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area in Lincoln County. more
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Secretary Salazar and Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today met with Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley to discuss water, education, road and job training initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for residents of the Navajo Nation, other American Indian communities and residents of New Mexico. more
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Hundreds of citizens and representatives from industry and environmental groups participated in the listening session at the University of California-San Francisco's Mission Bay Conference Center. Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar hosted the last of four regional meeting to gather information and public comment to help build a comprehensive energy strategy for the Outer Continental Shelf. The meeting was held at the University of California-San Francisco's Mission Bay Conference Center.
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Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-16th CA), Jackie Speier (D-12th CA), Secretary Salazar, and Rep Grace Napolitano (D-38th CA) at a press conference to announce recovery act funding in San Francisco. Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the U.S. Geological Survey will fund $29.4 million in earthquake network upgrades nationwide through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, an investment that will significantly improve the timely delivery of information to high-hazard regions such as the Bay area.
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Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger and Secretary Salazar return from an aerial tour of the drought-stricken Sacramento Delta prior to announcing $1 Billion in in water related investments today, including $260 million to help California address long-term water supply challenges and devastating drought conditions. Hi-Res |
Today, at a press conference with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California congressional leaders, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the Department of the Interior will invest $1 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) in America’s water infrastructure to create jobs and get the economy moving again.
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Secretary Salazar at the OCS meeting in Anchorage, AK on |
On April 14, Secretary Salazar hosted a regional OCS Meeting at the Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage, AK to gather information and public comment to help build a comprehensive energy strategy for the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
![Ugashik-Peulik Volcano, Station PLWL, the main repeater for the Peulik network. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $15.2 million to the U.S. Geological Survey to modernize the monitoring networks and warning systems at its five volcano observatories. [Photographer: Cyrus Read. Image courtesy of AVO/USGS]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/Volcano2.jpg) |
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Ugashik-Peulik Volcano, Station PLWL, the main repeater for the Peulik network. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $15.2 million to the U.S. Geological Survey to modernize the monitoring networks and warning systems at its five volcano observatories. [Photographer: Cyrus Read. Image courtesy of AVO/USGS] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the Department of the Interior's first projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - $140 million that will fund 308 U.S. Geological Survey projects across the 50 states. The USGS, the leading science research bureau in the federal government, supports the science needs of all the other bureaus of the Department of the Interior and other departments of the U.S. government. The USGS will play a critical role in addressing the nation's energy and climate change challenges.
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![Left to right: Former Senator Wayne Allard, Sen. Michael Bennet, Rainey Kreis, Jim Sanborn, Ivan Kassovic (behind Jim), Tara Vessella, Jim Dougan (behind Tara), Jan Pauley, Tim Phillips (behind Jan), Secretary Salazar, Senator Udall, Chief Ranger Mark Magnuson, Mark Pita, Cindy Purcell, Congresswoman Betsy Markey [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/040909%20RMNP6.jpg) |
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Left to right: Former Senator Wayne Allard, Sen. Michael Bennet, Rainey Kreis, Jim Sanborn, Ivan Kassovic (behind Jim), Tara Vessella, Jim Dougan (behind Tara), Jan Pauley, Tim Phillips (behind Jan), Secretary Salazar, Senator Udall, Chief Ranger Mark Magnuson, Mark Pita, Cindy Purcell, Congresswoman Betsy Markey [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined members of the Colorado congressional delegation to dedicate Rocky Mountain National Park's new wilderness area and to celebrate public lands in Colorado. The dedication of Wilderness at Rocky Mountain National Park is the culmination of an effort that began in 1974 and was jump started in recent years through the efforts of many including the park's gateway communities of Grand Lake and Estes Park.
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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar with (from l to r) Rep. Joseph Cao, Rep Bill Cassidy, Secretary Salazar, Sen. Mary Landrieu, Rep Charlie Melencon, Rep. Gene Taylor. Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar hosted a meeting at Tulane University's McAlister Auditorium to gather information and public comment to help build a comprehensive energy strategy for the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. The meeting is the second of four regional meetings the Secretary will hold this month. Next week the Secretary will host meetings in Anchorage, Alaska and in San Francisco, California.
![Secretary Salazar hosted the first of four regional public meetings to gather information and public comment regarding an energy strategy for the Outer Continental Shelf [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/1148.jpg) |
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Secretary Salazar hosted the first of four regional public meetings to gather information and public comment regarding an energy strategy for the Outer Continental Shelf [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar hosted the first of four regional public meeting at the Atlantic City Convention Center Monday to gather information and public comment on building a comprehensive energy strategy for the Outer Continental Shelf. Secretary Salazar will host a second meeting Wednesday, April 8, at Tulane University's McAlister Auditorium at 9 a.m. and will be carried live by webcast. Secretary Salazar will also host meetings for the Gulf Coast, Pacific Coast and Alaska.
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U.S. offshore areas hold enormous potential for wind energy development near the nation's highest areas of electricity demand - coastal metropolitan centers, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today at a summit meeting of 25X'25 America's Energy Future, a group working to lower America's carbon emissions. Salazar said information from the U.S. Geological Survey-Minerals Management Service Report will be a starting point for public comment meetings around the country in the next few weeks, starting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and New Orleans, Louisiana, next week. more
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President Obama signs the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 into law on March 30 at the White House. Also pictured from left to right: Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) (White House Photo, 3/30/09, Chuck Kennedy) Hi-Res |
On March 30, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined President Obama as he signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 at the White House. The bill combines more than 160 individual measures introduced in the previous Congress by both Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate. Among its many provisions, the bill includes new wilderness designations, wild and scenic rivers, National Park units, hiking trails, heritage areas, water projects, and historic preservation initiatives. more
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Cannonball River from bridge on State Route 8 in North Dakota. Photo courtesy USGS North Dakota Water Science Center. For more photos and video click here. Hi-Res |
The Department of the Interior and its agencies around the country, in cooperation with state and local partners, are acting to help citizens threatened by the record-setting Midwest floods in ways ranging from providing the streamgage and satellite data used in weather predictions to conducting search-and- rescue operations in boats usually used in national parks and wildlife refuges. more
![Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar at a ceremony to thank U.S. wildland firefighters. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilmann - DOI]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/FireTHankyou.jpg) |
| Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar at a ceremony to thank U.S. wildland firefighters. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilmann - DOI] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at a ceremony Thursday where Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd thanked U.S. wildland firefighters for their assistance during recent devastating fires in the State of Victoria, Australia. The fire took the lives of 210 people, destroyed 2,000 homes and nearly one million acres of land. more
![Secretary Salazar at the press conference kicking off the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/Cherry_Blossom_Salazar.jpg) |
| Secretary Salazar at the press conference kicking off the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined with the National Park Service, the District of Columbia and a number of partners to mark the beginning of the 2009 National Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual 16-day celebration that is expected to draw more than 1 million visitors to the nation's capital.
The festival celebrates the planting of the cherry trees in 1912 as a gift of friendship from Japan. The Festival officially begins March 28 with the lighting of a 300 year old Japanese stone lantern, given as a gift to the United States in 1954, and will run through April 12. more
![Mount Redoubt Volcano in Alaska, March 23, 2009. [Photo Credit: AVO/USGS].](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/1237902265_ak231.jpg)
Mount Redoubt Volcano in Alaska, March 23, 2009. [Photo Credit: AVO/USGS]. Hi-Res |
The Department of the Interior and the U.S. Geological Survey are keeping a close eye on Mount Redoubt Volcano in Alaska. The volcano, located approximately 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, erupted five times on Sunday March 22, spewing ash as high as 60,000 feet. No seismic activity has been reported since then however, an ash fallout advisory still remains in effect as of early Tuesday. On Monday, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar held a teleconference to address the eruption at Mount Redoubt.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined representatives from bird research and conservation organizations Thursday to release the first ever comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States. The report, The U.S. State of Birds, was developed by a partnership among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, state government wildlife agencies and non-governmental organizations. The full report can be viewed at http://www.stateofthebirds.org. Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today released the first ever comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States, showing that nearly a third of the nation's 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline due to habitat loss, invasive species, and other threats.
At the same time, the report highlights examples, including many species of waterfowl, where habitat restoration and conservation have reversed previous declines, offering hope that it is not too late to take action to save declining populations. more
![Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar reads the first bid in the Central Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 208, which attracted $703,048,523 in high bids from 70 companies for Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas parcels. The sale was held in the New Orleans Superdome on March 18, 2009. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/IOD_4248.JPG)
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar reads the first bid in the Central Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 208, which attracted $703,048,523 in high bids from 70 companies for Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas parcels. The sale was held in the New Orleans Superdome on March 18, 2009. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC] Hi-Res |
In testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar detailed President Obama's New Energy for America Plan that will create a clean energy-based economy that promotes investment and innovation here at home, generating millions of new jobs. It will ensure energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, increasing efficiency, making responsible use of our domestic resources, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Secretary also noted that Interior and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have reached agreement on managing renewable energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf. more
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar stressed the need for a balance of traditional and renewable energy resource development on U.S. public lands in a teleconference with news media. Hi-Res |
The Department of the Interior will hold more than 40 major lease sales for oil and natural gas development on public lands this year, which are predicted to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for American taxpayers as well as billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas to help meet the nation's energy needs, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today. But he also is establishing the development of renewable and alternative energy sources on U.S. public lands as a Departmental priority and as a component of a comprehensive national energy strategy that will help the U.S. reduce its dependence on foreign oil. more
![Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told American Indian leaders that President Obama's economic recovery package provides more than $2 billion to Indian Country to create jobs and stimulate business activity. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/Renewable%20signing%20DOI_0343.JPG)
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signs a Secretarial Order making the production, development, and delivery of renewable energy top priorities for the Department. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC] Hi-Res |
Citing the critical need to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, build a clean energy economy and create new jobs, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today issued a Secretarial Order making the production, development, and delivery of renewable energy top priorities for the Department. “More so than ever, with job losses continuing to mount, we need to steer the country onto a new energy path,” Salazar said. “One that creates new jobs and puts America out front in new, growing industries, one that promotes investment and innovation here at home and one that makes wise use of our domestic resources." more
![President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar mark the 160th Anniversary of the Department of the Interior in a ceremony at Interior Headquarters. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/160th%20O%20and%20KLS%20close%20up%20podium%20IOD_3810.JPG)
President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar mark the 160th Anniversary of the Department of the Interior in a ceremony at Interior Headquarters. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC] Hi-Res |
President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar marked the 160th Anniversary of the Department of the Interior today in a ceremony at the Yates Auditorium in the Main Interior Building. In addition to the 600 employees who packed the auditorium to watch the event, Department employees around the nation watched via satellite broadcast or listened via teleconference bridge. The Department was established on March 3, 1849. more
![Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told American Indian leaders that President Obama's economic recovery package provides more than $2 billion to Indian Country to create jobs and stimulate business activity. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/DOI_0204.jpg)
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told American Indian leaders that President Obama's economic recovery package provides more than $2 billion to Indian Country to create jobs and stimulate business activity. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC] Hi-Res |
Speaking to a summit of American Indian leaders, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today highlighted more than $2 billion in President Obama's economic recovery package to create jobs and economic opportunity in Indian Country. "The challenges we face as a nation are not new to Indian Country," Salazar told a Tribal Nations Legislative Summit of the National Congress of American Indians. "But President Obama's recovery package will provide significant investments in Indian Country which can play an important role in helping to stand-up tribal economies." more
The President's 2010 Budget includes $12 billion for the Department of the Interior to undertake initiatives to promote energy security with a focus on clean renewable sources and strategies to address climate change, protect and preserve America's national parks and public lands, strengthen Native American communities, enhance outdoor opportunities for young people, and conserve wetlands and wildlife habitat. more
![Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joins House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Former President Bill Clinton, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at a National Clean Energy Project Conference on Feb. 23, 2009. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/Salazar%20Energy%20Conference%20IOD_3264.JPG)
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joins House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Former President Bill Clinton, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at a National Clean Energy Project Conference on Feb. 23, 2009. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar participated in an
historic roundtable of many of the nation’s top leaders today at a summit
examining how development of renewable energy in conjunction with a “National
Clean Energy Smart Grid” is an economic, environmental and national security
imperative. Salazar joined former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President
Al Gore, Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, energy entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens and
others in a roundtable discussion at the event. more
![Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Nedra Darling, Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Public Information Office listen to the Honor Song by the Black Bear Singers. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/photos/highresolution/flotus%20shawl%20DOI_7950.JPG)
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Nedra Darling, Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Public Information Office listen to the Honor Song by the Black Bear Singers. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC] Hi-Res |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today welcomed First Lady Michelle Obama to the Department of the Interior, hailing her as "a rock for the future of the nation." The third visit of the First Lady to a federal department featured a ceremony rooted in Interior's responsibilities to Native Americans--Indian drum rolls and presentation of a shawl marking her achievements. Joined by some of the department's longest-serving employees on stage, the First Lady and Secretary thanked all employees for their service and reaffirmed President Barack Obama's commitment to the environment as part of the economic stimulus package for which he is currently touring the country as well as his commitment to respecting sovereign Indian nations. more
America’s national parks are seeing more visitors in 2009 than a year earlier, according to visitation information collected by the National Park Service (NPS). In the first half of 2009, national park units experienced 127,728,898 visits, an increase of nearly 4.5 million visits over the same period in 2008. In June alone, visitation to national parks increased by over 718,000 visits between 2008 to 2009. 
![OPM Director John Berry and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar have fun while helping Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan (left) and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood (right) pack up food for delivery in the Capitol area. [Photo by Tami A. Heilemann - DOI]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825203456/http://www.doi.gov/images/072909-home-hires.jpg)
