DOI Radio Actualities
Secretary Salazar Cites Progress Under Recovery Act
FRI, JULY 24, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar testified today before the House Budget Committee that the Department of the Interior is making “swift progress” on making investments and creating jobs using the $3 billion entrusted to Interior under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Interior Withdraws Legally Flawed Plan for Oregon Forests
THU, JULY 16, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Thursday that because the previous administration failed to follow established administrative procedure, he is withdrawing the Western Oregon Plan Revisions for logging in that area.
Secretary Salazar Tells Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: Time Has Come to Reform Outdated Mining Law
TUE, JULY 14, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar testified today that as part of President Obama’s agenda for reform, the time has come to update the Mining Law of 1872 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.
Secretary Salazar Testifies Before Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
TUE, JULY 7, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today along with Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The full committee hearing entitled "Moving America Toward a Clean Energy Economy and Reducing Global Warming Pollution: Legislative Tools" comes as the Senate starts to prepare its version of the House’s "American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009."
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar Announces $381.6 Million PILT Payments.
THU, JUNE 11, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today 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.
Secretary Salazar Comments on Looting of American Indian Sites
THU, JUNE 11, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar comments on yesterday’s federal indictments of thieves looting American Indian grave sites. The arrest of 23 suspects culminated a two FBI investigation turning up more than 250 artifacts valued at more than $335,000.
Secretary Salazar Discusses Department’s FY2010 Budget at Senate Interior Appropriations Committee
WED, JUNE 3, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar testified today before the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee, outlining the administrations proposed fiscal year 2010 budget. The budget emphasizes the priorities of creating a new energy frontier, protecting treasured landscapes, creating a 21st Century Youth Conservation Corp and empowering Indian Country.
Salazar Announces National Park Service Will Waive Fees on Three Summer Weekends to Increase Tourism, Boost Economy
TUE, JUNE 2, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, in a visit to Ohio 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. The 147 National Park Service sites across the country that charge fees for entry will waive these entrance fees during the weekends of June 20-21, July 18-19, and August 15-16, 2009.
Secretary Salazar Testifies at House Appropriations Committee
WED, MAY 13, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment to discuss his $12.1 billion budget request for fiscal year 2010. The Secretary outlined five agenda items as his top priorities. They are; creating a new energy frontier and addressing climate change, protecting treasured landscapes, creating a 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps, solving water problems and empowering Indian Country. Below are excerpts from that testimony.
Secretary Salazar Moves to Withdraw Mountaintop Coal Mining Rule
MON, APRIL 27, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar held a press conference today to announce 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 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 the to the Department of the Interior for further action. Related News Release.
Secretary Salazar, Navajo President Shirley Confer on Water, Education and Job-Creation Projects
FRI, APRIL 17, 2009Secretary 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. A major topic of discussion was the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, authorized in the recently enacted Omnibus Public Land Management Act.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined President Obama as he signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 at the White House
MON, MARCH 30, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined President Obama as he signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 at the White House. Among its many provisions, the bill makes permanent the 26 million acre National Landscape Conservation System along with new wilderness designations, wild and scenic rivers, National Park units, hiking trails, heritage areas, water projects, and historic preservation initiatives.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Tuesday on the Department of the Interior’s energy policies, priorities and initiatives for U.S. public land and the Outer Continental Shelf
TUE, MARCH 17, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Tuesday on the Department of the Interior’s energy policies, priorities and initiatives for U.S. public land and the Outer Continental Shelf. He also announced that an agreement had been reached with the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee to facilitate the permitting of renewable energy in offshore waters
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar addresses the National Association of Counties in Washington D.C.
TUE, MARCH 10, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar along with Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, spoke to the National Association of Counties this morning in Washington D.C. Each addressed how their departments will carry out the President’s Recovery and Reinvestment plan and other issues effecting county governments.
Secretary Salazar Tells Indian Country Recovery Package Includes Major Initiatives to Create Jobs, Stimulate Economic Activity
WED, MARCH 4, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, speaking to the to the 111th Congress of American Indians Tribal Nations Legislative Summit, today highlighted more than $2 billion in President Obama’s economic recovery package to create jobs and economic opportunity in Indian Country.
Secretary Salazar Pledges to Restore Trust, Strengthen Tribal Sovereignty, Promote Sustainable Economic Development
THU, FEBRUARY 12, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar met with the Senate Indian Affairs committee on Capitol Hill on Thursday, February 12 to address the new administration’s commitment to Native Americans.
Secretary Salazar Details Strategy for Comprehensive Energy Plan on U.S. Outer Continental Shelf
TUE, FEBRUARY 10, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a strategy Tuesday, February 10, extending public comment period on a proposed 5-year plan for oil and gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and calling for a detailed report from Interior agencies on conventional and renewable offshore energy resources.
Interior Funding in Economic Recovery Act Would Create 100,000 Jobs
MON, FEBRUARY 9, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar was joined by Senator Benjamin Cardin, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Congressman John Sarbanes on Monday Februay 9 at the Patuxent Research Refuge and Wildlife Research Center in Maryland to highlight the job creation and conservation benefits of President Obama’s economic recovery plan, which is currently before Congress.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar Withdraws Oil and Gas Leases in Utah
WED, FEBRUARY 4, 2009Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today withdrew 77 contested BLM oil and gas leases citing a need to review environmental considerations and consultation with other agencies as well as their proximity to national treasures. Below are excerpts from Wednesday’s teleconference on the decision.
Secretary Salazar Hosts Media Roundtable
WED, JANUARY 28, 2009Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will meet with the staff of the Minerals Management Service's Denver office on January 29, 2009 and announce the first steps of his agenda to undertake reform at the Department of the Interior. The Secretary will hold a press conference following the meeting.