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Salazar, Bromwich Testify Before Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

THU, JUNE 24, 2010

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Secretary Salazar updated the committee on the BP oil spill and Director Bromwich spoke of his plans for his agency.

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Director Michael Bromwich says the name of his agency has evolved to now include the words "regulation and enforcement" making clear the agency's mission.
1:12
Secretary Salazar says the BP oil spill crisis has brought Gulf coast and wetland restoration to the forefront of the President's conservation agenda.
:47
Director Bromwich, with only four days on the job, will start by making internal investigations a priority.
1:11

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Salazar, Bromwich Testify on Offshore Oil and Gas Enforcement, Oversight, and Reform

WED, JUNE 23, 2010

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and newly appointed Bureau of Ocean Energy Director Michael Bromwich, testified before the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee regarding reforms to strengthen offshore oil and gas oversight and enforcement.

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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar before the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee regarding the BP oil spill crisis and the future of energy and conservation in America.
:41
Michael R. Bromwich, the former Department of Justice Inspector General who is now Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, told the committee he will establish an investigations and review unit to expedite his oversight, enforcement and re-organization.
1:00
A key component to reforming the Bureau is establishing the ability to promptly respond to allegations or evidence of misconduct by Bureau employees as well as by members of industry. This will empower the Bureau to deal with some of its internal problems swiftly and effectively.
:39
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar responded to the committee regarding a decision in U.S. District Court regarding the deepwater drilling moratorium.
33

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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar Testifies before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

WED, JUNE 9, 2010

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar accompanied by Deputy Secretary David Hayes and Counselor to the Secretary Steve Black, answered a wide range of questions on the government's response to the BP oil spill during testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Wednesday June 9.

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Secretary Salazar describes the moratorium on OCS drilling as pushing the "pause button" until it can be done safely.
:45
Secretary Salazar talks about the reorganization of MMS.
:47

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Flow Rate Group Provides Preliminary Best Estimate of Oil Flowing from BP Oil Well

THU, MAY 27, 2010

 
USGS Director Dr. Marcia McNutt today announced that the National Incident Command’s Flow Rate Technical Group (FRTG) has developed an independent, preliminary estimate of the amount of oil flowing from BP’s leaking oil well.

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In making the announcement, Dr. McNutt, who is the chair of the FRTG, established by Admiral Thad Allen, the National Incident Commander, emphasized that since day one, the Administration’s deployments of resources and tactics in response to the BP oil spill have been based on a worst-case, catastrophic scenario, and have not been contained by flow rate estimates.
29
Based on three separate methodologies, outlined below, the independent analysis of the Flow Rate Technical Group has determined that the overall best initial estimate for the lower and upper boundaries of flow rates of oil is in the range of 12,000 and 19,000 barrels per day.
34

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Interior Hopeful on California Water Outlook

FRI, FEBRUARY 26, 2010

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced in a news conference Friday the Bureau of Reclamation’s Initial 2010 Central Valley Project (CVP) Water Supply Forecast and steps the United States government is taking to seek additional water supplies for drought-stricken farmers. Snowpack and runoff forecasts are significantly improved over the past three years and, if current weather patterns continue, California may have an “average” or better water year. 

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Secretary Salazar announces a hopeful water forecast based on a report released by the Bureau of Reclamation.
:21
Secretary Salazar details the anticipated water allocations for the Bay Delta.
:40
The Department of Agriculture is also making resources available to augment Interior's efforts.
:30
Several stakeholders will be working together to allocate more water to the west side of the Bay Delta.
:29

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Secretary Salazar Announces 38 Lease Sales for Oil and Natural Gas on U.S. Public Lands in 2010

TUE, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

The Department of the Interior has scheduled 38 oil and natural gas lease sales for U.S. public lands in 2010, including a sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced at a teleconference today.

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Topic: Oil and gas leasing continues to be part of the Obama Administrations comprehensive energy plan Secretary Salazar said.
:41
Topic: In 2009 there were 32 onshore lease sales offering more than 2.7 million acres in the West. Many parcels from past sales have yet to be developed.
:31
Topic: Secretary Salazar has been working on reforming the process of leasing public lands and natural resources. He says it will provide certainty for the industry.
:52

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Secretary Salazar Speaks about Obama Adminstrations Actions to Deal with California Water Crisis

MON, NOVEMBER 9, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar held a press teleconference Monday to announce that the federal government's commitment as a full partner in helping to deal with California's water crisis.  He announced that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) National Research Council Governing Board is expected to approve the request of the Department of the Interior and Department of Commerce for an independent scientific review of key questions relating to the California Bay Delta, and how to both protect the ecosystem and provide a reliable water supply.

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Topic: Secretary Salazar expressed the federal government's commitment to being a full partner in meeting the twin goals of providing a sustainable water supply and restoring the Bay Delta. 
:24
Topic: The Obama Administration is investing $400 million in California's water infractructure through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
:22
Topic: The Department of the Interior and and Department of Commerce have requested independent reports from the National Academy of Sciences. The first report is due by March 15, 2010
:28

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Salazar Reforms U.S. Oil Shale Program

TUE, OCTOBER 20, 2009

Pledging to reform the nation’s oil shale program, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced in a teleconference with reporters today that the Department of the Interior is offering additional opportunities for energy companies to conduct oil shale research, development and demonstration (RD&D) projects on public lands in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.  In addition, Salazar has asked the Department’s Inspector General to investigate a set of lease addenda that the previous administration entered into with the holders of six existing RD&D leases on January 15, 2009.

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Topic: Secretary Salazar announced a new round of leases for oil shale research, development and demonstration.
:25
Topic: Secretary Salazar says there are still key questions that must be answered before Interior can endorse full-scale development of oil shale.
1:07
Topic: Secretary Salazar more leases will lead to honest answers on oil shale.
:29
Topic: Secretary Salazar has asked the department's Inspector General to look into lease deal made on January 15, 2009.
:42
Topic: Secretary Salazar says establishing that establishing a royalty rate before oil shale is proven commercially viable is premature.
:40
Topic: The second round of RD&D leases will include several reforms.
:45

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Interior Launches Work Plan for BLM Western Oregon Forests

WED, OCTOBER 14, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today launched a Fiscal Year 2010 work plan for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forests in western Oregon that will add economic certainty for local communities while protecting endangered species.  The plan includes a proposed schedule of 62 timber sales under the Northwest Forest Plan and the formation of federal field teams that will identify future proposed timber sales with high likelihood of being sold and harvested.  In addition, a special task force will take a fresh look at forest management issues in Oregon.

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Topic: Of the 62 proposed timber sales, 46 have already completed ESA consultation
:35
Topic: Since last July's withdrawl of the Western Oregon Plan Revision, a new level of coordination between BLM and FWS has been taking place using the best available science.
:48
Topic: Secretary Salazar appointed the Directors of the BLM and the FWS to head a special interdisciplinary task force to come up with a long-term strategy and that Interior is committed to sustainable ecological and economic benefits.
:40

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BLM Releases Report on Utah Oil and Gas Leases

THU, OCTOBER 8, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today received a special Bureau of Land Management report on a controversial 2008 oil and gas lease sale in Utah that recommended development of a comprehensive interagency strategy to address leasing.  The review also made recommendations concerning 77 leases that Secretary Salazar had withdrawn pending further investigation.

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Topic: The report recommended that 17 leases could be reoffered for sale, 52 would be deferred and that 8 parcels should be withdrawn. The decisions were made after on-the-ground inspection by an interdisciplinary team.
:39
Topic: The report examined how the leasing process works and made recommendations to improve it.
:39
Topic: Secretary Salazar said that improving the way oil and gas is developed is part of the department's reform agenda.
:27
Topic: Deputy Secretary David Hayes says future guidance will help both the department and the industry by eliminating confusion.
:33

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Salazar Seeks Congressional Support for Sustainable National Program to Manage Iconic Wild Horses

WED, OCTOBER 7, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today proposed a national solution to restore the health of America's wild horse herds and the rangelands that support them by creating a cost-efficient, sustainable management program that includes the possible creation of wild horse preserves on the productive grasslands of the Midwest and East. The following are remarks from a teleconference the Secretary had with the press Wednesday afternoon.

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Topic: Secretary Salazar says the current situation is unsustainable and is costing taxpayer dollars.
:21
Topic: The plan would include moving wild horses to preserves in the Midwest and East.
:24
Topic:The Secretary would bring more attention to Western herds by "showcasing" them through special designations.
:24
Topic: The proposal would apply new strategies to balance the growth rate of the herds with adoptions.
:34
Topic: The Secretary pointed out that killing wild horses is not considered in any Interior's management plans.
:37

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Salazar Seeks Congressional Support for Sustainable National Program to Manage Iconic Wild Horses

WED, OCTOBER 7, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today proposed a national solution to restore the health of America’s wild horse herds and the rangelands that support them by creating a cost-efficient, sustainable management program that includes the possible creation of wild horse preserves on the productive grasslands of the Midwest and East. The following are remarks from a teleconference the Secretary had with the press Wednesday afternoon.

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Topic: Secretary Salazar says the current situation is unsustainable and is costing taxpayer dollars.
:25
Topic: The plan would include moving wild horses to preserves in the Midwest and East.
:35
Topic:The Secretary would bring more attention to Western herds by “showcasing” them through special designations.
:34
Topic: The proposal would apply new strategies to balance the growth rate of the herds with adoptions.
:21
Topic: The Secretary pointed out that killing wild horses is not considered in any of Interior’s management plans.
:38

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Salazar Details Administration's Policy Push to Build 21st Century Power Transmission Grid

WED, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told energy industry officials today that the federal government’s past electric transmission policy has been as fragmented and disjointed as the nation’s outdated power grid, and that one of President Obama’s top energy priorities is to speed the development of a 21st Century network to move American energy more cleanly, efficiently and safely around the nation.

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Topic: The Bureau of Land Management has identified 5,000 miles of energy transport corridors and is working with stakeholders to locate transmission facilities. 
:39
Topic: Secretary Salazar says Tribal lands hold great potential for energy and transmission and that we will work with them "nation to nation" to identify projects that will benefit tribal communities.
:24
The Bureau of Land Management is fast-tracking some energy transmission permits that may clear the process in time to receive funding from the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
:36
Topic: Secretary Salazar says that electric transmission policy has been ignored for too long, but it is now being discussed in a cabinet level working group
:47

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Salazar Details Administration’s Policy Push to Build 21st Century Power Transmission Grid

WED, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told energy industry officials today that the federal government’s past electric transmission policy has been as fragmented and disjointed as the nation’s outdated power grid and that one of President Obama’s top energy priorities is to speed the development of a 21st Century network to move American energy more cleanly, efficiently and safely around the nation.

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Topic: The Bureau of Land Management has identified 5,000 miles of energy transport corridors and is working with stakeholders to locate transmission facilities.
:39
Topic: Secretary Salazar says Tribal lands hold great potential for energy and transmission and that we will work with them "nation to nation" to identify projects that will benefit tribal communities.
:24
Topic: The Bureau of Land Management is fast-tracking some energy transmission permits that may clear the process in time to receive funding from the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
:36
Topic: Secretary Salazar says that electric transmission policy has been ignored for too long, but it is now being discussed in a cabinet level working group.
:47

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Secretary Salazar Ends Controversial Royalty in Kind Program

WED, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

In testimony to the House Natural Resources Committee Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced he is reforming and restructuring the Department’s management of U.S. energy resources, starting with the termination of the Minerals Management Service’s (MMS) controversial Royalty in Kind program that accepts oil and natural gas from producers in lieu of cash royalties.  Salazar also described administrative actions he is taking to develop a comprehensive energy strategy on U.S. public lands and the Outer Continental Shelf.

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Topic: Secretary Salazar tells the House Natural Resources Committee that he is ending the Royalty in Kind program.
1:05
Topic: Secretary Salazar cites forward movement in the development of renewable energy.
:46
Topic: Secretary Salazar tells the committee that responsible development of oil and gas is an important part of the President's comprehensive energy plan.
1:00

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Interior Launches Climate Change Response Strategy

MON, SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar launched the Department of the Interior’s first-ever coordinated strategy to address current and future impacts of climate change on America’s land, water, ocean, fish, wildlife, and cultural resources. Secretary Salazar signed a secretarial order establishing a framework through which Interior bureaus will coordinate climate change and resource management strategies.

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Topic: Secretary Salazar says all departments will be connected in an across the board approach, working together and sharing information. 
:27
Topic: Secretary Salazar says renewable energy is a primary focus of the climate change strategy.
:38
Topic: Secretary Salazar will chair the Climate Change Response Council and Deputy Secretary David Hayes will be the Vice Chair. Hayes says decisions will be driven by science.
:28

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Agreements Signed for Flight 93 Memorial Land

MON, AUGUST 31, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced at a rooftop news conference Monday that the federal government has reached agreement with all of the landowners for all properties needed for the construction of the Flight 93 Memorial in western Pennsylvania.

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Topic: Secretary Salazar says with a ground breaking this fall, the memorial should be completed by the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
:26
Topic: Secretary Salazar called the fields of western Pennsylvania hallowed ground.
:32
Topic: Secretary Salazar said Somerset County and the memorial will be good neighbors.
:21

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Recovery Investments Put Alaskans to Work

TUE, AUGUST 18, 2009

The Department of the Interior is investing $85 million in Alaska under the President’s economic recovery package. Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Tom Strickland, in a week-long visit to the state, has covered thousands of miles from the Kodiak Island to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to highlight the investments in parks and refuges. He reports that they are laying a foundation for economic growth in Alaska communities. The following actualities are from a phone interview with Assistant Secretary Strickland on Tuesday just before his Blackberry lost its signal in the wilds of Denali National Park.

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Topic: The National Park Service is starting to use some of its $21.8 million while the Fish and Wildlife Service will eventually put to use more than $10 million in Alaska. Assistant Secretary Strickland says it will help address deferred maintenance and infrastructure.
:37
Topic: Many of the projects promote renewable energy and energy efficiency while at the same time putting Alaskans to work.
:32
Topic: On his trip, Strickland has gathered information about climate change and says Alaska is already feeling the impact of it.
:41
Topic: The Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks wants everyone to know that Alaska is a very friendly and beautiful place to visit.
:39

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Interior Tells Senate About Progress on Renewables

THU, AUGUST 6, 2009

Tom Strickland, the Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks , testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Thursday August 6. The full committee hearing was entitled “Climate Change and Ensuring that America Leads the Clean Energy Transformation.” Also testifying on the panel were Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs at the Department of Energy.

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Topic: Assistant Secretary Strickland assured the committee that development of renewable energy is not coming at the expense of conventional energy development on public lands.
1:05
Topic: Assistant Secretary Strickland said that all issues including environmental and transportation issues are being looked at with respect to development of solar energy.
:42
Topic: Assistant Secretary Strickland says that renewable energy development is in an early stage but that the department is moving quickly to put infrastructure into place.
1:06

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Recovery Act Invests $40 million for California Drought Relief

THU, JULY 30, 2009

The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor announced today that $40 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has been released for drought-relief projects in California.  Projects include the installation of temporary pipelines and pumps, drilling and installation of new water wells, well-enhancement projects, and a groundwater monitoring effort.  In an interview, Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes said these investments will help preserve permanent crops and associated jobs in an area that is experiencing a prolonged drought, economic hardship and some of the highest unemployment rates in the United States.

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Topic: Deputy Secretary David Hayes was appointed by Secretary Salazar to lead the federal water efforts in California. He says the emergency drought relief will help to stretch limited water supplies.
:23
Topic: Deputy Secretary Hayes says the drought projects can begin immediately.
:11
Topic: Deputy Secretary Hayes says California water is a top priority for recovery dollars.
:36
Topic: Deputy Secretary Hayes promises the federal government will be a full partner with California.
:39


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