David Zalubowski/AP
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The last few years have been hard on the Interior Department, the important agency responsible for overseeing federal lands and other environmental concerns. First, there was the controversial plan from the Bush administration that would have allowed drilling on thousands of acres of protected public land. Then there were two scandals, one involving former Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles who falsified his background to disgrace an influential lobbyist, and another involving more than a dozen employees linked to sex and drugs charges. Ken Salazar, President Barack Obama's newly appointed interior secretary, plans to move past these scandals and restore confidence in the department.
His first action was to cancel the leases that would have opened public lands to drilling. This decision was met with some criticism from the oil and gas industry. A spokesman from the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association questioned the move, asking "how does one (have) a goal of limiting dependence on foreign sources of oil and natural gas and at the same time throw up artificial road blocks to development of our own natural resources" At the same time, environmentalists applauded the action.
When it comes to other blemishes on the department's recent record, Salazar remained optimistic, stating that he plans a "long term-effort to enact comprehensive, top-to-bottom reforms." Hopefully, they will lead to more productive and efficient management of our federal lands.
Don't miss Focus Earth: February, 6, 2009: A New Appointment and State of the Interior Department to see Ken Salazar's first national interview.
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