Ken Salazar

It is my opinion that BLM and the Department of the Interior should be given a chance to implement this new initiative and see it through.

I have assigned a person, David Nowey, who will be there full time to work with the California interests as well as with us here in Washington, D.C.

I do want to be the last Secretary of the Interior that does come before this Committee and says we want to get to energy independence.

There is $17 billion, over $17 billion that should have gone into LWCF that simply hasn't gotten there.

POGO particularly wants to praise Secretary Salazar for enhancing the ethical culture of the agency.

At the end of the day, I think it is important for all of us who will work on this issue to keep in mind that what we want to do is we want to have a government process and a government organization here that works and that works…

Let me come back to the point that your OIG made that actually some of the things that delay this process is, frankly, regulation and litigation inspired by the Federal Government.

I know, given the State of Wyoming, your great interest on these issues.

Even when you compare the budget of this Department, we do not have the budget of this Department that the Department even had in 2001.

I do agree with you very much that technology has made major changes and major opportunities.

If we can take care of our outdoors, it also is a great way in which we can create economic vitality for the United States.

I think that what has happened is that California today and its water issue is suffering from the fact that it did not have the kind of attention that it should have had or the leadership to try to bring in the different values that are…

I think it is a very important initiative; and I know you will be hearing more from my colleague.

I think you asked one of the most important questions which this Committee and the Administration, and I as Secretary of the Interior, will grapple with in the days and months ahead.

We shouldn't be drilling near Arches National Park and Canyonlands and Dinosaur.

I know there are actually three members on this Committee from my home State of Colorado, Congressmen Lamborn and Coffman and Congresswoman Diana DeGette.

Thank you very much, Congressman Cassidy.

We have spent a lot of time thinking about ways in which to simplify royalty collections.

It is an imperative that is driven from a health perspective.

I appreciate the questions and wanted to just make you aware that I will have Commissioner Connor meet with you on title XVI.

The territories are places that are far away from the mainland of the United States, and yet the strategic interest and historic relationship and current relationship is so important.

I don't think it does our government a lot of good and the people that we serve simply by rearranging the boxes, OK?

Mr. Secretary, when will Americans develop American energy?

I do believe that, when history looks back at this period, we will have stood up for the renewable energy potential of the Nation on solar, geothermal, wind--and much of that will occur on public lands.

So, my hope is that as I move forward, working with Assistant Secretary Lewis and Director Abbey and Director Birnbaum, that we will be able to come up with a management organization, and a set of recommendations around royalty collections…