Interior Department

Effects of a U.S. Government Shutdown on Natural Resource Departments

Apr 8, 2011

A federal government shutdown would trigger a wide variety of setbacks for our public lands and natural resources that would worsen over time. Check this fact sheet for details on how federal agencies and the public lands and natural resources they protect will be affected by a shutdown.

The Wilderness Society will continue to update this document as more information comes in.

Read more

Keywords: 

Download Document

White House aims to fast-track solar power

Patrick Reis, Politico
Dec 17, 2010

Excerpt:

Obama administration officials on Thursday unveiled a key piece of their plan to jump-start the solar power industry: opening up public lands for “sun farms” and other solar power projects.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Energy Secretary Steven Chu released a draft document intended to speed the process for obtaining permits for clean energy sun farms on land held by the federal government, which would create 24 “solar zones” in six states.

Read more

U.S. Selects 24 Solar Power Zones to Streamline Project Approvals

Christopher Martin, Bloomberg
Dec 17, 2010

Excerpt:

The U.S. government gave preliminary approval for solar energy projects at 24 sites on federal land in six states, a step that may allow energy companies develop them sooner.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the U.S. Energy Department announced the “solar energy zones” during a conference call today.
The decision would create an environmental-impact evaluation before developers apply for permission to build and may speed the application process, Salazar said.

Read more

Feds identify best places for solar on US lands

Noaki Schwartz , Associated Press
Dec 17, 2010

Excerpt:

A draft plan identifying prime areas for solar energy projects on public lands in the Southwest was released Thursday by the Interior Department in an effort to speed up development.

The draft identifies 24 so-called solar energy zones in California, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona that have the highest potential for solar development with the fewest environmental impacts. The plan announced during a conference call in Washington, D.C., also proposes to open an additional 21 million acres of land to potential solar development.

Read more

Taking hostages: Bennett demands Interior ransom

Editorial Board, Salt Lake Tribune
May 2, 2009

Excerpts:

It is hard to believe that Sen. Bob Bennett is holding up the nominations of two people to fill positions in the Interior Department because he believes it is good for Utah and the country. More likely his motives are political. But whatever his reasoning, Bennett is wrong. And he's about to lose this showdown.

Read more

State of our Public Lands Policy Briefing Aimed at Restoring Reality to Public Lands Debate

Anonymous
Jan 18, 2011

Washington, D.C.  — Wilderness Society experts gathered today in Washington to help set the stage for efforts to defend America’s public lands. With the 112th Congress swinging into session, the State of the Union address approaching, and new guidance coming from the Department of Interior, public lands will be a growing part of the dialogue on Capitol Hill and across the country.

Read more

Keywords: 

Tougher worker safety regulations chart right course on offshore drilling

Anonymous
Sep 30, 2010

The Wilderness Society issued the following statement today from TWS President William H. Meadows in response to the Department of Interior issuing new rules for offshore drilling safety.

Read more

Keywords: 

The Wilderness Society Lauds New Interior Department Oil and Gas Leasing Reforms

Anonymous
May 17, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC — New oil and gas leasing reforms announced today by the Department of the Interior represent a significant improvement for how the Bureau of Land Management will conduct its onshore oil and gas leasing program for public lands.

Read more

Keywords: 

Climate Centers Will Aid Regional Efforts To Responsibly Manage Public Lands

Anonymous
Mar 4, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This afternoon Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the first of eight regional science centers in the United States called for in his September 14, 2009 Secretarial Order on Climate Change. The following statement can be attributed to David Moulton, Director of Climate Policy & Conservation Funding for The Wilderness Society:

Read more

Keywords: 

Statement on Interior Department announcement on onshore oil and gas leasing

Anonymous
Jan 6, 2010

Following today’s announcement by the Department of the Interior (DOI) regarding onshore oil and gas leasing, Ann Morgan, Vice President of Public Lands for The Wilderness Society, issues this statement in response:

Read more

Keywords: 

Pages