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[DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA TIM FULLERTON]: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
WILL BE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE NEXT 30 TO 40 MINUTES.
WE ALREADY RECEIVED A LOT OF GREAT QUESTIONS FROM YOU ALL,
BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOME MORE, PLEASE LOG ON TO
LIVESTREAM.COM/INTERIOR AND ASK YOUR QUESTION, AND WE'LL DO
OUR BEST TO GET THROUGH AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. SO RIGHT NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DAVID.
[DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR DAVID HAYES]: TIM, THANKS. LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEBCHAT
AND HAPPY EARTH DAY TO EVERYBODY OUT THERE. JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF QUICK OPENING
REMARKS. FIRST, ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE CELEBRATING EARTH
DAY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR IS BY WAVING ENTRANCE FEES AT OUR NATIONAL PARKS
FOR THIS WEEKEND. SO WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND VISIT
SOME OF OUR NATIONAL PARKS IN YOUR AREA OR EVEN HOP ON A PLANE OR HOP IN YOUR CAR AND
GO TO A NATIONAL PARK. IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT WAY TO REMEMBER AND RECONNECT
WITH NATURE AND WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT AS AMERICANS WITH OUR HERITAGE, REALLY.
SECOND THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT WE ARE PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S SUSTAINABILITY
INITIATIVE AT THE DEPARTMENT. AND IN ADDITION TO OUR ACTIVITIES THAT WE
HAVE WITH THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR NATIONAL PARKS, OUR PUBLIC LANDS AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES, WE'RE DOING A LOT INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SUSTAINABILITY PART OF OUR D.N.A.
HERE. WE ARE REDUCING OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
BY 20% BY 2020. WE'RE REDUCING OUR WATER EMISSIONS AS THE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE A BIG SPRAWLING DEPARTMENT WITH 70,000 EMPLOYEES AND SOMETHING LIKE LITERALLY 165,000
STRUCTURES. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THEM MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.
WE'VE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF OUR STIMULUS MONEY,
OUR RECOVERY ACT MONEY, ON NEW VISITOR CENTERS THAT ARE GREEN
AND ENERGY SUSTAINABLE. ACROSS THE BOARD WE'RE WORKING ON MEETING SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, AND
PERIODICALLY WE HAVE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE ABOUT THAT AND WE HOPE YOU'LL CONSULT IT.
BUT, TIM, I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT FOLKS ARE WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS ON THIS
EARTH DAY AND LET'S JUST JUMP INTO IT.
>> GREAT. LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT. RIGHT BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT FOR
THE FREE FEE DAY INFORMATION THEY CAN GO TO NPS.GOV
TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. NOW WE'LL JUMP RIGHT INTO THE FIRST QUESTION.
IT COMES FROM ALEX. AND THE QUESTION IS, "WHAT THE PLANS TO DEVELOP RENEWABLE ENERGY
ON PUBLIC LANDS?" >> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THIS HAS
BEEN A BIG INITIATIVE OF SECRETARY SALAZAR AND MINE AND THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT.
GROWING OFF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT THAT WE MOVE TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY. AS YOU
MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BECAUSE WE ARE SUCH A LARGE LANDOWNER, LITERALLY 22% OF THE LAND MASS OF THE UNITED STATES,
A LOT OF THE IMPORTANT ENERGY RESOURCES COME FROM OUR LANDS AND WE ALSO MANAGE THE
OFFSHORE RESOURCES. TRADITIONALLY, THAT'S BEEN OIL AND GAS AND CONVENTIONAL ENERGY.
WE HAVE REALLY LOOKED TO SUPPLEMENT THAT WITH MAJOR NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPABILITIES. WE
HAVE ENORMOUS SOLAR FACILITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE SOUTHWEST
BUT ALSO OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. ENORMOUS WIND RESOURCES IN THE OFFSHORE
ATLANTIC AND ALSO MANY OF OUR PUBLIC LANDS IN THE PLAIN STATES AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
WE'VE HAD A CONCERTED EFFORT TO DEVELOP THESE RESOURCES. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE IN THE LAST QUARTER
OF LAST YEAR WE PERMITTED 4,000 MEGAWATTS OF NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY ON OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF LITERALLY A DOZEN COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS. SO WE'RE WORKING
*** THIS. WE'RE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE,
THAT DEALS WITH THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND THERE CERTAINLY
ARE SOME IN TERMS OF CITING, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT
IT. >> THANK YOU DAVID. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON
TO ANOTHER QUESTION NOW AND THIS QUESTION COMES FROM KARL.
HE SAYS, "MY FRIENDS AND I ENJOY CAMPING AND USING OUR OFF-ROAD VEHICLES IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION DOING TO INCREASE THE AREAS AVAILABLE FOR
ME AND MY FRIENDS TO RIDE IN?" >> IT'S GREAT FOR CARL AND HIS FRIENDS TO
BE ENJOYING PUBLIC LANDS USING THEIR OFF-ROAD VEHICLES.
WE PROMOTE IT AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHO HAVE A WONDERFUL HISTORY OF OFF-ROAD
VEHICLE USE. IN FACT, SECRETARY SALAZAR, MAYBE THREE WEEKS
AGO OR A MONTH AG,O WAS IN IMPERIAL COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, WHERE THERE'S ENORMOUS PLAYGROUND
FOR OFF-ROAD VEHICLES. WHAT WE HAVE FOUND, THOUGH, IS WE NEED TO
BALANCE THAT WITH THE FOLKS WHO WANT THE HIKING EXPERIENCE AND OTHER USES OF OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY LANDOWNER FOR OUR LARGEST
SET OF PUBLIC LANDS, IS DEVELOPING TRANSPORTATION PLANS AND USE
MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT HELP TO FIND THE BEST AREAS FOR THE OFF-ROAD
VEHICLES AND THE BEST AREAS FOR NOT OFF-ROAD VEHICLES.
AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, PLEASE GO TO THE BLM.GOV WEBSITE.
FIND OUT IN YOUR AREA WHAT THE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN SITUATION IS AND ENJOY OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU, DAVID. THE NEXT QUESTION IS COMING FROM JACKIE IN VIRGINIA.
AND HER QUESTION IS, "THE AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS REPORT SHOWS THAT AMERICANS VALUE
PROTECTED LANDSCAPES. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF SPECTACULAR
WILDLANDS OUT WEST THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT AND OFF-ROAD
VEHICLE DAMAGE. HOW WILL THE INTERIOR DEPARMENT ENSURE THESE
LANDSCAPES, SUCH AS RED ROCK CANYON SURROUNDING CANYON LANDS NATIONAL PARK,
ARE PROTECTED FOR ALL AMERICANS TO ENJOY TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE?"
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT'S REALLY RELATED TO CARL'S QUESTION, WHICH IS HOW DO WE MANAGE
BEST OUR PUBLIC LANDS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE USES AND THAT'S THE BUREAU
OF LAND MANAGEMENT LANDS IN PARTICULAR, AND THE WAY WE DO THIS IS BY PUBLIC INPUT.
THE B.L.M., THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, HAS WHAT ARE CALLED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS
DEVELOPED IN VARIOUS WESTERN STATES WHERE THE B.L.M. LANDS ARE AND WE ARE
COMMITTED TO LOOKING FRESH AT A NUMBER OF OUR --
WE CALL THEM R.M.P.,RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS, AND MAKING SURE WE MAKE GOOD SOUND DECISIONS
OF WHAT AREAS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR OIL AND GAS DRILLING, WHAT
AREAS ARE APPROPRIATE TO KEEP IN A WILD STATE, AND WHAT AREAS ARE IN BETWEEN?
SO, AGAIN, ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO FIND OUT WHAT THIS SITUATION IS IN THEIR REGION AND PARTICIPATE
IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS. WE DON'T DO THIS OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC PROCESS.
>> RIGHT. GREAT. THANK YOU, DAVID. THE NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT OUR NATIONAL PARKS.
CAROLYN WANTS TO KNOW, IS THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR NATIONAL
PARKS OPEN WITH THE MILLIONS CUT FROM CONGRESS IN THE
COMING MONTHS? >> THE ANSWER IS, YES, WE WILL KEEP OUR PARKS
OPEN. WE ARE GRATEFUL WE DIDN'T HAVE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
I THINK MANY OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING THIS WEB CHAT ARE -- KNOW ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT OUR
NATIONAL PARKS ARE, AND I'M SOMEWHAT PERHAPS PAROCHIALLY PLEASED
THAT THE RECOGNITION THAT OUR PARKS MIGHT CLOSE
WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY CONGRESS WAS ABLE TO GET ITS ACT TOGETHER AND GIVE US A BUDGET.
THE BUDGET IS DIMINISHED, AND PER THAT POINT WE ARE LOOKING AT A FISCALLY CONSTRAINED SITUATION
HERE. AND I THINK THE NATIONAL PARKS AND THE IMPERATIVE
OF MAINTAINING OUR NATIONAL PARKS IS A REMINDER THAT SPENDING ON THE GOVERNMENT'S
PART IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR NATION'S EXPERIENCE.
AND WE HAVE GOT TO COME TO A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE FISCALLY PRUDENT, YES, BUT ALSO THAT
WHERE WE INVEST IN OUR PARKS AND IN OUR OTHER PUBLIC LANDS AND IN OUR GOVERNMENT
RESPONSIBILITIES MORE GENERALLY. I'M HOPING THAT CONGRESS,
AS THEY NOW LOOK TO THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WILL KEEP THAT IN MIND.
>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE PARKS.
JIMMY FROM WASHINGTON STATE ASKS "IN REVIEWING MAPS OF NATIONAL PARKS IN WASHINGTON STATE,
IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN LOGGING IN OLYMPIA NATIONAL PARK AND THE TATOOSH WILDERNESS
AREA. DO YOU KNOW OF ANY LOGGING IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS, RESERVES, OR WILDERNESS AREAS?
IF THERE HAS BEEN, WHY? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MANY YEARS AGO,
THERE WAS SOME LOGGING IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE IS NO LOGGING TODAY AND LOGGING IS NOT PERMITTED ACROSS THE BOARD
IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS. OUR PUBLIC LANDS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES
AND SOME OF OUR PUBLIC LANDS CAME WITH LEGACIES IN HOLDINGS AND PRACTICES THAT WERE GRANDFATHERED
BASICALLY, BUT AS A GENERAL MATTER, OUR NATIONAL PARKS
IN PARTICULAR DO NOT ENGAGE IN THAT SORT OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU, DAVID. THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM SUSAN AND SHE ASKS,
"MY BOYFRIEND AND I ARE IN OUR 50'S. WE WANT TO BE GOOD VISITORS TO YOSEMITE.
WILL WE LEAVE A SMALLER FOOTPRINT AS REGULAR CAMPERS WITH OUR OWN THINGS OR AS CURRY VILLAGE
TENT CAMPERS IN YOSEMITE?" >> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I WAS JUST
NOTICING "THE WASHINGTON POST" HAD AN ARTICLE THIS MORNING ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT
IT IS FOR THOSE OF US WHO WORRY ABOUT OUR FOOTPRINT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, HOW DIFFICULT
IT IS SOMETIMES TO JUDGE WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO LEAVE THE
SMALLEST FOOTPRINT. I WOULD SAY GENERALLY THAT OUR CONCESSIONERS
IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS, INCLUDING THE FOLKS WHO
RUN YOSEMITE ARE VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND I CAN'T GIVE A PRECISE ANSWER TO
THE QUESTION BUT I SUSPECT IF SOMEONE IS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, PACKING IN YOUR OWN
STUFF AND BEING SENSITIVE TO ENERGY USE AND THE
MATERIALS YOU ARE USING IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO GO,
BUT OUR -- BUT I THINK YOU CAN REST YOUR HEAD IN OUR HOTELS AND OUR NATIONAL PARKS KNOWING
THAT OUR CONCESSIONERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY ALSO.
>> AND IT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD POINT TO BRING THIS UP THAT WE ARE SITTING IN THE BISON BISTRO
RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING WITH SUSTAINABILITY
HERE AS WELL AS GETTING MOST OF OUR FOOD FROM LOCAL FARMS.
>> YES. >> MOST OF IT IS ORGANIC. WE ALSO HAVE A VERY
AGGRESSIVE RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING OUT HERE. JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY OUT THERE KNOW
THAT WE ARE DOING OUR PART HERE AS WELL. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM
WENDY IN CALIFORNIA WHO ASKS, "WHAT IS BEING DONE TO MONITOR THE CHEMICALS BEING USED IN
FRACKING?" >> THAT IS A VERY TOPICAL QUESTION THAT WENDY
IS ASKING. THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN, AS YOU KNOW,
ABOUT THE PROCEDURE CALLED HYDRAULIC FRACKING WHICH IS USED TO HELP FREE UP GAS, NATURAL
GAS, TYPICALLY, THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED IN OUR
COUNTRY FROM SHALES. SOME OF THAT IS OCCURRING ON OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
SO WE HAVE A ROLE IN THIS, AND THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS SOME
FRACKING INITIATIVES THAT ARE GOING ON. WE ARE -- WHAT WE ARE DOING AT THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING WHETHER WE
SHOULD REQUIRE COMPANIES THAT FRACK, THAT ENGAGE IN THIS HYDRAULIC FRACKING ON PUBLIC
LANDS, TO DISCLOSE ALL OF THE MATERIALS THAT THEY
ARE USING IN THEIR PROCESSEES. KEN SALAZAR HAS ACTUALLY PUBLICALLY INDICATED
HIS PERSONAL VIEW THAT SHOULD BE REQUIRED. LITERALLY THE NIGHT BEFORE LAST IN BISMARCK,
NORTH DAKOTA, WE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING THAT ADDRESSED THIS SUBJECT.
WE HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS GOING ON IN ARKANSAS AND COLORADO THIS WEEK, SO STAY TUNED ON THAT.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY INTERESTED AND CONCERNED ABOUT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT AS ALL OF YOU DO, I'M SURE, THAT ANY OIL AND GAS DRILLING ACTIVITY,
INCLUDING HYDRAULIC FRACTURING, IS DONE SAFELY. >> THANK YOU. THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM YVONNE
AND IT'S ANOTHER NATIONAL PARK QUESTION. "DO YOU PLAN TO DRILL FOR OIL AND GAS IN OUR
NATIONAL PARKS? AND IF SO HOW WILL THIS AFFECT OUR WIDE LIFE?"
>> NO. WE WILL NOT BE DRILLING FOR OIL AND GAS IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS. THERE ARE SOME
NATIONAL PRESERVES WHERE THERE IS SOME LEGACY ACTIVITY BUT VERY MINIMAL. OUR NATIONAL
PARKS ARE SPECIAL PLACES. AS PER THE QUESTION FROM WASHINGTON STATE
ABOUT OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, THEY'RE NOT THE PLACES FOR EXTRACTION ACTIVITIES.
AND IN GENERAL OUR VIEW IS ON ALL THE PUBLIC LANDS WHERE WE DO HAVE EXTRACTION ACTIVITIES,
LET'S DO IT IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND IN THE RIGHT WAY AND NOT WILLY-NILLY ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE
BECAUSE THESE PUBLIC LANDS THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE SO BLESSED AS A
COUNTRY TO HAVE LITERALLY 30% OF OUR NATION'S LAND MASS SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC USE.
THAT'S OUR LEGACY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
AND HOW WE STEWARD THAT LAND IS SO IMPORTANT AND CERTAINLY HOW WE MANAGE IT FOR EXTRACTIVE
INDUSTRY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. >> THANKS, DAVID. HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION
FROM STEWART IN MINNESOTA WHO ASKS, "I'M WONDERING IN THIS TIME OF DOING MORE
WITH LESS, HOW IS D.O.I. WORKING TO PARTNER MORE TIGHTLY
WITH GROUPS LIKE THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND
SIERRA CLUB TO HELP SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LAND MANAGEMENT, APPROPRIATE USE, ETC.,
TO MAKE MOST OF THE WONDERFUL RESOURCES THAT INTERIOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING?
>> STEWART, YOU ASK A GREAT QUESTION. WE ARE TOTALLY INTO PARTNERSHIPS AT THE DEPARTMENT
OF THE INTERIOR. AND IT'S FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. ONE IS IT'S
TO STRETCH OUR COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO MANAGE OUR RESOURCES IN A GOOD WAY AND WE DO HAVE
LIMITED BUDGETS, WE HAVE LIMITED PEOPLE. WE WANT TO TAKE PART OF THE ORGANIZATIONS
WHO SHARE OUR VALUES AND WANT TO HELP. BOY SCOUTS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. THERE'S ANOTHER
REASON WHY, THOUGH, TOO. WE'RE DOING A BIG EFFORT TO OUTREACH TO THE
YOUTH OF OUR COUNTRY. WE WANT TO RECONNECT OUR YOUTH TO OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES AND THE WONDERS OF AMERICA. WE WORK WITH THE STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION,
ONE OF OUR BIG PARTNERS, TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP
US CLEAR OUR TRAILS, TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
LAST YEAR, WE EMPLOYED 21,000 YOUTH IN OUR INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, AND WE WANT TO UP IT
THIS YEAR. IN FACT, WE'VE GOT A WEBSITE -- DO YOU KNOW
THE WEB ADDRESS? >> YES. IT'S ACTUALLY YOUTHGO.GOV. IF YOU
GO TO YOUTHGO.GOV, THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT HOW THEY
CAN GET INVOLVED AND THE WORK WE ARE DOING. >> GREAT. SO GO TO THAT WEBSITE AND TELL US
IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHAT WE CAN DO TO FURTHER THESE PARTNERSHIPS AND YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN
THE GREAT OUTDOORS. >> GREAT. THANKS, DAVID. THE NEXT ONE IS AN
ISSUE THAT IS -- HAD A LOT OF PUBLICITY LATELY AND
IT'S AROUND THE WOLVES OUT WEST AND THE QUESTION IS FROM JOSH IN OREGON WHO ASKS --
DEAR MR. HAYES, NOW THAT THE GREY WOLVES HERE IN THE ROCKIES ARE DELISTED FROM THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT, WHAT WILL THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DO
TO ENSURE THEIR POPULATION ISN'T REDUCED SO DRASTICALLY
THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE RELISTED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE?
>> GOOD QUESTION, JOSH. JUST FOR EVERYONE'S BASIC EDIFICATION HERE THAT THE WOLF RECOVERY
STORY IS A REAL SUCCESS STORY OF THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT. WOLVES WERE COMPLETELY ERADICATED IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN
WEST UNTIL THEY WERE REINTRODUCED BY BRUCE BABBITT
IN THE MID 1990'S AND THEY HAVE TAKEN HOLD AND PROSPERED TO THE EXTENT THAT TODAY THERE
ARE NO LONGER QUALIFIED FOR PROTECTION UNDER THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST. SO THEY ARE GOING TO COME OFF THE LIST IN
MONTANA AND IDAHO. BUT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THEY DON'T FALL
BACK ON THE LIST. AND THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT REQUIRES THAT
FOR FIVE YEARS AFTER DELISTING OUR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
MONITOR WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THOSE POPULATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT ACTIVELY. WE
ARE ENGAGED WITH THE STATES OF MONTANA AND IDAHO AS THEY IMPLEMENT PLANS
TO ENSURE THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT THOSE POPULATIONS ARE AFFECTED,
THEY ARE NOT BEING HURT TO GET BACK INTO DANGER IN TERMS OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.
SO WE'RE STAYING ON THE JOB. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PRIORITY FOR US.
>> GREAT. THANKS, DAVID. NOW WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO -- WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM TWITTER.
AND -- FOR ALL OF YOU OUT THERE, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER, IT'S
@INTERIOR. YOU CAN SEND US TWEETS ANYTIME, AND WE DO
OUR BEST TO ANSWER THOSE AS WELL. THIS QUESTION IS,
"WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOUR AGENCY IS DOING TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES FROM CLIMATE
CHANGE?" >> OH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. CLIMATE CHANGE
IS AFFECTING WILDLIFE. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. THE FIRST THING WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE HELPING
TO GET GOOD SCIENCE TO THE ISSUE, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS DOING
TO SPECIES, AND HOW IT'S AFFECTING THE RANGES OF SPECIES.
WE'RE SEEING SOME IMPACTS OF MANY SPECIES, BEARS,
FOR EXAMPLE, ARE COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION EARLIER, GOING INTO HIBERNATION LATER,
INTERFERING WITH SOME HUNTING SEASONS, AND ALL SORTS OF CHANGES.
MIGRATORY BIRD PATTERNS ARE CHANGING AND TIMING IS CHANGING, AFFECTING HUNTING SEASON, NESTING,
ETC. SO FIRST WE'RE DOING IS BRING SCIENCE TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEN WE HAVE A VERY INNOVATIVE
EFFORT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH INTERESTED COMMUNITIES ABOUT WHETHER
LANDS NEED TO BE PROTECTED BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN WILDLIFE,
MIGRATION PATTERNS, THAT SORT OF THING. WE CALL IT THE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COOPERATIVE
EFFORT. AND IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, THE FISH AND
WILDLIFE WEBSITE, FWS.GOV, YOU'LL GET INFORMATION ABOUT BOTH THE SCIENCE
ELEMENT AND THE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COOPERATIVE ELEMENT OF THIS AS WE TRY TO ADAPT
TO CLIMATE CHANGE. >> GREAT. WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TIME
FOR ONE MORE QUESTION HERE. AND JUST FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW,
WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND WE PLAN ON DOING A FEW MORE OF THESE CHATS IN THE
FUTURE. IF YOUR QUESTION WAS NOT ASKED, WE HOPE TO
DO SO IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. SO FOR THE FINAL ONE, THIS IS A QUESTION FROM
TOM IN VIRGINIA AND HE ASKS "AS A SPORTSMAN, I WANT TO SEE THAT LARGE
SCALE SOLAR DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T ADVERSELY AFFECT HUNTING AND FISHING AND WATER
SUPPLIES IN OUR WAY OF LIFE. WILL YOU AND SECRETARY SALAZAR PROTECT OUR
HERITAGE BY PUTTING NEW PRODUCTS TO PROTECT SENSITIVE WILDLIFE HABITAT?"
>> YES, WE WILL. WE HAVE BEEN AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
IT'S SORT OF -- IT'S AN APPROPRIATE BRACKET TO THAT VERY FIRST QUESTION YOU ASKED ME,
TIM, ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO HAVE RENEWABLE ENERGY ON OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
WE SHARE A COMMITMENT THAT THAT BE DONE IN A WAY THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND
THAT WE DO IT IN THE RIGHT PLACES. IN THAT REGARD WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE MIDST
OF DEVELOPING SORT OF A LANDSCAPED LEVEL APPROACH TO DECIDE WHERE ARE THE BEST PLACES FOR FUTURE
SOLAR PROJECTS AND HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE INDUSTRY TO SITE IN
THOSE AREAS AND NOT IN OTHER AREAS SO WE CAN BE SENSITIVE TO THE SPORTSMEN INTERESTS,
TO THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT VIEWSHEDS, TO WILDLIFE, WHETHER IT BE HUNTED WILDLIFE OR ENDANGERED
WILDLIFE LIKE DESERT TORTOISES. SO WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE MIDST OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT COVERING MOST OF THE WEST TO DEAL WITH THIS FOR SOLAR AND WE ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE. WE JUST EXTENDED THE COMMENT PERIOD, ACTUALLY,
UNTIL MAY 2, AND THEN WE WILL BE CONTINUING TO MEET WITH FOLKS AS WE TRY
TO FIGURE THIS OUT. IT'S A REAL PRIORITY FOR US.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, DAVID. AND THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TODAY.
IF YOU JOINED US LATE, THE FULL Q&A SESSION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON DOI.GOV NEXT WEEK.
WE HOPE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
WE HOPE TO BE DOING THESE A FEW TIMES A MONTH. IF YOU WANT TO GET UPDATES ON WHEN WE'LL BE
DOING THESE YOU CAN GO TO DOI.GOV AND IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER
THERE IS A BOX TO ADD YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO SEND YOU ALL THE INFORMATION.
IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR US, YOU CAN EMAIL US AT NEWMEDIA@IOC.DOI.GOV,
AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO GET BACK TO YOU. ON BEHALF OF DAVID AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WATCHING TODAY.
HAPPY EARTH DAY AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS A LOT.