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Hi, I'm Tommy Beaudreau, Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and you're watching
This Week at Interior.
THIS WEEK... AT INTERIOR...
LIKE SO MANY FAMILIES, HOMES, AND BUSINESSES, INTERIOR ASSETS AND EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED
THIS WEEK BY THE RECORD HEAVY RAIN FALL IN COLORADO, WHERE IN SOME AREAS, MORE THAN 17
INCHES HAS FALLEN SO FAR THIS MONTH.
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS CLOSED THREE PARKS DUE TO THE FLOODING CONDITIONS...ROCKY
MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS NATIONAL MONUMENT, AND RAINBOW BRIDGE NATIONAL
MONUMENT, ARE ALL CLOSED INDEFINITELY... WHILE THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE HAS CLOSED
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ARSENEL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.
THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION IS WORKING HARD TO RESTORE RELIABLE WATER SUPPLIES AND KEEPING
A CLOSE EYE ON ALL DAMS, CANALS, AND SIPHONS IN THE AREA TO ENSURE THEY CONTINUE TO FUNCTION
PROPERLY. AND USGS SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING TO RESTORE STREAM GAUGES, ASSESSING LANDSLIDE
AND DEBRIS FLOW POTENTIAL AND EVALUATING POSSIBLE CONTAMINANTS IN SEDIMENTS TO ASSIST STATE
OFFICIALS PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
HISTORY MADE THIS WEEK AT INTERIOR, WITH THE SIGNING OF THE *FIRST EVER* COMPETITIVE LEASE
FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN FEDERAL WATERS. DEEPWATER WIND WAS AWARDED TWO LEASES FOR NEARLY 165
THOUSAND ACRES OFF THE COAST OF RHODE ISLAND AND MASSACHUSETTS FOR WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT.
ONCE BUILT, THE AREA COULD GENERATE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO POWER MORE THAN ONE MILLION
HOMES. COMPANY OFFICIALS, U.S. SENATOR SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, AND BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT
EMPLOYEES WERE ON HAND TO MARK THE MAJOR MILESTONE IN PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE ENERGY
STRATEGY AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN TO CREATE JOBS, CUT CARBON POLLUTION, AND MOVE OUR ECONOMY
TOWARD CLEAN DOMESTIC ENERGY SOURCES.
The President has challenged us to bring on line 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy
by 2020. Offshore wind for the United States I think is going to be an important part of
meeting that goal, meeting that challenge by the President, to help us address climate
change.
SECRETARY JEWELL SAYS AMERICANS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN JOBS, RESPONSIBLY DEVELOPING
OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, AND PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT, AS WE WORK TO CURB THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CNN'S CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR THIS WEEK, THE SECRETARY
CALLED THAT A *FALSE CHOICE*, AND REMINDED VIEWERS THAT INTERIOR IS UNIQUELY PLACED TO
PREPARE OUR PUBLIC LANDS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE WHILE STANDING UP RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
ON PUBLIC LANDS. YOU CAN FIND THAT ENTIRE INTERVIEW ON CNN DOT COM.
U.S PARK POLICE CHIEF THERESA CHAMBERS WAS THE SPECIAL GUEST THIS WEEK AT A WREATH LAYING
AT ARLINGTON'S TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS... THE WREATH LAYING HONOR IS *USUALLY* RESERVED
FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL, OR FOREIGN DIGNITARIES. CHAMBERS WAS INVITED BY MAJOR GENERAL JEFFREY
BUCHANAN, COMMANDER OF THE JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, AND THE U-S ARMY
MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON. CHAMBERS TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR PARK POLICE
MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO MILITARY VETERANS... SHE ALSO HAILED THE STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE PARK POLICE AND THE MILITARY, CALLING THEM EACH PART OF THE TAPESTRY OF SECURITY
AND PROTECTION IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL.
BRIAN SALERNO *OFFICIALLY* SWORN IN THIS WEEK TO HEAD UP THE BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENFORCEMENT. SALERNO IS A FORMER COAST GUARD VICE ADMIRAL WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN RESPONDING
TO THE DEEPWATER HORIZON TRAGEDY. HE SAYS HE'S GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE
AGAIN SERVE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
SECRETARY JEWELL ON HAND THIS WEEK TO HELP INTERIOR'S INDIAN ARTS AND CRAFT SHOP MARK
ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY. THE SHOP FIRST OPENED IN 1938 UNDER THEN-SECRETARY HAROLD ICKES,
TO SUPPORT AUTHENTIC INDIAN ARTS AND CRAFTS. TODAY IT FEATURES THE FINEST IN AMERICAN INDIAN
JEWELRY, WORKS OF ART, MUSIC, AND MORE... REPRESENTING MORE THAN 45 TRIBAL GROUPS. YOU
CAN CHECK THEM OUT AT INDIANCRAFTSHOP DOT COM.
THAT'S THIS WEEK, AT INTERIOR.