This Week at Interior March 15, 2013

"Hi, I'm David Hayes, the Deputy Secretary...and you're watching This Week at Interior." (Music) THIS WEEK… AT INTERIOR… SECRETARY SALAZAR AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DIRECTOR JONATHAN JARVIS THIS WEEK DESIGNATED 13 *NEW* NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS… LANDMARKS THAT TELL THE STORY OF AMERICA FROM THE CIVIL WAR, THROUGH PROHIBITION, TO THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND NATIONAL IDENTITY IN MODERN AMERICA… IN LOCATIONS THAT SPAN THE NATIONAL MAP FROM PUERTO RICO TOKENTUCKY, NEW JERSEY TO EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND MANY OTHERS IN BETWEEN. "The stadium used by the baseball players in the old *** League to a muraldone by one of the foremost muralistsfrom Mexicoto the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which is today an icon of the Civil Rights movement and is probably more responsible for the passing of the Civil Rights Act than any other one thing. There are many people who plan travel destinations or vacations around historic sites and to have the designation of National Historic landmarkand the plaque that goes with that will certainly draw people to come see them." FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF *ALL* 13 NEW HISTORIC SITES CHECK OUT N-P-S DOT GOV. SECRETARY SALAZAR AND DIRECTOR JARVIS JOINED MARYLAND GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO BREAK GROUND ON THE HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STATE PARK. TUBMAN, WHO DIED 100 YEARS AGO THIS PAST WEEK, HELPED MANY SLAVES escape CAPTIVITY IN THE YEARS BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR, INCLUDING HER OWN FAMILY MEMBERS. The NEW VISITOR CENTER AT THE STATE PARK WILL HELP HONOR THIS REMARKABLE WOMAN AND EDUCATE GENERATIONS TO COME ABOUT HER SELFLESS WORK. THIS WEEK SECRETARY SALAZAR APPROVED THREE RENEWABLE ENERGY SITES IN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA, PART OF THE PRESIDENT’S *ALL OF THE ABOVE* ENERGY STRATEGY. Together, tHE 750- MEGAWATT MCCOY SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT, THE 150-MEGAWATT DESERT HARVEST SOLAR FARM… and THE 200-MEGAWATT SEARCHLIGHT WIND ENERGY PROJECT WILL POWER AN ESTIMATED 340,000 AMERICAN HOMES. SECRETARY SALAZAR SAYS PROJECTS SUCH AS THESE BOLSTER RURAL ECONOMIES BY GENERATING GOOD JOBS AND RELIABLE POWER. THE AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND HAS BEEN SELECTED TO ADMINISTER THE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND AUTHORIZED BY THE COBELL SETTLEMENT… AND A FIFTH OF THE ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AWARDED BY THE AMERIAN INDIAN GRADUATE CENTER. IN A STATEMENT SECRETARY SALAZAR SAID “This Scholarship Fund for Native American students will be a lasting, meaningful legacy of the Cobell Settlement that will help strengthen Indian communities, advance tribal progress and secure a better future for the First Americans. In selecting these qualified organizations and in seeking the best trustees to oversee this educational fund, we are honoring Elouise Cobell and helping to empower Indian Country.” AND SECRETARY SALAZAR THIS WEEK SIGNED A HISTORIC AGREEMENT IN NEW MEXICO, AIMED AT SPURRING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN INDIAN COUNTRY. THE SECRETARY JOINED ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF INDIAN AFFAIRS KEVIN WASHBURN, AND PUEBLO SANDIA GOVERNOR VICTOR MONTOYA, TO SIGN OFF ON TRIBAL REGULATIONS APPROVED UNDER THE HEARTH ACT. *HEARTH* STANDS FOR HELPING EXPEDITE AND ADVANCE RESPONSIBLE TRIBAL HOMEOWNERSHIP… IT RESTORES THE AUTHORITY OF FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES TO CONTROL THE LEASING OF TRIBAL LANDS, WHICH PROMOTES TRIBAL SELF-DETERMINATION, AND SPURS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THAT’S THIS WEEK… AT INTERIOR. (Music)