By Margaret Kriz
Since moving from the Senate to the Obama administration early this year, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has wasted no time making his mark. The former senator from Colorado raised eyebrows on the right by canceling sales of oil and natural-gas leases in Utah. His decision came after a U.S. District Court judge ruled that the Bureau of Land Management had not adequately weighed the effects of lease development on nearby protected areas. Senate Republicans responded to Salazar's move by temporarily blocking confirmation of Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes.
At the same time, Salazar drew criticism from environmentalists when he declined to use the Endangered Species Act to curb emissions of greenhouse gases, which wildlife advocates say are endangering polar bear habitats. The secretary did, however, overturn a Bush administration rule that allowed federal agencies to begin construction projects without first checking with the Fish and Wildlife Service on potential threats to endangered species.
Continue reading edited excerpts from a National Journal interview with Salazar.
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