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Military families to get free pass to national parksupdated: Tue May 15 2012 16:27:00

Members of the U.S. military and their families are now eligible for free annual passes to national parks and monuments as part of a program timed to celebrate Armed Forces Day on Saturday, the White House announced.

Romney calls for firing energy officialsupdated: Sun Mar 18 2012 12:54:00

Mitt Romney calls for the firing or resignations of the top energy and environment officials in the Obama administration.

Romney turns up the heat on Obama energy policiesupdated: Sun Mar 18 2012 12:54:00

Mitt Romney escalated Republican attacks on President Barack Obama's energy policies Sunday, calling for the firing or resignations of what he labeled the "gas hike trio" of top energy and environment officials in the administration.

U.S., Mexico agree on border energy developmentupdated: Mon Feb 20 2012 17:37:00

The United States and Mexico agreed Monday to work cooperatively on exploring and developing oil and natural gas reserves along their maritime border.

U.S. bans imports of 4 exotic snake speciesupdated: Tue Jan 17 2012 17:00:00

The United States is banning the importation of four species of snakes and their eggs, the Interior Department announced Tuesday.

Cesar Chavez's California home placed on National Registerupdated: Thu Sep 15 2011 22:38:00

The former California home and headquarters of civil rights and labor leader Cesar E. Chavez was added to the National Register of Historic Places, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Thursday.

U.S. to hold first Gulf lease sale since Deepwater Horizon spillupdated: Fri Aug 19 2011 21:03:00

The U.S. government said on Friday it would hold its first oil and natural gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill last year.

Liberty Island to remain open during statue's renovationupdated: Wed Aug 10 2011 20:55:00

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will undergo renovations totaling more than $27 million beginning in late October, according to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Depot in 'Dreamsville USA' among sites named national landmarksupdated: Thu Jun 30 2011 22:10:00

One weekend out of the year, the tiny town of Dennison, Ohio, is transported to the 1940s. The brassy tones of swing music drift from the town center on an evening breeze. Children giggle as they weave through the legs of men in World War II uniforms while women serve lemonade and cookies at town's canteen.

Gettysburg battlefield adds propertyupdated: Sat Mar 26 2011 23:52:00

Ninety-five acres of farm land where young men in blue and gray fought and died during the epic Civil War battle is being added to Gettysburg National Military Park, federal officials said.

Coal mining to expand on public lands in Wyomingupdated: Wed Mar 23 2011 07:23:00

Coal mining on public lands will expand in the coming months in Wyoming, as the federal government makes more coal-rich land available for lease by mining companies.

Fortune: Crying wolf? Oil companies that fought the drilling moratorium will surviveupdated: Wed Mar 09 2011 14:25:00

The moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill ended back in October of 2010. Since then, the two companies, Ensco and Hornbeck (HOS),that sued the government, fearful of the damage the moratorium could do to their businesses, are poised to recover.

Former Park Police chief to resume duties January 31updated: Sat Jan 22 2011 13:55:00

Seven years after the federal government fired her as chief of the U.S. Park Police, Teresa Chambers is set to resume the role on January 31, the Department of the Interior announced Friday.

Obama bans eastern Gulf drilling for 7 yearsupdated: Wed Dec 01 2010 20:00:00

President Barack Obama will not be allowing new drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for at least seven years, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Wednesday.

Bennet claims victory in Colorado, but opponent eyes optionsupdated: Wed Nov 03 2010 16:16:00

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet claimed victory in his bid for a full term Wednesday, but his Republican opponent has yet to concede the race.

Time right to resume deepwater drillingupdated: Mon Oct 18 2010 14:59:00

Last week, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar lifted the moratorium on deepwater drilling almost two months before it was set to expire. It was the right decision at the right time, because developments over the last three months, including new rules and regulations, will make deepwater drilling far safer than it was before.

Obama administration lifts deep-water drilling moratoriumupdated: Wed Oct 13 2010 12:17:00

The Obama administration is lifting the moratorium on deep-water oil drilling -- put in place after the Gulf oil spill disaster -- for operators who comply with tough new rules and regulations, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Tuesday.

Deepwater drilling resumesupdated: Wed Oct 13 2010 12:17:00

CNN's Dan Lothian reports on the Obama administration's move to lift the deepwater oil drilling moratorium.

Fortune: Obama lifts drilling moratorium; new deepwater wells to flowupdated: Tue Oct 12 2010 16:31:00

The deepwater drilling moratorium is over. Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar announced today that the ban on leases for new drilling operations, first issued on May 28, is ending over a month before the November 30 deadline. He and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management director Michael Bromwich announced the end of the moratorium today on a 1:00 pm media conference call. "We are open for business," Salazar said.

Fortune: Energy regulation gets personalupdated: Wed Sep 01 2010 15:32:00

On Monday, the Obama administration issued a policy mandating that employees of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management -- one of the three agencies spawned from the MMS -- disclose personal relationships with employees of companies that they regulate. When BOEM workers identify a conflict of interest, they are supposed to opt out of regulating in that situation. Industry workers and regulators in the Gulf often have the same social circles and live in the same communities. It's going to be tough for the government to watch them closely.

Fortune: You can't fight the drilling banupdated: Tue Jul 20 2010 12:54:00

The legal back-and-forth surrounding the deepwater drilling ban in the Gulf is distracting from a key truth: Nobody drills until the Obama administration says they can.

Critics say drilling suspension extends Gulf's economic woesupdated: Tue Jul 13 2010 13:26:00

Whether you call it a moratorium or a suspension, the government's new halt on deepwater oil drilling will cause economic harm, according to industry advocates and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.

Government issuing new order suspending deepwater drillingupdated: Tue Jul 13 2010 08:05:00

The federal government announced Monday it is issuing a new order to suspend deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of California until as late as November 30.

BP toils to put tighter cap on gusherupdated: Tue Jul 13 2010 08:05:00

National Incident Commander Thad Allen explains BP's latest efforts to cap the oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico.

New containment cap lowered over crippled Gulf oil wellupdated: Mon Jul 12 2010 22:45:00

BP says it has placed a new containment cap on its crippled well in the Gulf of Mexico that's been gushing oil since an explosion and fire April 20.

Federal appeals panel denies government bid to reinstate drilling banupdated: Fri Jul 09 2010 09:33:00

A federal appeals panel on Thursday upheld a district judge's order to block the Obama administration's six-month ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Why oil drilling halt got thrown outupdated: Fri Jun 25 2010 21:43:00

Many people are wondering about a federal judge's ruling that is preventing the U.S. government, in the person of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, from imposing a moratorium on permitting new oil wells or allowing wells in progress to be completed in waters deeper than 500 feet.

Judge blocks oil drilling banupdated: Fri Jun 25 2010 21:43:00

A judge overturns the ban on drilling, but the rigs are still sitting idle. CNN's Chris Lawrence reports.

Govt. to appeal oil drilling rulingupdated: Wed Jun 23 2010 10:12:00

The Obama administration says it will fight the blockage of a drilling moratorium. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux reports.

Interior Secretary says he will impose new drilling moratoriumupdated: Wed Jun 23 2010 10:12:00

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Tuesday called a six-month halt on deepwater drilling "needed, appropriate and within our authorities" in announcing he will issue a new order on a moratorium just hours after a federal judge blocked such a mandate.

Interior Department orders drillers to detail blowout plansupdated: Fri Jun 18 2010 20:11:00

The Department of the Interior on Friday ordered oil and gas companies to submit information addressing the possibility of a well blowout and detailing the steps they are taking to prevent a blowout whenever they file for a drilling permit, exploration plan, or development plan.

House looks into restructuring offshore drilling watchdog agencyupdated: Thu Jun 17 2010 13:00:00

The House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources questioned high-ranking officials from government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and private companies Thursday about how to best divide up the troubled Minerals and Management Service, the government agency that oversees offshore drilling, which has come under greater scrutiny since the Deepwater Horizon incident on April 20.

CNNMoney: Obama names new head for troubled offshore oil regulatorupdated: Tue Jun 15 2010 23:25:00

President Obama on Tuesday appointed a former Justice Department official to overhaul the troubled government agency responsible for regulating oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil estimate raised to 35,000-60,000 barrels a dayupdated: Tue Jun 15 2010 22:07:00

Government scientists Tuesday increased the estimate of oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico to between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels per day, up to 50 percent more than previously estimated. That translates into 1.5 million gallons to 2.5 million gallons per day.

Measuring how much oil has spilledupdated: Tue Jun 15 2010 22:07:00

CNN's Mary Snow researches some of the science behind the recent estimates of how much oil has spilled into the Gulf.

Another deep water disaster looming?updated: Thu Jun 10 2010 20:21:00

Could another deep water- or even shallow water- oil drilling disaster be looming ahead? Experts warn it certainly could happen again.

BP given until Friday to provide backup plans for oil recoveryupdated: Wed Jun 09 2010 21:51:00

Federal authorities have given BP until Friday to devise contingency plans for the continued collection of gushing oil into a containment cap in the event of an operational failure or severe weather.

Inside BP's oil spill headquartersupdated: Wed Jun 09 2010 21:51:00

BP's senior vice president takes CNN's Brian Todd inside its command center.

Whistleblower says poor inspections partly to blame for spillupdated: Wed Jun 09 2010 17:06:00

A history of slipshod inspections is at least partly to blame for the disaster that destroyed the drill rig Deepwater Horizon and unleashed the worst oil spill in U.S. history, a former Interior Department official says.

Salazar defends 'pause button' on deepwater drillingupdated: Wed Jun 09 2010 16:51:00

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday defended the Obama administration's six-month federal moratorium on deepwater drilling, which has come under fire from critics who argue that seeking offshore oil is vital for reducing the dependence on foreign supplies.

Salazar: 'Pause button, not stop button'updated: Wed Jun 09 2010 16:51:00

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar testifies on the increased safety measures for offshore oil drilling.

To rule Big Oil, we need Big Governmentupdated: Mon May 31 2010 07:14:00

In 1947, when AT&T was America's only phone company, a woman called the company's chief operator to protest a long-distance charge on her bill. She proved her house had been shuttered when the call was made, but the operator refused to reverse the charge.

Latest oil spill developmentsupdated: Mon May 31 2010 02:28:00

Here are the latest developments involving the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico:

BP to use a custom-made capupdated: Sun May 30 2010 12:07:00

After announcing that 'top kill' had failed, BP is now moving on to try a custom-made cap.

Troubled agency gets acting directorupdated: Sat May 29 2010 13:01:00

An acting director was settling into the top job Saturday at the troubled Minerals Management Service, which is involved in federal oversight of offshore oil drilling.

MMS needs overhaulupdated: Fri May 28 2010 09:54:00

In the weeks since the disastrous BP blowout and massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, there has been no shortage of finger-pointing and far-fetched fixes as scientists and engineers try to plug the torrent of oil from the blown well.

Ken Salazar defends oil spill responseupdated: Fri May 28 2010 09:54:00

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is grilled on the response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster and MMS agency issues.

Head of Minerals Management Service leaves postupdated: Fri May 28 2010 09:24:00

Minerals Management Service Director Elizabeth Birnbaum resigned Thursday as head of the Interior Department's scandal-plagued Minerals Management Service, the department's chief said. Two sources told CNN that Birnbaum had been fired.

Oil spill robotic arm goes into actionupdated: Thu May 27 2010 18:00:00

A robotic arm that is a part of the "top kill" effort to plug the Gulf oil spill goes to work. (No Audio)

Report: Regulators took gifts, did drugsupdated: Thu May 27 2010 15:24:00

According to a new report, inappropriate gifts and other abuses, occurred at the agency overseeing oil drilling.

MMS was troubled long before oil spillupdated: Thu May 27 2010 15:24:00

The Minerals Management Service, a division within the Interior Department, was a troubled agency long before the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the recent revelations of employee misconduct.

Head of Minerals Management Service fired, sources sayupdated: Thu May 27 2010 11:51:00

Minerals Management Service Director Elizabeth Birnbaum has been fired, according to two CNN sources.

Lawmakers frustrated with Obama administration's oil spill responseupdated: Thu May 27 2010 07:24:00

Lawmakers increasingly frustrated with the pace of response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are calling on President Obama to take charge of the situation,­ and soon.

Critics take on White House on oil spillupdated: Thu May 27 2010 07:24:00

Some allies are not happy with the Obama administration's handling of the Gulf Coast oil spill. CNN's Ed Henry reports.

CNNMoney: Salazar: U.S. doing all it can on oil spillupdated: Wed May 26 2010 15:39:00

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar reiterated Wednesday that the U.S. government is doing all it can to put an end to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and to enforce ethics requirements in the federal agency responsible for inspecting oil wells.

Oil inspectors took company gifts, watchdog group findsupdated: Wed May 26 2010 11:36:00

Federal inspectors overseeing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico accepted meals and tickets to sporting events from companies they monitored, the Interior Department's inspector general concluded in a report released Wednesday.

7 Greenpeace activists arrested in anti-drilling protestupdated: Mon May 24 2010 20:04:00

Seven members of the environmental group Greenpeace were arrested Monday after protesting at a private ship that the group says is scheduled to depart for Alaska this summer as part of a drilling mission.

Napolitano 'heartsick' over oil spillupdated: Mon May 24 2010 18:26:00

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the government will do everything possible to clean up gulf oil spill.

Government has authority to lead spill response, but may lack know-howupdated: Mon May 24 2010 18:26:00

Legally, President Obama can effectively fire BP and have the federal government take over efforts to stop the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The question is whether that would help the situation.

Salazar calls for tighter regulations covering petroleum industryupdated: Tue May 18 2010 22:10:00

The massive spill that has pumped oil into the Gulf of Mexico for nearly a month has laid bare the need for regulations covering the industry to be tightened, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday.

CNNMoney: Top U.S. official pledges to reform ties to Big Oilupdated: Tue May 18 2010 17:57:00

A top U.S. official pledged Tuesday to reform how the government does business with the oil industry and to hold BP accountable for the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil slick threatens oyster businessupdated: Thu May 13 2010 13:10:00

An oyster processing plant has nearly shut down because of the Gulf Coast oil slick. CNN's Reynolds Wolf reports.

When will the oil spill end?updated: Tue May 11 2010 22:20:00

CNN's Wolf Blitzer asks Interior Secretary Ken Salazar when he thinks the oil spill will end.

Experts: Answers on oil spill in the Gulf, not in Congressupdated: Tue May 11 2010 22:20:00

As a Senate committee was grilling oil industry executives about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, experts said there is an opportunity to learn from the catastrophe, but the lessons won't come from Congress.

Obama administration moves to reform big oil oversightupdated: Tue May 11 2010 11:29:00

The Obama administration, eager to show it is responding to the Gulf Coast oil spill, will announce plans Tuesday to split up an Interior Department agency that oversees offshore drilling, White House officials confirmed.

BP keeping cap on oil leak video?updated: Tue May 11 2010 11:29:00

Critics blast BP for not releasing video showing the extent of the Gulf Coast oil spill. CNN's Ed Lavandera reports.

CNNMoney: Obama to toughen big oil oversightupdated: Tue May 11 2010 11:04:00

The Obama administration, eager to show it is responding to the Gulf Coast oil spill, will announce plans Tuesday to split up an Interior Department agency that oversees offshore drilling, White House officials confirmed.

'Major mistakes' in oil rig sinking, Interior secretary saysupdated: Thu May 06 2010 20:54:00

Companies involved in the sinking of the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon made "some very major mistakes," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Thursday after meeting with executives from the oil company BP.

BP 'confident' in clean-upupdated: Thu May 06 2010 20:54:00

CNN's John Roberts talks to a BP official about clean-up and containment efforts in the Gulf Coast oil spill.

Oil could endanger turtles, manateesupdated: Mon May 03 2010 11:00:00

CNN's Fredrika Whitfield speaks with a conservationist about how wildlife could take a hit from the oil disaster.

Officials warn of potential catastrophe from Gulf of Mexico oil spillupdated: Sun May 02 2010 11:38:00

Top federal officials said Sunday that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is a potential catastrophe and defended the Obama administration's response so far.

Oil spill politicsupdated: Sun May 02 2010 11:38:00

CNN's Dan Lothian reports on the Obama administration's effort to show it's on top of the oil spill response.

Gulf fishermen fear for livelihoodupdated: Fri Apr 30 2010 20:47:00

HLN's Richard Lui is on the Alabama shore, where residents are increasingly anxious about the arriving oil slick.

Feds raise pressure on BP over oil spillupdated: Fri Apr 30 2010 20:47:00

The federal government is heightening the pressure on BP, pushing the oil company to do more to stop well leaks gushing thousands of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and to beef up its response to the potential environmental impact on the coast.

Nation's first offshore wind farm approved for Nantucket Soundupdated: Wed Apr 28 2010 20:13:00

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday approved the nation's first offshore wind farm, signing off on a project that has bitterly divided Cape Cod over the last nine years.

Nine-year wind farm fight splits Cape Codupdated: Tue Apr 20 2010 12:52:00

The Rev. William Eddy stands at the bow of his 53-foot sailboat nestled in the postcard setting of Cape Cod.

Get out! National parks to hold fee-free weekupdated: Thu Apr 15 2010 11:43:00

It takes $25 per car before visitors driving into Grand Canyon National Park can enjoy its spectacular beauty, but the price of admission is going away -- for just a little while.

U.S. offers to pay Native Americans $1.4 billion for lost fundsupdated: Tue Dec 08 2009 23:21:00

Thousands of American Indians would receive as much as $1,000 each if they accept a proposed $1.4 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit over government mismanagement of tribal lands.

Federal government to buy land for Flight 93 memorialupdated: Mon Aug 31 2009 17:18:00

Pennsylvania landowners around the September 11, 2001, crash site of Flight 93 have reached an agreement with the federal government allowing construction of a permanent memorial there, the government announced Monday.

Statue of Liberty's crown reopens for visitorsupdated: Sun Jul 05 2009 04:06:00

Thirty people joined National Park Service rangers Saturday in climbing to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, the first tourists to go into the landmark's crown since the 9/11 attacks.

24 indicted in theft of Native American artifactsupdated: Wed Jun 10 2009 21:18:00

Federal authorities indicted 24 people Wednesday on charges of selling, buying or exchanging archaeological artifacts stolen from Native American lands -- part of what Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar called a crackdown on smugglers of such relics.

No deal yet to buy land for 9/11 memorialupdated: Sat Jun 06 2009 01:50:00

The government is delaying legal action against Pennsylvania landowners who haven't yet agreed to sell their land for a memorial to victims of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, federal officials said Friday.

National parks to offer fee-free weekendsupdated: Tue Jun 02 2009 16:55:00

It's hardly a bailout, but the federal government is hoping that waiving fees at national parks will help boost local economies across the country.

Hispanic high court candidates given White House scrutinyupdated: Thu May 21 2009 16:20:00

The White House is quietly expanding its list of Hispanic candidates for the upcoming Supreme Court vacancy, sources close to the selection process tell CNN.

Alaskans don masks as once-sleepy volcano spews ashupdated: Tue Mar 24 2009 15:01:00

A volcano in southern Alaska erupted anew Monday, the fifth eruption since coming back to life Sunday night.

'Drill, baby, drill' process has begunupdated: Sun Dec 21 2008 17:01:00

Remember "drill, baby drill"? In its last weeks in office, the Bush administration is starting to make it happen by quietly starting the process of exploration and drilling off the coast of Virginia.

Stocking the Cabinetupdated: Wed Dec 17 2008 20:12:00

Obama nominates Tom Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary and Sen. Ken Salazar as Interior Secretary.

Obama adds another Republican to Cabinetupdated: Wed Dec 17 2008 20:12:00

President-elect Barack Obama has picked GOP Rep. Ray LaHood of Illinois to be his nominee for transportation secretary, two sources told CNN on Wednesday.

Lawsuit seeks to halt gas and oil drilling in Utahupdated: Wed Dec 17 2008 17:27:00

Seven environmental groups filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the federal Bureau of Land Management, hoping to stop the sale of leases to oil and gas companies on land in Utah that includes what some call the "world's longest art gallery."

Sources: Obama to tap Vilsack as agriculture secretaryupdated: Tue Dec 16 2008 22:04:00

President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday will announce former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as his choice for agriculture secretary and Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar as his choice for secretary of the interior, an aide on Obama's transition team and a separate Democratic source said.

Source: Obama will name head of Chicago schools to education postupdated: Mon Dec 15 2008 21:51:00

President-elect Barack Obama will name Arne Duncan as his choice for education secretary and Sen. Ken Salazar as interior secretary, sources told CNN Monday.

Time.com: Pending EPA Rule Sparks Cautionupdated: Sat Jun 21 2008 19:00:00

Critics fear the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will adopt a rule in the waning days of the Bush administration that will make it easier to build coal-fired power plants near national parks

Fortune: The politics of oil shaleupdated: Fri Jun 06 2008 17:11:00

You'd think this would be oil shale's moment.

Bill strips ethics-challenged legislators of pensionsupdated: Fri Jan 12 2007 17:02:00

The Senate on Friday approved a measure stripping taxpayer-funded pensions from members of Congress who are convicted of serious ethics offenses, such as bribery and conspiracy.

Salazar wins tussle for open Colorado seat updated: Wed Nov 03 2004 11:29:00

Democratic state Rep. John Salazar will win his tight battle for retiring Rep. Scott McInnis' open seat in Colorado, CNN projects.

Salazar beating Coors in Coloradoupdated: Wed Nov 03 2004 01:53:00

Democratic Attorney General Ken Salazar will defeat Republican Pete Coors, the chairman of Coors Brewing Company, in Colorado's Senate race, CNN projects.

Dreaming about the Senateupdated: Mon Jun 28 2004 11:05:00

Barack Obama knows his background is about as unconventional as Illinois voters will probably ever see in a Senate candidate. He was born in Hawaii, the son of a Kenyan economist and a white mother from Kansas, and spent four years of his childhood in Indonesia. His last name rhymes with Osama. So he begins every campaign speech with the question on the audience's mind: "How does a skinny guy with a funny name win an election?"

Bush strikes an optimistic tone in Ohioupdated: Thu Mar 11 2004 08:41:00

Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.

Special prosecutor appointed for CU allegationsupdated: Fri Feb 27 2004 17:57:00

Promising "no spin, no whitewash and no excuses," Colorado Gov. Bill Owens appointed state Attorney General Ken Salazar on Friday to act as a special prosecutor to conduct an investigation of sexual misconduct and rape allegations swirling around the University of Colorado football program.

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