Sec. Jewell Announces New “Balance” for Public Lands
Friday, November 1, 2013
JACKSON, Wyo. – Balance was a word mentioned often when Interior Secretary Sally Jewell spoke to the National Press Club Thursday about public lands issues.
Her speech focused on the importance of funding for her agency to maintain stewardship of the lands it manages, and she also lamented the money – and access – that was lost on public lands because of the government shutdown.
Adam Cramer with the Outdoor Alliance was in the audience. He says while conservation was strongly mentioned, he thinks the secretary understands the concept of multi-use that can benefit Wyoming.
"She totally gets it in terms of the social value of being outside,” Cramer says, “but also the aspects of the outdoors that also drive our economy – oil and gas development, but also the recreation economy."
Cramer notes that Jewell also supports fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which pays for parks and public lands access in Wyoming.
Jewell mentioned how some drilling companies are using new technologies that minimize construction and road building – something Wyoming has seen firsthand.
"Some of the new techniques that are being used actually reduce the amount of footprint on the surface acreage, in order to recover oil and gas from a much larger area,” she said. “So, this is an important tool."
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