Sally Jewell, Fortune Live Media / Foter.com / CC BY-ND
The Live Chat transcript shows Secretary Jewell wants to push birth control and other methods before science.
The “birth control” The Secretary refers to is a restricted use pesticide, a type of PZP made from pigs ovaries, that is so risky it is not approved for domestic horses.
The National Academy of Sciences reported there is “no evidence” of overpopulation. Protect Mustangs is calling for a moratorium on roundups for scientific population studies. Why is Secretary Jewell pushing the pesticide?
Transcript:
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I’M TIM FULLERTON AT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE ROOF HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WE’RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TODAY AND GIVE YOU SOME OF OUR GREAT PUBLIC LANDS BEHIND US WITH THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SECRETARY SALLY JEWELL WITH US TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS OVER THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS. SATURDAY WILL BE THE 20TH TIME WE HAD THE PUBLIC LANDS DAY, WHICH IS A BIG DAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VOLUNTEER. SO FEEL FREE TO USE THE CHAT ON THE SCREEN AND WE HAVE SOME E- MAIL QUESTIONS AS WELL. FIRST I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO SECRETARY SALLY JEWELL.
>> THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR TUNING INTO THIS LIVE CHAT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET AROUND THIS LANDSCAPE AND SEE EVERYBODY. IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE COLLEAGUES LIKE TIM THAT FACILITATE TECHNOLOGY SO I GET A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT THE WORLD THAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. I WANT TO SAY ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS OF THE YEAR IS COMING UP ON SATURDAY. OVER THE COURSE OF A NUMBER OF YEARS, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF VOLUNTEERING ON OUR PUBLIC LANDS AND I WANT TO THANK THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION FOUND — FOUNDATION THAT STARTED IT 20 YEARS AGO SO THAT WE COULD CONNECT SO MANY PEOPLE TO OUR PUBLIC LANDS. I THINK THE VERY FIRST ONE WAS VERY SMALL. WE ARE LOOKING AT 180,000 WELL AND HERE’S — VOLUNTEERS. I WENT ON THEIR WEBSITE BEFORE THIS PRESENTATION TODAY. THEIR TAGLINE IS HELPING HANDS FOR AMERICA’S LANDS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THEIR WEBSITE, PUBLICLANDSDAY.ORG. YOU CAN SEE BY CLICKING ON YOUR STATE WHAT IS HAPPENING CLOSE TO YOU. I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN GETTING OUT AND DOING A LITTLE SWEAT EQUITY THIS SATURDAY. I GET TO GO TO ATLANTA OR I’M GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE MLK JUNIOR HISTORIC SITE. THAT WILL BE THE CHILDHOOD HOME OF DR. KING. WE’RE GOING TO BE DOING PAINTING AND MULCHING AND PICKING UP GARBAGE. MOST IMPORTANTLY WHEN YOU GET OUT CAN YOU CONNECT, YOU NEVER LOOK AT THAT SITE IN THE SAME WAY. YOU’LL NEVER LOOK AT DR. KING’S MEMORIAL IN THE SAME WAY IF YOU GET OUT AND YOU WORK ON IT. THAT IS TRUE FOR PUBLIC LANDS AROUND THE COUNTRY. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN, AS PEOPLE DID LAST YEAR, PICKING UP GARBAGE. I THINK WE HAD MANY TONS, 500 TONS LAST YEAR. 23,000 POUNDS OF INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVED. AT THIS TIME OF CLIMATE CHANGE, OF TIGHT BUDGETS, VOLUNTEERS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. I HOPE YOU WILL GET OUT AND JOIN ME AND MAYBE TAKE A YOUNG PERSON BY THE HAND AS WELL. WITH THAT LITTLE COMMERCIAL FOR VOLUNTEERING, I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS. TIM, IF YOU HAVE SOME. FIRE WAY.
>> WE WERE INUNDATED WITH QUESTIONS. THIS ONE IS FROM VIRGINIA. ARE THERE PLANS TO INCREASE ACCESS AND BANDWIDTH TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND MOBILE PHONES THROUGH CELL TOWERS? DO YOU BELIEVE THIS IS A POSITIVE DIRECTION?
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. NO QUESTION WE ARE ALL TIED INTO OUR MOBILE TECHNOLOGY TODAY. ALL CHILDREN ARE SPENDING TIME IN FRONT OF A SCREEN, AND I TALK A LOT ABOUT THAT, I ALSO KNOW MOBILE TECHNOLOGY AND TABLETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT CAN CONNECT US TO THE NATURAL WORLD. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING IN A NUMBER OF NATIONAL PARKS, AND WILDLIFE REFUGEES, IS INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION THAT IS TIED INTO GPS SATELLITES SEE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. THE NATIONAL MALL IS ONE SUCH PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT HISTORY BASED ON WHERE YOU ARE WITH A GOOD MOBILE CONNECTION. WHILE IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN EVERYWHERE, AND THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH GETTING CELL PHONE COVERAGE IN SOME OF OUR REMOTE PLACES, I WOULD SAY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR APPRECIATES THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HOW PEOPLE INTERACT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AND WITH EACH OTHER. AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN YOU AREN’T LISTENING TO AN INTERPRETIVE MESSAGE, YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE GATHERING AROUND TO LISTEN TO THAT SAME MESSAGE. I THINK IT IS A GOOD CALL OUT AND SOMETHING WORTH INVESTING IN WHERE THE BUDGET ALLOWS.
>> I WILL JUST THAT IF YOU ARE LAND ON SATURDAY USING YOUR PHONE TO TAKE PHOTOS, THESE USE THE #NPLD20, SO WE CAN GET OUT THE WORD. THE NEXT QUESTION, WE ARE GOING TO SHIFT TO THE BUDGET QUESTION RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THIS. THIS ONE IS FROM RACHEL. WHAT CAN WE DO TO KEEP THESE PLACES OPEN AND FUNDED?
>> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, RACHEL. IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN VERY CHALLENGING. THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, AS WITH OTHER AGENCIES, HAS BEEN OPERATING UNDER A RESOLUTION WITH THE SEQUESTER THAT HAS FORCED TO BUDGET CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD. IN MANY OF OUR FACILITIES, WE SEE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF VISITATION DURING THE SUMMER. OUR SEASONAL RANGER FOREST AND OUR SEASONAL WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST, A LOT OF TIMES YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AT BUILDING CAREERS HAVE BEEN HIT THE HARDEST BY THE SEQUESTER AND THE BUDGET SITUATION. I WOULD SAY ALL OF US NEED TO MAKE THE CASE FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC LANDS. AND THE GOOD WORK THAT IS DONE BY PEOPLE ON PUBLIC LANDS. ONE OF THE THINGS I SAY OFTEN IS WHEN YOU SEE A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, GIVE THEM A HUG OR SAY THANK YOU. THERE IS A LOT OF NEGATIVE MESSAGES. I CAN TELL YOU THERE IS MANY HARD-WORKING PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE FEDERAL FAMILY TRYING TO DO GOOD WORK FOR THE COMMON GOOD. FOR TRIBAL NATIONS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. PUBLIC LANDS AND WILDLIFE AND THE DIVERSITY OF SPECIES AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND WATER AND THINGS PEOPLE CARE ABOUT. YOU NEED TO GIVE BACK TO REGULAR ORDER IN THE BUDGET. WE ALSO WILL PLEDGE TO USE OUR RESOURCES WISELY. I WILL BRING MY BUSINESS EXPERIENCE TO BEAR TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY EFFICIENTLY. CAN’T DO IT ON A WEEK TO WEEK BASIS WITH CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS WITHOUT STRATEGY.
>> THANK YOU, SECRETARY JEWELL. THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM VIRGINIA. THIS IS FROM KEITH. HE IS ASKING WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THE DEPARTMENT CAN BALANCE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT WITH THE CONSERVATION IN ORDER TO PRODUCE ENERGY AND SUSTAINING OUTDOOR RECREATION?
>> I APPRECIATE A QUESTION. BALANCE IS A KEYWORD. WE ARE MANDATED BY THE VARIOUS LAWS TO BE THOUGHTFUL IN HOW WE USE RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT AND OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT. THAT IS ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE, WHERE OUR RESOURCES ARE DEVELOPED. BALANCE IS IMPORTANT. THERE ARE PLACES NOBODY WOULD WANT TO SEE DEVELOPMENT. YOU CAN THINK OF SOME OF THE ICONIC SPOTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE GRAND CANYON. YELLOWSTONE, YOSEMITE. BUT ALSO THE WILDLIFE REFUGE, WHICH THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE CLEAR IS NOT FOR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND YET THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE OF ALASKA, WHICH WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH TO OPEN A LOT FOR ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS. WE WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL. ONE OF THE PRIORITIES I SET IN TERMS OF HOW WE BOOKED AT THE LAND UNDER OUR STEWARDSHIP IS DEVELOPING A LANDSCAPE APPROACH. UNDERSTANDING WHERE ARE THE RESOURCES, WHERE ARE THE SACRED SITES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR NATION’S FIRST PEOPLE? WHERE ARE THE AREAS THAT ARE CRITICAL HABITAT? HOW CAN WE LOOK AT THAT SO WE FOCUS ON OUR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT WHERE THE CONFLICT IS LOWER? WE CAN PRIORITIZE THOSE AREAS THAT ARE SPECIAL BECAUSE WE CAN SET THEM ASIDE. IT IS COMPLICATED BUT BALANCE IS IMPORTANT AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO BOTH. WE DON’T THINK IT HAS TO BE A TRADE-OFF.
>> THAT LEADS US INTO THE NEXT QUESTION, WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE PRESIDENT’S PLAN, SO THIS ONE IS, WHAT IS INTERIOR’S ROLE TO PROMOTE THE PLAN?
>> I AM PROUD TO WORK FOR THE PRESIDENT, WHO STEPPED UP IN FRONT OF A NATIONAL AUDIENCE AND LAID OUT A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. WE ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. CERTAINLY IN THE RESOURCES INTERIOR MANAGES, WHETHER IT IS HOT WILDFIRES, AS WE STILL HAVE BURNING, JUST INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK. WHETHER IT IS DROUGHTS OR FLOODS. WE HAVE SEEN ALL OF THEM IN COLORADO THIS YEAR. OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH PEOPLE IN COLORADO AS THEY DIG OUT FROM THE CHALLENGES THEY HAD. WE DO HAVE CHALLENGES IN WATER SUPPLIES. TOO MUCH IN SOME AND DROUGHTS IN OTHERS. WE HAVE MULTIPLE ROLES, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, WITH ONE IN FIVE ACRES OF LAND. ONE IS TO POWER OUR FUTURE IN NEW WAYS. MY PREDECESSOR AND HIS TEAM DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF STANDING UP RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LAND. THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT CAN REALLY HELP POWER OURSELVES INTO THE FUTURE WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES. THEY ARE BEING DONE IN WAYS THAT PAY ATTENTION TO THE IDEALS ON THE LANDSCAPE AS WE ARE DOING IN THE MOJAVE DESERT. AND THOUGHTFUL MANAGEMENT OF CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL FOSSIL FUELS, WORKING WITH INDUSTRY TO DEVELOP THOSE AND TO DO THEM IN A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY IN TERMS OF REDUCED CARBON FOR THE ENERGY OUTPUT. CERTAINLY RENEWABLE ENERGY, CERTAINLY CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES AND PREPARING OUR COUNTRY AND OUR LANDSCAPE FOR THE REALITIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE. A QUICK EXAMPLE, HURRICANE SANDY, THE HUGE DEVASTATING IMPACT IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF OUR COUNTRY. WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THAT, AND WE CAN SHARE THOSE LESSONS, WHAT MOTHER NATURE KNOWS ABOUT RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURES AND THE ABILITY TO TAKE THE LESSONS FROM MOTHER NATURE AND APPLY THEM OURSELVES. WE WILL BE DOING THAT IN HURRICANE SANDY MITIGATION. WE WILL BE USING YOUNG PEOPLE, WE ARE USING AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW COMMUNITIES WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS SOMETIMES WORSE FOR THE STRUCTURES BEHIND. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WAS SOMETIMES BETTER. JUST A LOT GOING ON IN CLIMATE CHANGE. WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN AND TO SHARE.
>> IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN GENERAL, YOU CAN GO TO DOI.GOV, AND GO TO THE WHAT WE DO SECTION. WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION THERE. AND IF YOU’RE JUST JOINING US, I WANT TO REMIND YOU WE ARE SITTING HERE WITH SECRETARY SALLY JEWELL, ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE GOING TO STAY ON THE CLIMATE CHANGE QUESTION. THIS IS FROM JOHN IN OREGON. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ACTIONS ARE PLANNED TO REDUCE CATASTROPHIC FIRES ON OUR PUBLIC LAND?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT FROM JOHN. I KNOW YOU HAD A SPECTACULAR SUMMER IN THE NOSE — NORTHWEST. INWILDFIRES ARE A GROWING ISSUE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOUR SENATOR AND WITH OTHERS ON CAPITOL HILL AND WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION ON A LONGER-TERM FIX FOR WILDLAND FIRES. WE TREAT EMERGENCIES LIKE HURRICANES AND EARTHQUAKES AND FLOODS WITH EMERGENCY MONEY BUT WE TEND TO TREAT WILDFIRES WITHIN OUR REGULAR BUDGET. SO WHEN WE HAVE 10 SEASONS, WE END UP FOCUSING ON SUPPRESSION OF THE RESOURCE, PUTTING OUT THE FIRE. IT TAKES MONEY FROM OTHER PARTS OF OUR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING REMOVING HAZARDOUS FUELS. AS WE BECOME SMARTER AS A PEOPLE AND MANAGER, YOU REALIZE NATURAL FIRE IS IMPORTANT TO THE ECOSYSTEM. WHEN WE GO WITHOUT NATURAL FIRES, WE END UP WITH FIRES THAT ARE FAR MORE DEVASTATING. WE WILL BE CLOSING — WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON A LONGER-TERM FIX THAT ENABLES US TO BE SMARTER ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THOSE LANDSCAPES, REMOVING FUELS, AND NOT HAVING TO PULL MONEY OUT OF THE BUDGET TO FIGHT FIRES. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY, FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO LOVE LIVING IN THE WOODS, YOU TAKE ON A PERSON RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING SURE YOU ARE CLEARING HAZARDS AROUND YOUR STRUCTURE. SO MUCH OF MY MONEY GOES TO PROTECT THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO HELP US OUT BY REMOVING THE HAZARDOUS FUEL ON YOUR PROPERTY.
>> I SEE WE’RE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THE CHAT. WE’RE GOING TO START OFF WITH ONE WE HAD A LOT OF VARIATIONS ON, RELATED TO THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES RELEASING A STUDY ON YOUR WILD HORSE PROGRAM. WHAT DO YOU SEE IS THE FUTURE OF THE PROGRAM?
>> THE CHALLENGE OF HOW TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS A GROWING POPULATION OF WILD HORSES IS ONE THAT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY CARE A LOT ABOUT. AND TEND TO SEND ME A LOT OF LETTERS AND ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE THE PASSION THERE IS. I ALSO KNOW WE VALIDATED WHAT THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN SAYING. THE HERDS DOUBLE IN SIZE EVERY 3.5 YEARS. SO THERE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARD TO BIRTH CONTROL. IT IS AN IMPERFECT SOLUTION. THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT HAS WORKED TO TRY THAT OUT. I HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO MANAGE THIS, WHERE WE CAN LEARN, NOT ONLY FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY BUT ALSO FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. ARE THERE MORE EFFECTIVE EARTH CONTROL METHODS INDUSTRY MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESEARCH THAT MAKES THESE THINGS MORE EFFECTIVE? WE HAVE A VERY ACT OF ADOPTION PROGRAM SO THAT — ACTIVE ADOPTION PROGRAM SO THAT IF WE ARE CHALLENGED, WE WOULD LOVE TO FIND GOOD HOMES FOR THEM WHERE THEY ARE EXPANDED BEYOND THE FEDERAL RANGE INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. FOR THOSE THAT ARE PASSIONATE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK OF CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS. THINK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR ON BIRTH CONTROL AND OTHER METHODS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT IS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SECRETARY JEWELL. THIS QUESTION IS FROM DAVID. THIS QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE THE DOI PRIORITIES IN REGARDS TO TRUST LANDS AND SHARING DATA WITH TRIBES TO RESTORE HOMELANDS?
>> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. I AM COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING OUR TREATY WITH TRIBES. WE HAVE AN ACTIVE EFFORT GOING ON AROUND THE KOVAL SETTLEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACCELERATE LAND INTO TRUST. I THINK YOU WILL SEE ONGOING ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT WHICH AREAS WE ARE FOCUSING ON AS WE TAKE OUR RESOURCES AND CONCENTRATE THEM IN GETTING IT DONE. I DO KNOW WE DO NOT HAVE A PROUD HISTORY AS A GOVERNMENT OF POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL. SOMETIMES THE OPPOSITE. WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA’S COMMITMENT, WITH MY PREDECESSOR TERRY, — MIGHT PREDECESSOR, — MY PREDECESSOR, WE ARE MAKING SURE WE ARE BRINGING THE WHOLE FEDERAL FAMILY TO THE TABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN DO AS VARIOUS AGENCIES TO HELP SUPPORT AND ENGAGE IN A WAY THAT TRIBES WANT US TO. SELF-GOVERNMENT, SELF- DETERMINATION ARE VERY IMPORTANT. AROUND GIS MAPPING, WE ARE AT A TIME WHERE WE HAVE CAPACITY TO LEVERAGE MAPPING TOOLS ON A NATIONWIDE SCALE. ONE OF THE PRIORITIES I HAVE LAID OUT HIS AROUND THE LANDSCAPE LEVEL AND USING GIS TOOLS. SO I THINK YOU HAVE SPECIFICS ON HOW IT MIGHT RELATE, WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT. IT ALLOWS US TO GET DOWN TO A GRANULAR LEVEL. THE USGS, WHICH IS PART OF THE INTERIOR, IS THE FOCAL POINT FOR THESE TOOLS ON A NATIONWIDE BASIS AND THEY WILL BE WORKING WITH TRIBES. IT IS A GREAT SUGGESTION. I WILL ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE DOING THE LAND TRANSFERS TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE THOSE TOOLS.
>> I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY WE ARE HERE WITH SECRETARY SALLY JEWELL TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY. IF YOU’RE JUST JOINING US, THIS CHAT WILL BE ARCHIVED AND WILL BE SHARED ON DOI.GOV AND ALSO ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. WE WILL ALSO REMAIN ON THE LIVE STREAM CHANNEL RIGHT NOW FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS SO YOU CAN WATCH IT AFTER THIS IF YOU WOULD LIKE. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION RELATED TO PUBLIC LANDS DAY. THIS IS FROM JIM IN CONNECTICUT. NOT ONLY IS SATURDAY NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY BUT THE ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY. WITH ACCESS TO LANDS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT, DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS?
>> WELL, IT IS NONE — NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY. AND I HOPE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOME SPORTSMEN ACTIVITY. THEY HAVE BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF PREZ — CONSERVATION FOR MANY DECADES. THEODORE ROOSEVELT RECOGNIZED HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS ARE CRITICAL ON HAVING THE SHE’S — SPECIES THAT FUELED THE GREAT AMERICAN PASTIME OF HUNTING AND ANGLING AND CONNECT DUST TO THE LANDSCAPES IN WAYS THAT ARE NATURAL FOR US. IN MY PRIOR WORK IN MY OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUTDOOR RECREATION IS A HUGE DRIVER OF OUR ECONOMY. SOMETHING UNDER JUST UNDER $650 BILLION A YEAR. SO THANKS FOR THE CALL OUT ABOUT NATIONAL HUNTING INFINITY — FISHING DAY. I HOPE PEOPLE DO ENJOY THIS. ACCESS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING. ONE TOOL THAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL FOR 50 YEARS IS THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN ENABLING US TO BUY EASEMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WERE SOMETIMES ARE JUST AS OF LAND THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR HABITAT AND FOUR SPORTSMEN’S ACTIVITIES. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHARE YOUR SUPPORT, TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IT MIGHT DO WITHIN YOUR OWN STATE, AND IF THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CASE TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IT IS IMPORTANT WE SUPPORT THE FUND AS WE HAVE REQUESTED IN THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET.
>> THERE IS A SITE CALLED RECREATION.GOV. FOR HUNTING, FISHING, AND ENJOYING THE PUBLIC LANDS. HIKING, BIKING, CAMPING. ALL OF IT IS THAT RECREATION.GOV. WE HAVE ANOTHER FIVE OR SIX MINUTES. IF YOU HAVE A FINAL QUESTION, SEND THEM IN. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM HARRY IN COLORADO. THE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE 21ST CENTURY SERVICE CORPS AND HOW IT WILL PROVIDE JOBS FOR THOUSANDS OF YOUNG AMERICANS AND VETERANS WHO WORK ON PUBLIC AND TRIBAL LANDS AND WATER. WHERE DOES THIS FIT WITHIN YOUR PRIORITIES?
>> I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT ON THIS. I AM VERY COMMITTED TO ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE. THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS, AT A TIME WHEN WE WERE IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WE ARE NOW, CERTAINLY ECONOMICALLY, WAS A TIME WHEN OUR COUNTRY CHOSE TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK WHERE THEY CONNECTED THEM TO PUBLIC LANDS THAT WE STILL ENJOY TODAY. AND FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WENT TO WORK ON PUBLIC LANDS, THEY NEVER LOST THAT CONNECTION. THIS IS A DIFFERENT TIME AND PLACE. BUT WE DO HAVE A NETWORK OF CONSERVATION CORPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE A NUMBER OF THEM. THE 21ST CSC IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT CORE. WE ARE WORKING ALONGSIDE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE STUDENT CONSERVATION AND OTHER NETWORK MEMBERS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT KNOW THEIR COMMUNITIES AND CONNECT PEOPLE YOUNG AND OLD TO THOSE PUBLIC LANDS IN AREAS THAT MAKE THOSE DOLLARS GO SO MUCH FARTHER. THIS WEEKEND IS A GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF ONE DAY IS ACTUALLY BEING DONE 365 DAYS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. INTERIOR PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS. WE HAVE THE PUBLIC LANDS. REGULAR ORDER WITH THE BUDGET WILL ENABLE US TO PUT THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS IN PLACE. RIGHT NOW, ANYTIME THE SEQUESTRATION, WE HAVE MORE VOLUNTEERS THAN WE CAN PUT TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR BUDGET IS NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW. SO WE WILL BE GETTING BACK TO REGULAR ORDER, I HOPE. WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON HOW WE CAN LEAN INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WITH LITTLE CONNECTION TO PUBLIC LANDS WORK ON THEM, BUILD A TRAIL, AT SHARK SURE, CLEAN UP GARBAGE, — A STRUCTURE, CLEAN UP GARBAGE, THEY WILL LOOK AT THE LAND, THE BUILDING THEY WORKED ON, I CAN’T THINK OF A BETTER WAY THAN THAT. WE WANT TO BRING BACK MORE YOUTH TIRING. I AM HOPING WE’LL GET PAST SOME OF THE CRAZINESS AROUND OUR BUDGETS AND WASHINGTON, D.C. AND THIS WILL BE A PRIORITY FOR ME.
>> JUST AS A REMINDER IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, THERE ARE EVENTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. GO TO PUBLICLANDSDAY.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION. THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CARL IN CALIFORNIA. WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT DOING TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE DISABLED TO OUR LANDS?
>> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. IT’S NO QUESTION WE WANT OUR LANDS TO FEEL WELCOMING TO ALL PEOPLE. AND WE KNOW THAT ACCESSIBILITY IS IMPORTANT TO A GOOD PART OF OUR PUBLIC THAT CAN’T ACCESS ALL OF OUR LANDS IF WE DON’T MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE. IT IS IMPORTANT. I WAS GETTING AN UPDATE TODAY FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ON SOME OF ITS EFFORTS AROUND FIXING THE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT IS NEEDED TO DO THAT. ONE OF THEIR PRIORITIES WAS AROUND ACCESS. MAKING SURE THINGS ARE ADA ACCESSIBLE. IT IS A PRIORITY, IT ALSO TAKES MONEY. ALL OF THOSE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE FACILITIES ARE WELCOME AND ACCESSIBLE. THAT IS CERTAINLY GOING ON.
>> WE HAVE TIME FOR TWO MORE QUESTIONS. THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM AUDREY IN FLORIDA. HER QUESTION IS, OF THE 15 DEPARTMENTS, INTERIOR RANKS ON THE LOWER SIDE FOR DIVERSITY IN THE WORKFORCE. WHY IS THAT AND HOW DO YOU INTEND TO CORRECT IT?
>> THANKS, I JURY. — AUDREY. I APPRECIATE HER COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY. IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO COME INTO THAT APARTMENT AND IT MAY SURPRISE PEOPLE BUT I HAVE BEEN — SENSED A DEEP COMMITMENT AT EVERY LEVEL ACROSS THE INTERIOR. WE DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH DIVERSITY AS THE NATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. WE DON’T HAVE THE BROAD AMERICAN PUBLIC ENJOYING THE PUBLIC LANDS IN RELATION TO THEIR MAKEUP OF OUR POPULATION. I BELIEVE PUBLIC LANDS NEED TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND WELCOMING TO THE WHOLE PUBLIC. PART OF THAT IS THAT THE FACE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. WHAT IS THE FACE OF THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP THAT IS CREATING ROLE MODELS AND ASPIRATIONS SO THAT PEOPLE DO SAY THIS IS A PLACE I WOULD LIKE TO BRING MY TALENTS? I HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO DIG INTO THIS TOPIC INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE INTERIOR. AS I HAVE GONE AROUND THE LANDSCAPE AND MET WITH MANAGERS, NATIONAL PARK SUPERINTENDENT, BLM STATE DIRECTORS, I HAVE SENSED A CONSISTENT COMMITMENT TO INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR WORK FORCE AND MAKING SURE OUR COUNTRY IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE POPULATION. I WILL ALSO SAY, OUR YOUTH HIRING PROGRAMS, WHICH, BY THE NATURE OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE POPULATION, HAVE BEEN MORE DIVERSE. AS WE WELCOME YOUNG PEOPLE INTO THIS ORGANIZATION, THEY GET US ON THE RADAR IN THEIR THINKING ABOUT THEIR COLLEGE CAREER. THEY ARE DECIDING, WHAT DO I DO? MAY BE BECOMING A WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST IS OF INTEREST. MAYBE BECOMING A PARK RANGER IS AN INTEREST. OR A LAND MANAGER. THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN HIT. WE JUST HAVE TO GET PAST THIS SO WE CAN DO WHAT YOU EXPECT OF US. MAKE SURE WHEN WE ARE HIRING WE ARE REFLECTING THE COUNTRY AND WHEN PEOPLE VISIT, THEY SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM. AND THAT UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY AND CULTURE THAT IS SO RICH. ALL OF IT IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU, SECRETARY JEWELL. ONE FINAL QUESTION FROM NEW MEXICO. THIS IS RELATED TO YOUR BE IN — URBAN PARKS. HAD YOU SEE THEM MEETING YOUR GOALS OF GETTING MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE?
>> ONE OF THE MAJOR TRENDS AROUND THE COUNTRY IS URBANIZATION. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO CITIES. WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT TO HOW MUCH SCREEN TIME WE SPEND, HOW MUCH TIME OUR CHILDREN ARE IN ORGANIZED SPORTS THAT TAKES THEM AWAY FROM THE NATURAL WONDER OF EXPLORING THE OUTDOORS OR CREATING THEIR OWN GAMES, WE GET A DISCONNECT FROM NATURE THAT IS UNDERMINING ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS WE HAVE AS HUMAN BEINGS, ENGAGING WITH NATURE. URBAN PARKS AND REFUGES, CITY PARKS, VACANT LOTS, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT. CHILDREN WILL INVENT NAMES IF YOU GIVE THEM A CHANCE. THEY WILL RESOLVE THEIR OWN CONFLICTS. YOU DON’T HAVE TO TELL THEM, IF THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THAT. NATURE IS THE BEST CLASSROOM FOR SO MUCH OF WHAT WE NEED AS ADULTS IN LIVING TOGETHER IN A CIVIL SOCIETY. I THINK PARKS PROVIDE A GREAT SYSTEM TO APPRECIATE THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGEES, THE VAST LANDS OF THE BLM. EVEN IN INDIAN COUNTRY. IN TRIBAL AREAS, FINDING OPPORTUNITIES CAN — TO CONNECT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HISTORY AND CULTURE AND CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. WHETHER URBAN, TRIBAL, CONNECTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO NATURE IS CRITICAL IN MAKING SURE IT IS CLOSE TO HOME, ACCESSIBLE WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THAT IS IMPORTANT. FOR ALL OF YOU LISTENING, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A PERSON BY THE HAND, BORROW ONE IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN YOURSELF, GET THEM INTO THE PUBLIC LANDS, IF YOU CAN GET THEM TO DO A LITTLE WORK, ALL THE BETTER. CONNECT OUR LITTLE PEOPLE TO THE GREEN WORLD WE ARE ALL A PART OF SO THEY CAN CARE FOR THESE PLACES THAT ARE SO SPECIAL.
>> THANK YOU, SECRETARY JEWELL. AND THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN FOR OUR SPECIAL CHAT WITH SECRETARY JEWELL. WE GOT SOME REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS AND WE WILL BE POSTING THIS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND ON DOI.GOV. AND IT WILL REMAIN ON LIVE STREAM THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. ANY PARTING REMARKS?
>> COME OUT AND PLAY ON SATURDAY. DO SOME WORK. PUBLICLANDSDAY.ORG. IT WILL TELL YOU WHERE TO GO. GOSH, WHETHER THE WEATHER IS LIKE THIS OR WHETHER IT IS POURING RAIN, THE NATURAL WORLD IS WHAT WE ARE ALL A PART OF. I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT AND ENJOY IT. THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY DO. IT IS NOT EASY TO BE A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE BUT OUR WORK IS IMPORTANT.
>> JUST AS A FINAL PARTING GIFT, WE HAD A PROJECT THIS SUMMER. WE ASKED YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS OF YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES ON ALL OF OUR PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HIS RESPONSE WAS UNBELIEVABLE. — YOUR RESPONSE WAS UNBELIEVABLE. EVERY STATE. IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THEM. WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WE HAVE RECEIVED. THIS IS JUST A ROUGH CUT. HE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ONE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL LATER THIS WEEK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
