"Jewell Pressed on Carbon Tax, Coal and Litigation on Public Lands"

"President Obama's nominee for Interior secretary was grilled this morning over how she would balance conservation and development on hundreds of millions of acres of public lands, whether she would support a carbon tax and how she would regulate the controversial technique of hydraulic fracturing."

"Sally Jewell, the CEO of outdoor retail giant REI, was also criticized by some Republican senators over her role as a board member of the National Parks Conservation Association and her support of outgoing Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's former "wild lands" policy.

But Democrats praised Jewell's business acumen and her commitment to protecting scenic lands that support $646 billion a year in outdoor recreation spending.

Jewell, a Washington state resident who was nominated early last month to replace Salazar, delivered carefully crafted remarks at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee."

Phil Taylor reports for Greenwire March 7, 2013.

SEE ALSO:

"Interior Dept. Nominee Is Questioned on Public Land Use" (New York Times)

"GOP Respectful But Skeptical Of Sally Jewell" (Politico)

"Interior Nominee Sally Jewell Pledges To Take a Balanced Approach on Energy and Climate Issues" (AP)

"Interior Nominee Sally Jewell Faces Senate Skepticism" (Los Angeles Times)

"Obama Cabinet Nominee Defends Health-Care Law Waiver Request" (NBC)

"Sally Jewell’s Links To Conservationists Draw GOP Questions During Confirmation Hearing" (Seattle Times)

"Interior Nominee Sally Jewell: Public Lands 'Balance' Is Key" (Salt Lake Tribune)

"Nominee Jewell Promises To Bring 'Balance' To Public Land Use" (Deseret News)

Source: Greenwire, 03/08/2013