Department of the Interior
Secretary GALE NORTON

Confirmed by voice vote in the Senate and sworn in as secretary of the interior January 30.

Government policy experience: Colorado attorney general and chair of the Environment Committee for the National Association of Attorneys General 1991-1999; associate solicitor at the Department of the Interior 1985-1990; assistant to the deputy secretary of agriculture, 1984-1985.

Other work experience: Environment Committee chair for the Republican National Lawyers Association (1999-2001).

Education: B.A. and law degree, University of Denver.

President Bush on Norton: "Gale is a former attorney general of Colorado with a reputation for building consensus on divisive issues. In my administration, she'll have a clear charge. We will restore our national parks system. We will develop partnerships with states and local governments and private citizens to conserve our lands and resources and to protect the endangered species of America. We will find ways to develop our nations' resources in a balanced and an environmentally friendly way."

Norton on U.S. public lands: "I welcome the opportunity to work with President-elect Bush to preserve our wonderful, national treasures, to restore endangered species, and to help Americans enjoy the great outdoors.

"An entire one-third of our land is owned by the federal government. Together with the other departments that own that land, the Department of the Interior faces the challenge of seeing that our land is used in an environmentally responsible way. We must build strong partnerships, as the president-elect said, with states, local governments, and private citizens to make thoughtful decisions about natural resources."

Norton on global warming: "It does seem, based on my evaluation, which is not a scientific one, that there is beginning to be more of a consensus that global warming is occurring. There is still disagreement as to the causes and the long-term future. And obviously, there is disagreement about what ought to be done in that regard. I will certainly rely on scientific information as it becomes available and evaluate the information as it is presented to me."

Background: As a state attorney general, Norton represented Colorado in a major court victory forcing the federal government to clean up hazardous wastes at two federal facilities in her state.

While serving at the Interior Department in the 1980s, Norton advocated opening parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development. Bush and Norton are pressing this controversial proposal again now as part of a U.S. energy plan. Environmental groups are fighting Norton's confirmation.