Reid praises Salazar nomination

With close to 90 percent of Nevada managed by the federal government, the Interior secretary has influence over an array of issues, including public land use, wild horse control, Colorado River allotments, species protection and the administration of national parks and refuges.

The department also oversees trust programs for American Indians.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar “is as good as it gets” as an interior secretary nominee. The Colorado senator is an expert on renewable energy and water rights.

“I just can’t express how fortunate the Western part of the United States is today with Salazar being the new secretary,” he said.

Reid also said Salazar was giving up a safe seat in the Senate to serve in the Obama administration, calling it “one of the real patriotic acts I have seen since I have been in government.”

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said Salazar has worked well with Republicans but stopped short of supporting his nomination.

“I look forward to Senate hearings where we will have a chance to further explore his qualifications for this position,” Ensign said.

The actions of federal managers is most evident in the rural Nevada district of Republican Rep. Dean Heller. He expressed concern Salazar might promote policies limiting access and multiple uses of public land.

“I will hold his feet to the fire to reject any extreme ideology pushed by environmental special interests,” Heller said. “It is my hope that the Obama administration will have a reasonable approach to public land and resource management.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said Salazar “is another solid selection” by Obama to his Cabinet.

“The amount of federal land in Nevada that falls under the control of the Interior Department is vast, and we will benefit from having a secretary who comes from a Western state and who understands both urban and rural land use issues,” she said.