Conservation Recognition Events

Photos from award events featuring conservation leaders, emphasizing the significance of environmental stewardship and legislative support for wildlife refuges.

Office of Air and Radiation - Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Reception and awards event on Capitol Hill, sponsored by the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, FWS Director H. Dale Hall, and FWS Assistant Director for the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) Geoffrey Haskett among the Interior officials on hand. Honored for their work in support of the NWRS were Congressmen Mike Thompson of California, Michael Castle of Delaware, Norman Dicks of Washington, Ron Kind of Wisconsin, Jim Saxton of New Jersey, and Todd Tiahrt of Kansas. Event highlighted National Wildlife Refuge Week, and marked the 10th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997.

Secretary Gale Norton, center, accepting the American Recreation Coalition's Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award, bestowed in memory of Sheldon Coleman, camping products distributor and promoter of conservation partnerships. Coalition President Derrick Crandall is to Norton's left, and Coalition Chairman David Humphreys to her right. Photo was used in Interior video on Norton era

Reception and awards event on Capitol Hill, sponsored by the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, FWS Director H. Dale Hall, and FWS Assistant Director for the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) Geoffrey Haskett among the Interior officials on hand. Honored for their work in support of the NWRS were Congressmen Mike Thompson of California, Michael Castle of Delaware, Norman Dicks of Washington, Ron Kind of Wisconsin, Jim Saxton of New Jersey, and Todd Tiahrt of Kansas. Event highlighted National Wildlife Refuge Week, and marked the 10th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997.

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Meeting of the National Park System Advisory Board, with National Park Service Director Fran Mainella and Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas among the officials on hand to discuss National Heritage Areas planning and other issues

Office of Air and Radiation - Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Meeting of the National Park System Advisory Board, with National Park Service Director Fran Mainella and Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas among the officials on hand to discuss National Heritage Areas planning and other issues

National Park System Advisory Board meeting ("Charting a Future for National Heritage Areas"), with National Park Service Director Fran Mainella among the Interior officials participating

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - OCEAN DAY

Office of Cooperative Environmental Management - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) History Lunch , Environmental Protection Agency

Reception and awards event on Capitol Hill, sponsored by the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, FWS Director H. Dale Hall, and FWS Assistant Director for the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) Geoffrey Haskett among the Interior officials on hand. Honored for their work in support of the NWRS were Congressmen Mike Thompson of California, Michael Castle of Delaware, Norman Dicks of Washington, Ron Kind of Wisconsin, Jim Saxton of New Jersey, and Todd Tiahrt of Kansas. Event highlighted National Wildlife Refuge Week, and marked the 10th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997.

Fire plan conference activities in New Orleans, Louisiana, featuring announcement by Secretary Gale Norton, left, of Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National Fire Plan Award winners, including Interior Chief of Staff Brian Waidmann, right, recognized for efforts to protect public lands and wildlife

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - OCEAN DAY

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Fisheries Sustainable Leadership Awards

Fire plan conference activities in New Orleans, Louisiana, including announcement by Secretary Gale Norton, left, of Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National Fire Plan Award winners recognized for efforts to protect public lands and wildlife

Secretary Gale Norton in Phoenix, Arizona, meeting with Bureau of Land Management delegation, led by Director Kathleen Clarke and Deputy Director for Operations Larry Benna, for discussions and awards

Office of Air and Radiation - Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Christine Todd Whitman dinner , Environmental Protection Agency

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Activities at the National Park Foundation's Leadership Summit on Partnership and Philanthropy, in Austin, Texas, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining First Lady Laura Bush among the participating dignitaries

Office of the Administrator (Stephen L. Johnson) - National Notable Achievement Awards Ceremony , Environmental Protection Agency

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Mark Trail Reception

Secretary Gale Norton presenting certificate to representative of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, during event at Oregon Zoo in Portland highlighting public-private agreement for wildlife species protection. The Oregon Department joined U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Threemile Canyon Farms, The Nature Conservancy, Portland General Electric

Fire plan conference activities in New Orleans, Louisiana, including announcement by Secretary Gale Norton, left, of Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National Fire Plan Award winners recognized for efforts to protect public lands and wildlife

Reception, attended by Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall and other Interior officials, publicizing the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program, a cooperative venture of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and local communities--involving reintroduction of parrots into the wild, construction of a new aviary, captive breeding programs, monitoring of the wild populations, and grassroots educational efforts

Mike Leavitt with unknown individuals; Stephen Johnson at Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Capitol Hill Oceans Week

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

Fire plan conference activities in New Orleans, Louisiana, including announcement by Secretary Gale Norton, left, of Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National Fire Plan Award winners recognized for efforts to protect public lands and wildlife

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Appearance by Secretary Gale Norton at the Great Lakes Lighthouse Conference, Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, Michigan, to announce transfer of four Michigan lighthouses, one Washington lighthouse from Coast Guard to state, county, non-profit control; and to bestow lighthouse awards

Visit by Secretary Gale Norton to Mackinac Island, Michigan for address on national energy issues to the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual Mackinac Policy Conference at the Grand Hotel; and for tours of the environs

Office of the Administrator - Open House , Environmental Protection Agency

Mike Leavitt with unknown individuals; Stephen Johnson at Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Office of the Administrator (Stephen L. Johnson) - Native American , Environmental Protection Agency

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - OCEAN DAY

Office of the Administrator (Stephen L. Johnson) - National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT) , Environmental Protection Agency

Office of the Administrator (Stephen L. Johnson) - Children's Environmental Health Excellence Award , Environmental Protection Agency

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Department of the Interior senior officials, including U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Acting Director P. Patrick Leahy, at USGS-sponsored presentation on Hurricane Katrina

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

Office of Air and Radiation - Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Fire plan conference activities in New Orleans, Louisiana, including announcement by Secretary Gale Norton, second from left, of Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National Fire Plan Award winners recognized for efforts to protect public lands and wildlife

Office of the Administrator (Lisa P. Jackson) - Administrator's Town Hall and Awards Ceremony , Environmental Protection Agency

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Walter B. Jones Awards

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Capitol Hill Oceans Week

Signing event, at the National Geographic Society (NGS) headquarters in Washington, D.C., for Memorandum of Understanding promoting geotourism--tourism that helps sustain or enchance the environmental, cultural, aesthetic, historical character and well-being of a place and its residents--as a collaborative approach among government agencies and private partners. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joined NGS President and Chief Executive Officer John Fahey, Jr., NGS Executive Vice President Terry Garcia, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Mark Rey, Bureau of Indian Affairs Director Jerold Gidner, Bureau of Land Management Deputy Director Henri Bisson, Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Director Kenneth Stansell, and Forest Service Associate Chief Sally Collins, among other dignitaries, at the gathering.

Visit by Secretary Gale Norton to Montana for participation in the Western Governors' Association Forest Health Summit in Missoula

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Walter B. Jones Awards

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Working Capital Fund - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Conference on Ocean Literacy

Christine Todd Whitman Breakfast , Environmental Protection Agency

Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) 2006 Achievement Awards ceremony and reception, with presentations by CRT leaders, including Marianne Fowler, Senior Vice President of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and Derrick Crandall, President of the American Recreation Coalition

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - National Wetlands Awards

Working Capital Fund - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Conference on Ocean Literacy

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response - Coal Combustion Products Partnership (C2P2) Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to the National Zoo, Washington, D.C., for touring, press conference launch of the Tiger Conservation Initiative. The Secretary joined numerous dignitaries, among them National Zoo Director John Berry, actor and Conservation International board member Harrison Ford, actor Robert Duvall, World Bank Group President Robert Zoellick, National Zoo Ecology Center Head Conservator John Seidensticker, and International Tiger Coalition spokesperson Grace Ge Gabriel, at the event.

Office of Air and Radiation - Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Activities at the National Park Foundation's Leadership Summit on Partnership and Philanthropy, in Austin, Texas, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining First Lady Laura Bush among the participating dignitaries

Office of Environmental Information - eRegulations , Environmental Protection Agency

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to Hoover Dam area, Boulder City, Nevada for activities marking historic Colorado River Water Delivery Agreement, providing for reduction in California reliance on Colorado River water and protection of authorized shares of water for six other Colorado River Basin states

Deputy Secretary P. Lynn Scarlett receiving honorary painting from Fish and Wildlife Service

Office of Air and Radiation - Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Department of the Interior senior officials, including U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Acting Director P. Patrick Leahy, at USGS-sponsored presentation on Hurricane Katrina

Colorado Water Congress in Denver, attended by Secretary Gale Norton for discussion of challenge grants for water conservation projects under Water 2025 Initiative, water agreements involving the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Great Sand Dunes National Park, and other Western policy issues

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - OCEAN DAY

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - CAPITOL HILL OCEAN WEEK

Office of Air and Radiation - Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Air and Radiation - Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

Working Capital Fund - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Conference on Ocean Literacy

Fire plan conference activities in New Orleans, Louisiana, including announcement by Secretary Gale Norton, far left, of Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National Fire Plan Award winners recognized for efforts to protect public lands and wildlife

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

Secretary Dirk Kempthorne with aides and Klamath working group representatives at event marking the release of the Klamath Basin Hydropower Agreement in Principle, under which the Department of the Interior, the states of California and Oregon, and PacifiCorp established a framework for addressing the potential removal of four Klamath Basin hydropower facilities in parallel with proposed Klamath Basin Restoration Act provisions for reliable water supply, low-cost power, and protection of species listed under the Endangered Species Act

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

Visit by Secretary Gale Norton to the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, Augusta, Georgia, for ceremony marking designation of six Georgia locales as Preserve America sites, including Kennesaw, Macon, Madison, Monticello, Rome, and Whitfield County

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

Office of Cooperative Environmental Management - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) History Lunch , Environmental Protection Agency

National Park System Advisory Board meeting ("Charting a Future for National Heritage Areas"), with National Park Service Director Fran Mainella among the Interior officials participating

Office of Air and Radiation - Clean Air Excellence Awards , Environmental Protection Agency

Secretary Gale Norton with Tom Benjamin at Department of Interior headquarters, discussing National Park Service studies, including 2004 publication, America's National Parks, Investing to Preserve Their Future

Office of the Administrator - Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - Administrator Gina McCarthy visiting the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation at Fort Yates, ND , Environmental Protection Agency

Activities at the National Park Service Superintendents Summit, Cliff Lodge and environs, Snowbird, Utah, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. among the officials on hand

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - OCEAN DAY

Ceremonial planting of blight-resistant American chestnut tree, outside the headquarters of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) at Interior, to mark OSM's 30th anniversary. Among dignitaries participating in the event were Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, OSM Appalachian Region Director (soon to become OSM Director) Brent Wahlquist, National Mining Association President and Chief Executive Officer Kraig Naasz, and American Chestnut Foundatiion President Marshal Case.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Capitol Hill Oceans Week

National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress and Exposition in Baltimore, Maryland, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne among officials on hand to pledge support for the NRPA's "Get Outdoors, It's Yours" Initiative

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Capitol Hill Oceans Week

of 2