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JANUARY 22, 2001

The Senate confirmation hearings of President George W. Bush's controversial Cabinet nominee Gale Norton concluded on Friday with the former Colorado Attorney General poised to become the first woman to head the Department of Interior.

Along the way, she faced questions on enforcing existing law, trust land acquisition, and her general view of tribal sovereignty, treaties, and self-determination. But she also sidestepped several issues raised by Democrat members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Norton made clear her views, however, on oil drilling in Alaska's pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). While noting it would take Congressional action, she defended the possibility that development could occur without significant damage to the environment.

Supporters of drilling include Senator Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska), who will most likely resume duties as committee Chairman this week, newly confirmed Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, and Arctic Slope Regional Corp., an Inupiat Eskimo-owned Alaska Native corporation. Opponents include environmenalists, scientists, and the Gwiichin Alaska Natives, who depend on caribou in ANWR for subsistence.

Norton also attempted to assuage concerns addressed by Jeff Bingaman (D-N.Mex.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and freshman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash). All questioned Norton's committment to enforcing existing laws and regulations, some of which she has criticized in the past.

For the most part, Norton assured the Senators she would uphold them. But on specifics such as an 1872 law which has been used to shut down mining to protect land sacred to tribes and recently finalized regulations affecting surface mining on public lands, Norton either declined to state a position or said she was unfamiliar with them.

Norton, however, did profess familiarity with trust land acquisition for tribes, noting it is a "signficant issue and that there are a number of decisions about that pending in the Department." When asked by Dorgan if she supported a moratorium on the matter, though, she said she had not yet taken a position and that each decision should be evaluated on a "case-by-case basis."

Cantwell quizzed Norton's general views on tribal sovereignty. Norton responded by recounting some of her history with two Ute tribes in her state, both of whom have endorsed her, and said she has a "great deal of respect" for all tribes.

"The Department of Interior has a trust responsibility and I take seriously that trust responsibility in recognition of the indepenbdent ability of the tribes to make decisions for themselves," said Norton. "I will try to work to have that right balance and fulfilmment of our goal."

Republicans, meanwhile, again used Friday's hearing to express their support of Norton and to air their gripes against the now-departed Bill Clinton administration. They received a bit of support the next day, when the transition team of President George W. Bush asked all agencies to delay submitting any proposed or final regulation until it receives approval by one of his appointees.

The team also temporarily delayed by 60 days the effective date of any final regulations which have not yet taken effect. Exceptions in both instances are allowed to emergency regulations or those affecting health and safety.

The committee is expected to vote on approving Norton this week. Murkowski is expected to be named Chairman once again.

Watch the Hearing:
RealVideo: Gale Norton's Senate Confirmation Hearing Day 1 (CSPAN 1/18)
RealVideo: Gale Norton's Senate Confirmation Hearing Day 2 (CSPAN 1/19)

Get Transcript of Hearing:
Text: Gale Norton's Senate Confirmation Hearing Day 1 (eMediaMillWorks 1/18)

Relevant Links:
Stop Gale Norton - www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/
stop-norton/index.html
Say No to Norton - www.saynotonorton.org
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - www.senate.gov/~energy

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