This Week at Interior July 19, 2013

THIS WEEK... AT INTERIOR... SECRETARY SALLY JEWELL JOINED AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK AND COLORADO SENATOR MARK UDALL TO ANNOUNCE A NEW PARTNERSHIP, AIMED AT REDUCING THE RISKS OF WILDFIRES TO COLORADO'S WATER SUPPLY. THE WESTERN WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT PARTNERSHIP LOOKS TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER WESTERN STATES SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE SAME WILDFIRE RISKS... THE NEW INITIATIVE WILL SEE INTERIOR'S BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WORKING WITH USDA'S FOREST SERVICE TO MITIGATE THE DANGER FIRE PRESENTS TO FOREST LANDS, WATER SUPPLIES, IRRIGATION AND HYDRO-ELECTRIC FACILITIES. IN TESTIMONY ON CAPITOL HILL EARLIER THIS WEEK BEFORE THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, THE SECRETARY SAID THE EXTENDED DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN THE WESTERN STATES COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A RECORD NUMBER OF WILDFIRES. The reason I'm wearing this purple ribbon has to do with fire. We are in an extreme drought situation throughout many parts of the country. I have met firefighters at the NIFC Center in Boise, I was at the Yarnell Hill fire two days after the devastating accident that took the lives of 19 firefighters, the worst day on my job was attending the memorial for those 19 fallen firefighters. And they gave their lives because of very dangerous situations that we have in parts of the West. It's part of all of our jobs to recognize that, to address it collectively together. AFTER COLORADO THE SECRETARY HEADS FOR SEATTLE, WHERE SHE'LL CELEBRATE HER 100TH DAY AS INTERIOR SECRETARY WITH THE OUTDOOR NATION'S SIGNATURE SUMMIT... GETTING YOUNG PEOPLE MORE INVOLVED WITH CONSERVATION AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS IS ONE OF THE SECRETARY'S TOP PRIORITIES. NOT FAR AWAY IN WASHINGTON STATE... A GATHERING OF VOLCANOLOGISTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES THIS WEEK ON THE SLOPES OF MOUNT SAINT HELENS, AND AT THE U-S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S CASCADES VOLCANO OBSERVATORY. THE SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS ARE LEARNING TECHNIQUES FOR MONITORING ACTIVE VOLCANOS, AND REDUCING THE RISKS THAT ERUPTING VOLCANOES CAN MEAN FOR LIVES AND PROPERTY. THE ANNUAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN TRAINING FOREIGN SCIENTISTS FOR 22 YEARS. THAT'S THIS WEEK, AT INTERIOR.