"A good Interior secretary should have a keen understanding of the need to balance development with environmental protection. In the West, there's no hotter issue.

The new Interior chief, former Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, took a smart step in that direction Monday by reversing one of his predecessor's policies and embracing the preservation of our nation's treasured resources.

In his first major policy announcement, Kempthorne endorsed a "no impairment" standard that emphasizes protecting national parks' natural features. It was a signal that Kempthorne's Interior Department would rather see fewer snowmobiles, off-road vehicles and cellphone towers in America's national parks. That's in striking contrast to former Interior Secretary Gale Norton's effort to loosen the standards used by local managers in deciding what park uses to allow, such as motorized recreation."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Fresh breeze at Interior Dept. (The Denver Post 6/21)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Give Kempthorne a chance on Cobell (6/15)
Cobell files contempt charges against Kempthorne (6/13)
Editorial: Dirk Kempthorne arrives in Washington (6/13)
Trust fund reports blocked by appeals court (6/12)
Kempthorne sworn in as Interior secretary (6/8)
Kempthorne discusses Abramoff, education (6/2)
Cobell, Abramoff and more await Kempthorne (6/1)
New Interior secretary arrives in Washington (5/31)
Opinion: Kempthorne gives industry what it wants (5/31)
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes skeptical of Kempthorne (5/29)
Senate confirms Kempthorne as Interior Secretary (5/26)
Editorial: Kempthorne should settle trust fund lawsuit (05/17)
Senate panel approves Kempthorne nomination (05/11)
Editorial: Kempthorne left questions unanswered (5/9)
'Shameful' lack of leadership at BIA decried (5/5)
Kempthorne confirmation hearing to start May 4 (5/1)
Interior Department big on new regulations (04/24)
Kempthorne confirmation hearing slated for May (04/10)
Interior nominee Kempthorne meets with senators (4/4)
Tribal issues put Kempthorne in hot seat at Interior (03/21)
Kempthorne offered DOI post on day of nomination (03/21)
Kempthorne's Senate record scant on Indian issues (3/20)
Tribes wary of Kempthorne, Interior nominee (3/20)
Idaho governor nominated for Interior Secretary (03/17)
Senators expect to confirm Kempthorne at Interior (03/17)
Norton hopes Westerner will take helm at Interior (3/16)
Montana-Wyoming tribes seek Indian for BIA job (3/16)
Connecticut tribes worried about BIA leadership (3/16)
Campbell touted for Interior Secretary Cabinet post (3/15)
Campbell recommended to run Interior Department (03/14)
Indian leadership still lacking at Indian Affairs agency (3/13)
A rocky five years for Norton at Interior Department (3/13)
Oklahoma tribal leaders sad to see Norton leave (3/13)
Editorial: Norton missed chance to settle Cobell lawsuit (3/13)
Norton denies Abramoff played a role in resignation (3/13)
Bush to look West to fill Interior Department position (3/13)
Editorial: Norton leaves behind an unhappy legacy (3/13)
Secretary Norton to step down at end of March (3/10)
Griles arranged for Norton photo with Abramoff (01/30)
Norton refutes alleged influence of Abramoff (12/15)
Watchdog group sues DOI over Abramoff documents (12/07)
Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation seeks recognition probe (12/01)
Inside the BIA, according to Jack Abramoff (11/23)
Bernhardt nominated for Interior solicitor post (11/21)
Salon: Italia Federici a 'minor' Republican player (11/18)
Audio: Italia Federici testifies before Senate panel (11/17)
Appeals court leaves trust accounting to Interior (11/16)
Norton lobbied on Shinnecock Nation recognition (11/15)
Report: Griles had repeated contacts with Abramoff (11/07)
Editorial: No rewrite for national park policies (11/03)
Interior drawn into Senate committee's lobbying probe (10/26)
Interior claims shutdown will cause 'grave injury' (10/25)
Interior ordered to protect Indian trust fund systems (10/21)
Editorial: National parks under siege by Bush (10/21)
National Park Service proposes management policies (10/19)
Norton pushes for more drilling in wake of hurricanes (09/28)
DOI spends $30K to produce glossy report on trust (09/20)
Senate delays action on ANWR drilling in budget (09/14)
Gale Norton: New approach to conservation needed (08/30)
Cobell fights effort to oust judge from trust fund case (08/29)
Appeals court stays Lamberth order on notices (07/29)
Federal Register: Probate Reform Act certified (06/28)
DOI denies mismanagement of Indian trust funds (06/21)
White House told DOI to pay attention to Abramoff (06/20)
BIA hopeful says he won't bring 'baggage' to the job (06/20)
Norton defends Myers' record as Interior solicitor (06/02)
Lamberth orders Interior to turn over e-mails (05/27)
Gaming leads to new concerns about lobbyists (05/26)
Miccosukee Tribe still fighting state on Everglades (05/26)
DOI to go ahead with wireless despite IG report (05/24)
South Dakota Democrat asks White House for BIA job (05/23)
Norton won't reconsider Paugussett recognition (03/31)
Gale Norton: Drilling in ANWR won't hurt environment (03/14)
Pueblo leader endorsed as new assistant secretary (03/04)
Editorial: Famous Dave's background not enough (02/09)
Famous Dave Anderson: 'The bureau needs to change' (2/4)
Anderson's resignation blamed on lack of support (02/01)
Dave Anderson resigns after year as head of BIA (2/1)