Interior Secretary Sally Jewell spent "weeks" learning about her new job prior to her Senate confirmation hearing, The New York Times.

But Jewell, the former chief executive at Recreational Equipment Inc., didn't encounter much controversy. She was confirmed as the leader of the Interior Department after the Obama administration agreed to take a second look at a road for an Alaska Native village.

As part of the agreement, Jewell will be traveling to King Cove to learn more about the need for the road, which would cut through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The trip, which will include Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is expected in the summer.

“You can’t possibly come into a job like this and expect to know what you’re doing right out of the gate,” Jewell told The New York Times of her new role. “You have to listen to very, very smart people who know what they’re doing and who can help you prioritize.”

Get the Story:
New Interior Chief Savors a Steep Learning Curve (The New York Times 4/30)

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