THIS WEEK, AT INTERIOR...

A BIG MILESTONE FOR A SMALL ANIMAL... THE U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE THIS WEEK REPORTS

THAT THE ISLAND NIGHT LIZARD -- WHICH IS ONLY FOUND ON THREE OF THE EIGHT CHANNEL ISLANDS

OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA -- HAS SUCCESSFULLY RECOVERED AND WILL BE REMOVED FROM FEDERAL

PROTECTION UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. THE REMOVAL COMES THANKS TO A COOPERATIVE

EFFORT BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THE U-S NAVY, WHICH WORKED TOGETHER TO REMOVE

NON-NATIVE GRAZING ANIMALS THAT STRIPPED THE LAND OF VEGETATION, DAMAGING THE LIZARDS'

HABITAT.

A LANDMARK U-N REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE THIS WEEK, AND ITS EFFECT ON THE WORLD'S POOREST

COMMUNITIES... THAT REPORT COMES ON THE HEELS OF THE SECRETARY'S VISIT ON BOARD A U-S NAVY

SUBMARINE UNDER THE POLAR ICE CAP, WHERE SHE OBSERVED THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN

ARCTIC REGIONS FIRST HAND... WARMING TEMPERATURES IN THOSE REGIONS HAS FAR REACHING IMPACTS,

FROM COASTAL EROSION, TO SHIPPING ACTIVITIES.

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS CELEBRATING ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL *BIOBLITZ*. THIS YEAR'S GATHERING

TOOK PLACE AT THE GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND BROUGHT OUT SOME

NINE THOUSAND PEOPLE, INCLUDING 27-HUNDRED STUDENTS AND MORE THAN 300 SCIENTISTS. THE

BIOBLITZ IS TWO DAYS OF INTENSIVE EXPLORATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF UNIQUE PLANT AND ANIMAL

LIFE. PARK SERVICE DIRECTOR JONATHAN JARVIS AMONG THOSE ON HAND... HE SAYS THE BIOBLITZ

PUTS A SPOTLIGHT ON THE VALUE OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARKS, OFFERS A CHANCE

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO TO GET OUTSIDE, AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION TO PURSUE A SCIENTIFIC

CAREER.

THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION HAS AWARDED A 19-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT TO BUILD THE TOHLAKAI

PUMPING PLANT... THE FIRST PUMPING PLANT FOR THE NAVAJO-GALLUP WATER SUPPLY PROJECT THAT

WILL BE LOCATED IN NEW MEXICO AND PARTS OF ARIZONA. THAT PROJECT IS THE CORNERSTONE OF

AN HISTORIC WATER RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN FEDERAL, STATE, AND TRIBAL AUTHORITIES, AND

WILL DELIVER CLEAN, SAFE DRINKING WATER TO TRIBAL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. MOLTZ INDUSTRIES

INCORPORATED WILL BUILD THE PLANT, ONE OF FOURTEEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS MARKED BY

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AS A HIGH PRIORITY.

INTERIOR THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED THE FIRST INFUSION OF FUNDS INTO THE COBELL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

FUND. NEARLY 600-THOUSAND DOLLARS IS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM THE LAND BUY-BACK PROGRAM

TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUND THAT WILL PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE

STUDENTS SEEKING HIGHER EDUCATION...THE BUY-BACK PROGRAM OFFERS WILLING INDIAN LANDOWNERS THE

CHANCE TO SELL TRACTS OF LAND WITH MULTIPLE OWNERS. THAT LAND WOULD THEN BE HELD IN TRUST

FOR THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY. AND SIX WOMEN WHO SERVED AS *ROSIE THE RIVETERS*

SAT DOWN WITH SECRETARY JEWELL THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES SUPPORTING THE

WAR EFFORT DURING WORLD WAR TWO. NOW IN THEIR 80'S AND 90'S, THESE WOMEN HELPED FIGHT THE

AXIS FORCES ON THE HOMEFRONT WHEN THEY WERE STILL IN THEIR TEENS AND TWENTIES... HELPING

TO BUILD THE SHIPS, AIRPLANES AND WEAPONS THAT SAW THE ALLIES TO VICTORY ALMOST SEVEN

DECADES AGO. JEWELL CALLED MEETING THE WOMEN A REAL HONOR, AND SAID THE WOMEN WERE TRUE

AMERICAN HEROES.

THAT'S THIS WEEK, AT INTERIOR.