Senior Senator from Colorado, Ken Salazar, is “confirmed” to be Obama’s choice for Secretary of Interior.

Environmentalists ranged from cautiously optimistic to outright enthusiastic Monday at the prospect that Salazar would end up as interior secretary.

“Ken knows the West and Western issues, particularly natural-resource issues,” said Elise Jones, executive director of the Colorado Environmental Coalition. “One thing you can count on is that the state of Colorado will be listened to and consulted, which will be a welcomed change.”

Noah Greenwald, director of biodiversity programs at the Center for Biological Diversity, said that while he was “cautiously optimistic,” he was concerned that Salazar did not have much of a record regarding science issues that would arise at the Interior Department.

But Harris Sherman, current director of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources, praised the pick.

“There is no better person in the nation to step into the position of interior secretary,” Sherman said in a written statement. “He will bring the needed balance, experience and judgment to our nation’s natural-resource programs during these pivotal times. This is great for the West and the entire country.”

Denver Post

Chris Bowers at Open Left comments: mild disappointment. Grijalva would have been a better choice but at least he’s chair of the Natural Resources Committee where he will be available to push Salazar if needed. Plus, Salazar is better out of the Senate where “he was really annoying.”

So now Governor Bill Ritter (D) gets to pick a replacement and the scramble is on.

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