The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) recently commended Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke’s efforts to reorganize and modernize the U.S. Department of the Interior in a letter dated May 17.
The Department of the Interior has more than 70,000 employees, an annual budget of more than $11 billion, and 2,400 operating areas. ORR pointed out that, despite its size, the Department has not undergone significant structural revision in more than 100 years.
According to ORR, new changes proposed by Zinke will help the Department become more nimble and responsive, enabling it to adapt to ever-changing visitor needs and expectations. The changes will also help create a new sense of collaboration, focusing on good solutions and consensus, not delay and non-action, stated ORR.
The organization expressed strong support for the placement of senior outdoor recreation leaders in each of the new unified departmental regions, who would coordinate and champion recreation efforts by all Interior offices and bureaus. ORR believes that these leaders will help outdoor recreation receive the attention its economic importance deserves.
ORR endorsed placing more Interior assets – including personnel – closer to the ground where they can better manage and accommodate visitors in a comprehensive way. ORR also endorsed the widespread use of technology to share information better and faster, explaining that such use will improve access to, and enjoyment of, America’s public lands and waters.
