| Office of the Secretary | Contact: John Wright |
| For Immediate Release: Dec. 8, 2001 | 202-208-6416 |
New Court Order Grants Interior Department Limited
Access to Internet
Interior Agencies with safety and emergency related responsibilities
are allowed to reconnect to Internet service
WASHINGTON --The U.S. Department of the Interior was today granted permission by U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth to reconnect the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) to the Internet, following an emergency hearing held this morning.
"We appreciate Judge Lamberth's decision to hear our emergency motion for partial relief and we will comply with his order," said Interior Secretary Gale Norton.
Judge Lamberth's order authorizes the department to reconnect to the Internet information technology systems that no longer house or provide access to individual Indian trust data. The department is required to file verifying affidavits for each agency that is reconnected to the Internet. Additionally, with the exception of USGS and NIFC, 24 hours notice of a reconnection must be provided to the court's special master and to plaintiffs' counsel.
USGS, which has now disconnected any access, will reconnect to the Internet today and provide verification on Monday, Dec. 10. NIFC, also disconnected, will connect as soon as possible.
"It is important for public health and safety reasons that these two entities get back on the Internet as quickly as possible," Norton said.
USGS is responsible for issuing disaster warnings for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, tsunami (tidal wave) or geomagnetic storm. These warning systems rely on Internet access. The bureau is also actively involved in homeland security. NIFC, which is housed in Idaho, operates a highly sophisticated fire protection system and relies on the Internet for communication with other fire agencies.
Deputy Secretary Steve Griles will continue to work with the department's information technology office and other Interior bureaus to determine whether they meet criteria for reconnecting to the Internet.
Attorneys for Interior and the Department of Justice requested today's emergency hearing citing the potentially severe impacts following implementation of a Dec. 5 Temporary Restraining Order to immediately disconnect from the Internet all Interior agencies' information technology systems and all computers that house or provide access to individual Indian trust data.
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