[Editor's note: This story was updated from a previous version published at 9 a.m. CT March 1.]
The Senate on March 1 voted to confirm President Donald Trump's pick to head the Interior Department, Rep. Ryan Zinke of coal producing Montana, as the White House takes steps to boost fossil fuel output from federal lands.
The Senate voted 68 to 31, with several Democrats joining Republicans in support of Zinke, a hunter and angler, who supported energy development as a one-term congressman.
Zinke, a former Navy SEAL commander, said in his confirmation hearing last month he would consider an expansion of energy drilling and mining on federal lands but would ensure that sensitive areas were protected.
However, many environmentalists are concerned about his zeal for exploiting coal and other fossil fuels. As a congressman, Zinke worked to boost mining, including supporting an effort to end a coal leasing moratorium on federal lands, where 40% of U.S. coal is mined, mostly in Wyoming and Montana, his home state.
The Interior agency employs more than 70,000 people across the country and oversees more than 20% of federal land, including national parks such as Yellowstone and Yosemite.
The White House is expected to issue an executive order soon reversing former President Barack Obama's temporary moratorium on coal leasing on U.S. lands, which is part of a wider review of the program.
Many Democrats oppose Zinke's support of fossil fuels.
"I'm not sure he will be able to stand up to the president and protect the public interest ... required to manage our public lands for the benefit of all Americans - not just the oil, gas and mining companies and their commercial interests," said Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Senate environment committee.
The Senate is also expected to easily confirm Trump's pick to head the Department of Energy, Rick Perry, a former governor of Texas, this week.
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