Attention Interior Department employees: There's a new sheriff in town.

Ken Salazar, a Colorado senator with deep western roots whose family helped found Santa Fe 400 years ago, told the Senate and Natural Resources Committee Thursday if confirmed as U.S. Interior Secretary he will try reverse years of shoddy management, influence-peddling and lax oversight of such agencies as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Minerals Management Service.

"Our first and foremost task is to restore ethics and integrity and the U.S. Department of Interior," Salazar said.

The sprawling department, which also oversees the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife and other agencies, has been beleaguered during the Bush Administration by criminal influence peddling, embarrassing management indiscretions, interminable problems at the BIA other problems.

Salazar got a rosy reception before the committee, despite some complaints from some Democratic activists beforehand that he is too cozy with oil and gas interests. In fact, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon called the confirmation hearing a "full-fledged bouquet-tossing contest."

Salazar said he's deeply interested in harnessing the American West's solar and wind power, modernizing the interstate electrical grid and helping tribes develop renewable energy resources on their lands. But he didn't leave traditionalists fretting too much. He said America also must "make wise use of our conventional resources, including coal, oil and natural gas."

He claimed a "passion" for protecting national parks and wildlife preserves. A former water law attorney, Salazar also said he'll bring expertise to some seriously thorny water disputes and challenges facing the country.

The Interior Department often gets short shrift in the national consciousness, taking a back seat to sexier departments such as Justice, the State Department and even Energy. But I can't think of a more important job in Washington right now, at least relating to New Mexico and the West. Let's hope Salazar is up to the task. More on the hearing in tomorrow's Journal.