Sec. of Interior considers reopening Statue of Liberty crown

NEW YORK - Newly confirmed Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar chose the Statue of Liberty to make his first official public appearance outside Washington, and local lawmakers hope the symbolic act will lead to the reopening of part of the iconic monument.

More than seven years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Statue of Liberty's crown and the circular stairway leading up to it remain closed to the public due to safety concerns.

After a climb up those 168 stairs to the crown on Friday that he described as a "thrilling, emotional experience," Salazar sounded an optimistic, if measured, tone.

"Having this icon of America opened up to the public is very important," he said. "That has to be balanced against the public safety issues. I have some sense of expectation and hope that we'll be able to find a management regime that will allow us to provide access in some way to the crown."

One solution being considered is to limit the number of people allowed up the cramped, claustrophobic stairway. Salazar noted that similar restrictions are in place at the Grand Canyon and Colorado River, which don't allow unfettered public access to all areas.

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