Oil advocate withdraws nomination for US Land Bureau

Senator Mike Lee announced at a Senate Hearing on Thursday that oil industry lobbyist Kathleen Sgamma had withdrawn her nomination for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Sgamma was scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Thursday morning to discuss her nomination. Lee announced the news at the beginning of the hearing.

Sgamma issued a subsequent statement via Lee's office, which did not provide a reason as to why she resigned.

Sgamma stated, "It is an honor that President Trump nominated me as the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. However, at this time it is necessary for me to withdraw my nomination." "I will continue my support for President Trump, and I will fight to Unleash American Energy within the private sector."

Sgamma, the former head of the Western Energy Alliance that represents oil and natural gas companies operating on federal land, had been critical of the efforts of former presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, to reserve public land for conservation rather than open more acres for energy developments.

Western Energy Alliance has declined to comment.

The BLM, which is part of the Interior Department, manages 245,000,000 acres (99,000,000 hectares) of public land. This land is mostly located in Western States.

Director of the Bureau oversees federal leasing for oil and natural gas, mining and renewable energy. The BLM will play a major role in Trump's plan to increase domestic energy production, mining, and reduce government regulations. (Reporting and editing by Timothy Gardner; Nichola Groom)

(source: Reuters)