Trump appoints US Oil Advocate to Lead Public Land Bureau

Kathleen Sgamma is a vocal advocate of oil and gas for Western States. She will be heading the Interior Department Bureau of Land Management which oversees the use of nearly 250 million acres of country public lands.

Sgamma is the head of Western Energy Alliance which represents oil companies operating on federal land. He had criticized Biden's and Obama's efforts to reserve public lands for conservation rather than open more acres for energy developments.

The administration nominated Brian Nesvik as the new director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Nesvik was critical of Biden's decision not to remove grizzlys and other species on the endangered species list.

The two nominees are leading efforts to increase the number of acres available for oil, gas, and mining production, and also to provide more land to livestock grazing and hunting, and to be used in recreational activities.

They will work under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum who, earlier this month, unveiled a series of orders to carry out President Donald Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda. This includes maximizing domestic energy and mineral production and cutting red tape.

The order also required the revocation of three Endangered Species Act rules that were finalized during the Biden administration, and the rollback of a rule to protect migratory bird from accidental killing.

Conservation groups have criticized these appointments. They claim that the nominees will damage wildlife and environmental protections to promote more energy development.

Taylor McKinnon is Southwest Director for the Center for Biological Diversity. He said, "Everyone who loves the outdoors should be against her nomination." (Reporting and editing by Mark Porter; Valerie Volcovici)

(source: Reuters)