REI CEO to head Interior?

[Oak]

Thoughts? She has headed REI for 7 years, but has a degree in mechanical engineering and worked as an engineer in the energy industry in a former life.

Jewell to lead Interior

 

[DreaminofMT6X6s]

She has a pretty diverse background and not one I would have expected from someone at REI. I think she'd be a pretty strong advocate for public lands. The question will be what is going to be permitted on those lands.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

She has a pretty diverse background and not one I would have expected from someone at REI. I think she'd be a pretty strong advocate for public lands. The question will be what is going to be permitted on those lands.

I have to agree with this statement. I believe she will "protect" the lands, however, what does that mean??? Will she ban access to certain areas and for certian types of receation??

Not a whole lot of info. on her "stands" when I googled her.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[1_pointer]

Might be interesting to see how this shakes out if she's approved. Definitely an interesting and in many ways, contradictory resume.

As an aside, I've long found it funny, in a bit of a perverse way, how many of these high level appointees have relatively little experience in doing the things they are appointed to lead...

 

[Carrion Carrier]

She is a huge outdoorswoman and will protect public lands. I think that is great!

 

[TheTone]

Seems like an interesting pick, I wish we knew a little more about her, but I'm sure we'll know more as she heads towards confirmation.

I found it interesting that another site I look at that is a bit more "environmental" leaning had some pretty pissed users over this. Some of them also did admit they knew very little about her.

 

[jryoung]

I don't see any red flags based on the information available. REI is a damn well run company with strong results over her tenure. I like that she has a diverse background crossing industries, and is trained in science.

 

[Dinkshooter]

Far better pick than some SFW backed nitwit.

 

[sagebrush]

One big red flag. She is supported by the Natural Resource Defense Council which is overtly anti-hunting. They are actively working against predator control and think wolves deserve complete protection among other equally bad positions.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Far better pick than some SFW backed nitwit.

Woof lover.

 

[shoots-straight]

One big red flag. She is supported by the Natural Resource Defense Council which is overtly anti-hunting. They are actively working against predator control and think wolves deserve complete protection among other equally bad positions.

She may be supported by PETA too, but does that mean she feels the same way they do?

As sportsman, we support the lesser of 2 evils all the time.

 

[jryoung]

She's a UW alum that's a + from me.

Also, nice shout out from the President in the article.

“And when Sally is confirmed, I’m willing to bet that she will be the first secretary of the interior who frequently hikes Mailbox Peak in her native Washington State and who once spent a month climbing mountains in Antarctica,”

Mailbox is a beast of a trail.

Length: 6 total miles
Elevation Gain: 4,150 feet
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Skill Level: Difficult
Duration: 4 to 8 hours
Season: Hikable summer–fall
Trailhead Elevation: 750 feet
Top Elevation: 4,900 feet

 

[2rocky]

Here is what she would be charged with doing.

About the Department of the Interior
DOI Quick Facts
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the nation's principal conservation agency. Our mission is to protect America's treasures for future generations, provide access to our nation's natural and cultural heritage, offer recreation opportunities, honor our trust responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives and our responsibilities to island communities, conduct scientific research, provide wise stewardship of energy and mineral resources, foster sound use of land and water resources, and conserve and protect fish and wildlife. The work that we do affects the lives of millions of people; from the family taking a vacation in one of our national parks to the children studying in one of our Indian schools.

Interior is a large, decentralized agency with over 67,000 employees and 280,000 volunteers located at approximately 2,400 operating locations across the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and freely associated states. We discharge our responsibilities on a $16.8 billion total annual budget. DOI raises more than $18.2 billion in revenues collected from energy, mineral, grazing, timber, recreation, land sales, and other revenue producing activities.

Since Congress created the Department of the Interior in 1849, it has become the steward for:

Land

DOI manages 500 million acres of surface land, or about one-fifth of the land in the United States, including:

256 million acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management
96.2 million acres managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service
84.6 million acres managed by the National Park Service
8.7 million acres managed by the Bureau of Reclamation associated with reclamation projects
66 million acres managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Over 200,000 acres of abandoned coal mine sites have been reclaimed through the Office of Surface Mining's Abandoned Mine Land Program.

Water

DOI has responsibility for managing a variety of water and underwater resources. The Bureau of Reclamation manages 479 dams and 348 reservoirs that deliver irrigation water to one of every five western farmers and provide water for 31 million people. The Minerals Management Service has jurisdiction over approximately 1.76 billion acres of the Outer Continental Shelf, on which it manages about 8,300 active oil and gas leases on 44 million acres. The U.S. Geological Survey conducts groundwater and surface water studies with offices in all 50 states.

Recreation and Cultural Opportunities

56.9 million visits to 3,602 recreational sites provided by the Bureau of Land Management
274 million visits to 391 national park units, including parks, monuments, seashore sites, battlefields and other cultural and recreational sites provided by National Park Service
43.7 million visits to 548 wildlife refuges provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service
90 million visits to 289 recreation sites provided by the Bureau of Reclamation
For more information on camping, fishing, archeology, bird watching and other recreational opportunities on Interior and other Federal lands, go to recreation.gov

Native American Lands and Needs

52.7 million acres of land belong to Indian tribes and individuals
The Bureau of Indian Affairs provides education services to approximately 40,000 Indian children in 184 elementary and secondary schools and dormitories
The Bureau manages relationships with 562 Indian tribes

U.S. Energy Needs

Energy projects on federally managed lands and offshore areas supply about 30 percent of the nation's energy production. This includes:

39% of natural gas
35% of oil
42% of coal
17% of hydro power
50% of geothermal

Scientific Research

The U.S. Geological Survey scientists:

Monitor, analyze, interpret, and disseminate information on earthquakes, volcanoes, and the geology and topography of the United States.
Monitor and assess water quality, streamflows and ground water at thousands of sites across the nation
Produce more than 55,000 different maps
Estimate world and United States energy and mineral supplies
Conduct a wide range of research on biology, geology, and water to provide land and resource managers with the information they need to make sound decisions, and to help mitigate the effects of natural hazards

Fish and Wildlife

The Department seeks to work with others to conserve, manage, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of all Americans. DOI is responsible for:

Improving habitats for migratory birds, certain marine animals, freshwater and anadromous fish, as well as providing public enjoyment of these resources
Protecting 1,932 endangered or threatened species, 1,358 are U.S.
Preventing and controlling invasive species

 

[Waldgänger]

How much actual say do you all think she'll really have in setting policy? Given this administration, and how Washington works generally, she'll go along with whatever policies and views are en vogue with the ruling party. Whoever gives the President and his party the most money is who sets the policy and Jewell will carry it out, else she'll be replaced.

So, don't expect much.

 

[Oak]

ven this administration, and how Washington works generally, she'll go along with whatever policies and views are en vogue with the ruling party. Whoever gives the President and his party the most money is who sets the policy and Jewell will carry it out, else she'll be replaced.

If I remember correctly, wolves were delisted under the Obama Administration, and I remember former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar taking a lot of heat for that when he announced the decision. So by your line of thinking, hunters gave more money to Obama than the wolf huggers?

 

[schmalts]

Will the whole department start wearing sandals to work? Granola in all the vending machines?

 

[jlmatthew]

Will the whole department start wearing sandals to work? Granola in all the vending machines?

Will Dept employee's be driving Subaru Outbacks?

 

[schmalts]

Will Dept employee's be driving Subaru Outbacks?

It is fun to go there and ask "do you have that in a camo pattern" and get horrified looks from some dude with dreadlocks and nose piercings

 

[Sytes]

I believe she is one of the best seletions by the Obama admin - what would make her fantastic? If REI actually sold ammunition / rifles - even if strictly along the hunting line of use. The fact they do not and her at the helm as CEO has me curious what her standing is... Though a financial background and to head the DoI - all good in my book!

 

[Toadslayer]

I thought she had a wife.

edit. wrong person