Indiana's Natural Resources Need a Champion

INDIANAPOLIS – Environmental groups say they're worried whether President-elect Donald Trump's pick for U.S. Secretary of the Interior will be a good steward of public lands. Trump selected Montana's sole congressman, Rep. Ryan Zinke, for the job and confirmation hearings begin today.

Bob Dreher, vice president for conservation programs at Defenders of Wildlife, says Zinke has said some encouraging things about retaining ownership of federal public lands, but has a record of signing onto anti-wildlife bills, including legislation that would undermine the Endangered Species Act.

Dreher says he hopes the hearings to confirm Zinke will include probing questions about his commitment to wildlife, land and natural resources.

"And appropriate assurances from Rep. Zinke that he understands that the Secretary of the Interior is the steward for the American people, of all of these natural resources," says Dreher.

Zinke serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources. He was an original co-sponsor of legislation to build the Keystone XL pipeline, which President Barack Obama vetoed last year.

Zinke also has been an advocate for the coal industry and critical of the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. He has said will work to make sure public lands are managed and preserved in a way that benefits everyone for generations to come,

Of special concern to environmental groups is Zinke's position on easing federal rules to transfer public lands to other entities. They're worried that states without the resources to manage these lands would be forced to sell them off to developers.

Dreher says someone needs to watch out for natural resources in the Hoosier State.

"Migratory waterfowl and migratory birds that move across the state of Indiana and bring benefits to all of the residents of Indiana that are managed by the Department of the Interior," he said. "And there are energy resources that the Department of the Interior will take a lead in helping to develop and then, protecting."

In choosing Zinke, Trump said he has a strong track record for championing regulatory relief, forest management, responsible energy development and public-land issues.

(Veronica Carter, Public News Service, 1/17/17