National

 

Senate confirms one Trump Interior pick, but vote on controversial nominee awaits. “The Senate also confirmed Aimee Jorjani to a post on the the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Like Wallace, Jorjani received words of praise from Democrats on the Environment and Public Works Committee Her husband, Daniel Jorjani, has also been nominated to a position at Interior reviewed by that committee, but he does not enjoy bipartisan support.” [The Hill, 6/28/19 (=)]

Trump asks for military tanks on the Mall as part of grandiose July Fourth event. “National Park Service acting director P. Daniel Smith faces plenty of looming priorities this summer, from an $11 billion backlog in maintenance needs to natural disasters like the recent wildfire damage to Big Bend Park. But in recent days, another issue has competed for Smith’s attention: how to satisfy President Trump’s request to station tanks or other armored military vehicles on the Mall for his planned July Fourth address to the nation.” [Washington Post, 7/1/19 (=)]

Crowds pose mixed blessing for new assistant secretary. “Robert Wallace will find that business is booming and challenges abound at both the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service, the two Interior Department agencies he'll now be overseeing. Exhibit A for what awaits him arrived yesterday, shortly before the Senate confirmed the Wyoming native as Interior's assistant secretary for fish and wildlife and parks.” [E&E News, 6/28/19 (=)]

BLM fills another senior post as reshuffling continues. “The Bureau of Land Management continues to shuffle senior leadership, filling another top administrative post with a longtime federal employee. Starting Monday, Barbara Eggers will be BLM's assistant director of business, fiscal and information resources management, the bureau confirmed in a statement to E&E News.” [E&E News, 6/28/19 (=)]

State and Local

 

Piles of poop, litter on trails, trampled wildflowers. In the social-media era, Washington’s public lands are being destroyed. What can be done? “Here’s a “wow” statistic from the U.S. Forest Service: In 2018, wilderness rangers buried more than 400 piles of human waste found scattered throughout the Enchantments near Leavenworth, which, minus the poo, is one of the loveliest wilderness destinations in all of Washington. A bonus “wow”: The Enchantments camping zone, because of its immense popularity, is equipped with nine privies, all intended to make improper plopping avoidable. Nevertheless, on more than 400 occasions last year, according to a Forest Service spokesperson, visitors decided to plop with impunity and just walk away.” [Seattle Times, 6/29/19 (+)]

 

Op-Ed, Editorial, and Analysis

 

Op-Ed: Congress take heed: Land and Water Conservation Fund needs full funding. “Without further delay, Congress needs to act as the trusted public servants the people elected and preserve America’s life-giving recreational assets by fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund.” [Sun Journal, 6/30/19 (+)]