Interim FWS Asst. Director Has Zero Public Lands Experience, But He Loves Deregulation, Money And Jesus

[hatrack]

When President Donald Trump nominated Kevin Lilly last year to oversee management of the nation’s wildlife refuges and national parks, conservation advocacy organizations raised concerns over how his lack of public lands experience would impact the Department of the Interior’s conservation commitments. Prior to assuming the role of assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks on an acting basis, Lilly served as the chairman of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and founded Avalon Advisors, the largest privately owned wealth management firm in the state. At a confirmation hearing this week, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, described Lilly as someone who fostered a strong appreciation for public lands through his “deep love of the outdoors, including fishing and hunting.”

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Padilla asked Lilly which scientific evaluations or stakeholder engagements were conducted to conclude that the (Ed. - Yosemite) reservation system was not necessary this year. Lilly said limiting access to parks seemed “unsettling” to him and that the park would implement new strategies such as one-way roads and “fast passes,” instead of a timed entry system, to ease crowding and shorten wait times. Padilla disagreed, presenting data from March, one month after the announcement. “Constituents reported to me bumper-to-bumper traffic around the valley floor, hiking trails backed up with people and parking lots full in the early morning, resulting in visitors illegally parking off-roads in meadows,” he said. “To me, that doesn’t sound like metrics of huge success. This is problematic.”

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In March, agency Director Brian Nesvik exempted oil and gas drillers in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., highlighted what he saw as the administration’s prioritization of one species over another to better serve the interests of oil and gas companies. “Rice’s whale, right whale, what is the difference?” Whitehouse asked in his opening statement. “Rice’s whale inhabits offshore oil and gas territory, and so can die. The right whale inhabits offshore wind territory and is a useful tool to attack clean energy. You all use fake concern about one whale to suppress oil and gas’ clean energy rival, while sacrificing the other whale to fossil fuel.”

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Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., pressed Lilly for explanations on the staff reductions at national parks, the 25 percent proposed budget cut for the National Parks Service and how that supports the agency’s mission. He noted the hearing was “long overdue.”Lilly responded that he increased the number of seasonal workers from 5,000 to 6,000 and the duration of their terms from six months to nine. “Parks that have a longer seasonal cycle will not be burdened by losing these very valuable seasonal employees,” he said. He added: “I think one of the areas that will greatly benefit the National Park Service, as well as the communities that surround them, as well as our tribal partners, is local hiring … and I am pleased to say that we are moving forward in this way.”

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https://insideclimatenews.org/news/26062026/kevin-lilly-interim-fish-wildlife-assistant-secretary-lack-of-experience/

[Wuddles440]

1. This was the cretin who wouldn't offer...

any evidence when questioned by Senator Whitehouse regarding the Park Service concluding that the Reflecting Pool had been "vandalized", but resorted to deflections and accusations that the questions were merely "political attacks".