Sally Jewell's nomination on Feb. 6 to succeed Ken Salazar as US Interior secretary was indisputably a surprise. Conventional predictions had US President Barack Obama turning to a western governor or senator to lead the department during his second term. The chief executive of one of the nation's leading outdoor equipment retailers wasn't even mentioned.
The choice obviously pleased environmental organizations because Jewell has been an active public land conservationist. Oil and gas groups that may have been very concerned weren't because she also began her professional career as an engineer at Mobil Oil Corp.
One question now is whether she will try to balance competing interests at Interior as aggressively as Salazar says he has.
Jewell's solid business experience (which includes commercial banking) could work in her favor as she runs DOI, particularly if Deputy Sec. David J. Hayes is there to help her. It's no guarantee that she'll be politically effective, however.
Salazar took DOI's helm in early 2009 having completed 4 years as a US senator from Colorado and a term as the state's attorney general. His legal background led him to try and reduce legal challenges to agency decisions by increasing earlier public involvement as regulations were being developed.
Robert V. Abbey, who was US Bureau of Land Management director for much of Salazar's tenure at DOI, told OGJ that no one expected this to eliminate lawsuits protesting policies. The idea was to build a stronger legal foundation so judges would be likelier to rule for the federal government, he explained.
Advocacy challenge
Jewell's biggest challenge probably will be to develop the kind of political expertise needed to represent DOI's interests and requirements at the White House. Early indications are that she would be a good team player. She also would need to be an effective advocate within Obama's cabinet.
Congressional energy leaders' reactions to her nomination were mixed. US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ronald L. Wyden (D-Ore.) called it an inspired choice. "Her experience leading a nearly $2 billion outdoor recreation company, combined with her years of work in the financial sector, puts her in a position to bring a new vision to [DOI]," he said on Feb. 6.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alas.), the committee's ranking minority member, was more reserved. "So many of the decisions made by the Interior secretary have a profound impact on Alaska and other western states," she said. "The livelihoods of Americans living and working in the West rely on maintaining a real balance between conservation and economic opportunity."
Others said they looked forward to learning more during Jewell's confirmation hearing.
Nick Snow
NICK SNOW covered oil and gas in Washington for more than 30 years. He worked in several capacities for The Oil Daily and was founding editor of Petroleum Finance Week before joining OGJ as its Washington correspondent in September 2005 and becoming its full-time Washington editor in October 2007. He retired from OGJ in January 2020.
