Former timber lobbyist to oversee nation's forests

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published September 28, 2001

WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Wednesday approved President Bush's nominee, Mark Rey, to oversee national forests and land conservation programs at the Agriculture Department without dissent.

Environmentalists were quick to complain about Rey, a former timber industry lobbyist.

"Mr. Rey, hand-in-hand with his timber industry allies, would like to take us down a path that leads to more logging, mining and drilling in our national forests," said Jane Danowitz, director of the Heritage Forests Campaign.

Since 1995, Rey has served as a top adviser to Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, at a Senate forests and public land management subcommittee. Before that, he also spent two decades with forest product organizations, including the American Forest & Paper Association.

"Mark's experiences bring a much-needed common sense approach to management of our public lands," Craig said in a statement. "We are one step closer to restoring the health of our national forest lands."

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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