Doug Burgum’s Nomination Raises Concerns For Our Public Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate held a confirmation hearing for Doug Burgum, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The following is a statement from Andrew Wetzler, senior vice president, Nature, at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“Secretary of the Interior is a hugely important job, the person chiefly responsible for protecting America's most special places and natural heritage. While Doug Burgum presented himself today as a pragmatic governor with his eyes on the future, we have serious concerns about his stated commitment to expanding oil, coal, and gas production on our public lands. Governor Burgum needs to help President-elect Trump understand the critical importance of protecting our public lands, waters, and wildlife.”

"Unfortunately, his comments were heavily weighted toward fossil fuel production. Burgum will need to better address cultural, recreational, and renewable energy policies on public lands, as well as the protection of wildlife and endangered species, if he is to fulfill the department’s mission. As the new energy czar, I also hope Burgum brings the same openness to clean energy as he did as governor of North Dakota—which gets 30 percent of its power from wind.”

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.