Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

Embattled Interior official resigns post
5/1/2007, 7:06 p.m. ET
By MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Interior Department official accused of pressuring
government scientists to make their research fit her policy goals has
resigned.

Julie MacDonald, deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and
parks, submitted her resignation letter to Interior Secretary Dirk
Kempthorne, a department spokesman said Tuesday.

MacDonald resigned a week before a House congressional oversight
committee was to hold a hearing on accusations that she violated the
Endangered Species Act, censored science and mistreated staff of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

MacDonald was recently rebuked by the department's inspector general,
who told Congress in a report last month that she broke federal rules
and should face punishment for leaking information about endangered
species to private groups.

Interior Department spokesman Hugh Vickery confirmed MacDonald's
resignation but declined to comment further.

Environmentalists cheered the departure of MacDonald, who they say tried
to bully government scientists into altering their findings, often
without scientific basis.

"Julie MacDonald's reign of terror over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is finally over," said Kieran Suckling, policy director of the
Center for Biological Diversity. "Endangered species and scientists
everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief."

MacDonald, a civil engineer with no formal training in natural sciences,
had served in her post since 2004. She was a senior adviser in the
department for two years before that.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said MacDonald had "betrayed the mission she
swore to uphold," adding that her actions "undermined both the work and
the integrity of the Fish and Wildlife Service and its many dedicated
employees."

Wyden placed a hold Monday on President Bush's nomination of Lyle
Laverty to be assistant Interior secretary for fish, wildlife and parks
until allegations against MacDonald were resolved.

The inspector general's report said MacDonald tried to remove
protections for a rare jumping mouse in the Rocky Mountains based on a
questionable study, and reduced by 80 percent the amount of streams to
be protected to help bull trout recover in the Pacific Northwest.

MacDonald also pressured the Fish and Wildlife Service to alter findings
on the Kootenai River sturgeon in Idaho and Montana so dam operations
would not be harmed, the report said.

___

Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

Harry Krause wrote:
Embattled Interior official resigns post
5/1/2007, 7:06 p.m. ET
By MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Interior Department official accused of pressuring
government scientists to make their research fit her policy goals has
resigned.

Julie MacDonald, deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and
parks, submitted her resignation letter to Interior Secretary Dirk
Kempthorne, a department spokesman said Tuesday.

MacDonald resigned a week before a House congressional oversight
committee was to hold a hearing on accusations that she violated the
Endangered Species Act, censored science and mistreated staff of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

MacDonald was recently rebuked by the department's inspector general,
who told Congress in a report last month that she broke federal rules
and should face punishment for leaking information about endangered
species to private groups.

Interior Department spokesman Hugh Vickery confirmed MacDonald's
resignation but declined to comment further.

Environmentalists cheered the departure of MacDonald, who they say tried
to bully government scientists into altering their findings, often
without scientific basis.

"Julie MacDonald's reign of terror over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is finally over," said Kieran Suckling, policy director of the
Center for Biological Diversity. "Endangered species and scientists
everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief."

MacDonald, a civil engineer with no formal training in natural sciences,
had served in her post since 2004. She was a senior adviser in the
department for two years before that.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said MacDonald had "betrayed the mission she
swore to uphold," adding that her actions "undermined both the work and
the integrity of the Fish and Wildlife Service and its many dedicated
employees."

Wyden placed a hold Monday on President Bush's nomination of Lyle
Laverty to be assistant Interior secretary for fish, wildlife and parks
until allegations against MacDonald were resolved.

The inspector general's report said MacDonald tried to remove
protections for a rare jumping mouse in the Rocky Mountains based on a
questionable study, and reduced by 80 percent the amount of streams to
be protected to help bull trout recover in the Pacific Northwest.

MacDonald also pressured the Fish and Wildlife Service to alter findings
on the Kootenai River sturgeon in Idaho and Montana so dam operations
would not be harmed, the report said.

___

Did you just chastise Chuck for cut and pasting a boating article from
Boat/US?

Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

On May 1, 6:13?pm, "Reginald P. Smithers III"


Did you just chastise Chuck for cut and pasting a boating article from
Boat/US?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I didn't feel chastised. Harry simply remarked that the same
information is available directly from BOAT US. No problem, that's
exactly where I said I found it. Everything cut and pasted here can be
found somewhere else, that's not the point. One function of the NG is
to share news.

His article isn't entirely inappropriate, either. It has to do with
the US Fish and Wildlife Department and that's of interest to almost
anybody who fishes.

Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...

The inspector general's report said MacDonald tried to remove protections
for a rare jumping mouse in the Rocky Mountains

This is important stuff!

Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

On May 1, 10:49 pm, "NOYB" wrote:
"Harry Krause" wrote in message

...

The inspector general's report said MacDonald tried to remove protections
for a rare jumping mouse in the Rocky Mountains

This is important stuff!

I know, I miss my jumping mouse, I may have to go buy a convertable.

Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

On Wed, 02 May 2007 02:49:15 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:

The inspector general's report said MacDonald tried to remove protections
for a rare jumping mouse in the Rocky Mountains

This is important stuff!

Absolutely.

That mouse has no doubt become a pawn in yet another
development/anti-development battle.

How's your fishing been recently?

Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

Harry Krause wrote:
Embattled Interior official resigns post
5/1/2007, 7:06 p.m. ET
By MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Interior Department official accused of pressuring
government scientists to make their research fit her policy goals has
resigned.

Julie MacDonald, deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and
parks, submitted her resignation letter to Interior Secretary Dirk
Kempthorne, a department spokesman said Tuesday.

MacDonald resigned a week before a House congressional oversight
committee was to hold a hearing on accusations that she violated the
Endangered Species Act, censored science and mistreated staff of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

MacDonald was recently rebuked by the department's inspector general,
who told Congress in a report last month that she broke federal rules
and should face punishment for leaking information about endangered
species to private groups.

Interior Department spokesman Hugh Vickery confirmed MacDonald's
resignation but declined to comment further.

Environmentalists cheered the departure of MacDonald, who they say tried
to bully government scientists into altering their findings, often
without scientific basis.

"Julie MacDonald's reign of terror over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is finally over," said Kieran Suckling, policy director of the
Center for Biological Diversity. "Endangered species and scientists
everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief."

MacDonald, a civil engineer with no formal training in natural sciences,
had served in her post since 2004. She was a senior adviser in the
department for two years before that.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said MacDonald had "betrayed the mission she
swore to uphold," adding that her actions "undermined both the work and
the integrity of the Fish and Wildlife Service and its many dedicated
employees."

Wyden placed a hold Monday on President Bush's nomination of Lyle
Laverty to be assistant Interior secretary for fish, wildlife and parks
until allegations against MacDonald were resolved.

The inspector general's report said MacDonald tried to remove
protections for a rare jumping mouse in the Rocky Mountains based on a
questionable study, and reduced by 80 percent the amount of streams to
be protected to help bull trout recover in the Pacific Northwest.

MacDonald also pressured the Fish and Wildlife Service to alter findings
on the Kootenai River sturgeon in Idaho and Montana so dam operations
would not be harmed, the report said.

Political pressure on the "career" federal employees has been occuring
since the first postmaster patronage job was handed out. What makes now,
in time, special?

Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

On May 1, 7:53?pm, wrote:
On May 1, 10:49 pm, "NOYB" wrote:

"Harry Krause" wrote in message

...

The inspector general's report said MacDonald tried to remove protections
for a rare jumping mouse in the Rocky Mountains

This is important stuff!

I know, I miss my jumping mouse, I may have to go buy a convertable.

It's a lot easier for a mouse to jump into a convertible- when the
top's down.
I've never had a mouse nest aboard my boat. (knock wood).

Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

"Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute" wrote in message
...
In message , Harry Krause sprach
forth the following:

The inspector general's report said MacDonald tried to remove
protections for a rare jumping mouse

My copy of the Constitution does not contain "protections for a rare
jumping mouse". What Article and Section of yours does?


I personally authorized this type of program. And no, you can't see the
paperwork.

Anti-environmentalist quits US fish, wildlife & parks post
 

"BAR" wrote in message
. ..
Harry Krause wrote:
Embattled Interior official resigns post
5/1/2007, 7:06 p.m. ET
By MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — An Interior Department
official accused of pressuring government scientists to make their
research fit her policy goals has resigned.

Julie MacDonald, deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks,
submitted her resignation letter to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, a
department spokesman said Tuesday.

MacDonald resigned a week before a House congressional oversight
committee was to hold a hearing on accusations that she violated the
Endangered Species Act, censored science and mistreated staff of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.

MacDonald was recently rebuked by the department's inspector general, who
told Congress in a report last month that she broke federal rules and
should face punishment for leaking information about endangered species
to private groups.

Interior Department spokesman Hugh Vickery confirmed MacDonald's
resignation but declined to comment further.

Environmentalists cheered the departure of MacDonald, who they say tried
to bully government scientists into altering their findings, often
without scientific basis.

"Julie MacDonald's reign of terror over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is finally over," said Kieran Suckling, policy director of the
Center for Biological Diversity. "Endangered species and scientists
everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief."

MacDonald, a civil engineer with no formal training in natural sciences,
had served in her post since 2004. She was a senior adviser in the
department for two years before that.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said MacDonald had "betrayed the mission she
swore to uphold," adding that her actions "undermined both the work and
the integrity of the Fish and Wildlife Service and its many dedicated
employees."

Wyden placed a hold Monday on President Bush's nomination of Lyle Laverty
to be assistant Interior secretary for fish, wildlife and parks until
allegations against MacDonald were resolved.

The inspector general's report said MacDonald tried to remove protections
for a rare jumping mouse in the Rocky Mountains based on a questionable
study, and reduced by 80 percent the amount of streams to be protected to
help bull trout recover in the Pacific Northwest.

MacDonald also pressured the Fish and Wildlife Service to alter findings
on the Kootenai River sturgeon in Idaho and Montana so dam operations
would not be harmed, the report said.


Political pressure on the "career" federal employees has been occuring
since the first postmaster patronage job was handed out. What makes now,
in time, special?

Because it doesn't matter who wears the kneepads at the postal service. For
other government services, it does matter.