The Senate confirmed Neil Kornze as the 18^th Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on April 8 by a vote of 71-28. Kornze, a native Nevadan and experienced public lands staffer, joined BLM in 2011 where he served as principal deputy director. He has led BLM in an acting capacity for over a year. As director, he will oversee oil and gas drilling, mining, renewable energy development, grazing, wildlife and recreation on 250 million acres of land. Kornze faces difficult decisions on issues including hydraulic fracturing regulations, methane emissions reductions, sage grouse protection, and solvency for wild horse and burro programs.

Since joining BLM, Kornze has worked closely on crafting guidelines for fracking on public lands, promoting initiatives to develop solar power in the Southwest, and leading reforms of BLM’s oil and gas program to decrease industry wait time for permits.

Sources:  Department of the Interior, E&E News