Interior BLM Chief Baca Forced Out
Interior Secretary Bruce Rabbitt ended a major dispute
by forcing Jim Baca out of the Bureau of Land Management
Director's position.
Baca said that this came about because those western
elected officials are worried about fund raising from
tradional extractive (read: platinum; gold; silver)
industries.
Rabbit gave Baca the choice of resigning or being fired,
according to press reports on February 4, 1994.
Many see this as having a 'chilling effect' on the
Clinton administration's natural resources agenda.
The National Wildlife Federation sees this as a major
retreat for the administration.
The Wilderness Society sees it as a serious blow to
the Clinton administration's credibility on public
lands reform.
Baca has said, according to some sources, that Rabbitt's
discussion of differences in 'style' is "kind of bogus".
Rabbitt brought together all the top polico's for a
talk on Thursday, February 4th, and talked about this
problem. There was virtually no comment from his
assembled ears.
Many of Rabbitt's Recruits now believe that conservative
western elements will be more likely to oppose land-use
changes and to push for ouster of more pro-environment
personnel.
Senator Malcolm Wallop has already made statements to
that effect, and a New Mexico conservative is reputed
to have stated that this is one down and 100 to go.
Baca will be replaced by acting Director Michael Dombeck,
formerly chief of staff to Assistant Secretary Bob
Armstrong.
Watch this space. Will Rabbit be replaced by Armstrong next?