U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary
For Immediate Release: October 30, 1998
Contact: John Wright 202/208-6416
Sylvia Baca Tapped to Serve as Acting Assistant Secretary
of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management
Sylvia V. Baca has been named Acting Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management, it was announced today by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. She succeeds Assistant Secretary Robert (Bob) Armstrong who is retiring from public service effective October 30, 1998.
"Ms. Baca knows the issues extremely well and her experience will be invaluable in solving the energy, minerals and natural resources management challenges before the Department," Babbitt said. "She has demonstrated a deep commitment to the conservation and responsible development of the nation's natural resources."
Baca currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, the second in charge of a division of the Interior Department that oversees the Minerals Management Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
Ms. Baca joined the Interior Department in 1995, as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management. She served a seven-month stint (January -August 1997) as Interim Director of the Bureau of Land Management, replacing Acting Director Mike Dombeck when he was appointed Director of the U.S. Forest Service. Prior to joining the Clinton Administration in 1995, she served as Director of Finance and Management of the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she was responsible for the fiscal integrity of city assets. Ms. Baca also held several positions in New Mexico State Government, including five years with the Legislative Finance Committee.
A native of New Mexico, Ms. Baca received a Bachelor of University Studies in 1981, and a Master of Public Administration in 1989, from the University of New Mexico.
The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management has administrative and managerial responsibility for the Bureau of Land Management, the Minerals Management Service, and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Management responsibilities for these three bureaus include the management of 270 million acres of onshore public land; operations management for minerals on the 1.4 billion acres of Outer Continental Shelf, to the outer limits of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone; and management of surface mining and reclamation regulatory activities.
U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary
For Immediate Release: November 27, 2000
Contact: Tom Gorey 202/452-5031
Sylvia Baca Named Acting Director of BLM
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today announced that Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management, Sylvia V. Baca, will serve in a dual capacity as Assistant Secretary and Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management. She succeeds Tom Fry, who retired from federal service November 24. The appointment is effective immediately.
"I am delighted that Sylvia Baca has agreed to assume this additional responsibility and serve as both Assistant Secretary and as the BLM's Acting Director," Babbitt said. "She has a deep commitment to the management of America's public lands and the responsible development of the nation's natural resources."
Ms. Baca is no stranger to the BLM Director's position. She served a seven-month stint (January - August 1997) as Interim Director of the agency, replacing Act Director Mike Dombeck when he was appointed Director of the U.S. Forest Service. Ms. Baca currently serves as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management, the agency with oversight responsibility for the Bureau of Land Management, Minerals Management Service, and the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement.
Ms. Baca has served as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management since February 29, 2000, when the U.S. Senate confirmed her for that position. Before that, she served as Acting Assistant Secretary since October 1998. Ms. Baca joined the Interior Department in 1995 as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management.
Before joining the Clinton Administration in 1995, Baca served as Director of Finance and Management for the City of Albuquerque, where she was responsible for the fiscal integrity of city assets. Ms. Baca also held several positions in the New Mexico State government, including service with the Legislative Finance Committee and as Director of the State's Minority and Small Business program.
A native of Santa Fe, Baca received a Bachelor of University Studies in 1981 and a Master of Public Administration in 1989 from the University of New Mexico.
The BLM, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages more land -- 264 million surface acres -- than any other Federal agency. Most of this public land is located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1.8 billion and a workforce of some 9,000 full-time, permanent employees, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM preserves open space by managing the public lands for multiple uses, including outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, and mining, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources found on the public lands.
bttt
It would not surprise me if the flunkies in Interior either screwed the pooch or there was a transfer of funds somewhere. Either way, this should be investigated.
Keep in mind the price of oil in 98-99 was in the crapper. Sweet crude here (Williston Basin) was selling for $6.50 a bbl. Anyone expected to even look twice at (very expensive, cutting edge offshore technology) drilling and exploration operations in the deepwater G.O.M. had to have some incentives, especially then.
After all, the IEA had reported an imminent worldwide glut of oil (they failed to take into account growth in Asian demand), and that report crashed the price.
How often do the leases not held by production come up for renewal?