The membership of the “Made in America” Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee, which Zinke launched in November, marks the third time the secretary has assembled panels dominated by industry players to help chart policies affecting their businesses. Records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that industry representatives urged Zinke to establish the new recreation panel to provide their clients a greater voice in shaping Interior Department policies. In an interview Monday, Crandall said he was “excited” to serve on the panel, adding that the Interior Department had concluded his ties to concessionaires did not represent a conflict. In January, nearly all of the members of the National Park System Advisory Board quit in protest, saying that Zinke had reversed several key Park Service policies without soliciting their input. PLEASE ask them not to resign.”juliet.eilperin@washpost.comRead moreNearly the entire National Park System Advisory Board resigns in frustrationInterior advisory panel, dominated by industry, calls for lower royalty ratesInterior suspends more than 200 advisory panels

Source: Washington Post March 26, 2018 19:55 UTC