In a state grown weary of land battles with the federal bureaucrats, Utahns of all political stripes had welcomed the 1997 appointment of favorite son Pat Shea as director of the Bureau of Land Management.
Now they will have to learn to get along without him. At least directly.On Friday, Shea was named acting deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management - a convoluted title that actually reflects a promotion within the Department of Interior, which manages most federal lands in Utah.
But the promotion will also mean less hands-on involvement with complex Utah land issues. And it is yet to be seen whether Tom Fry, named the acting BLM head Friday, will continue Shea's priority of developing better communication with state governments and American Indian tribes.
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, who first chose Shea to head the BLM in August 1997, insisted the appointment "will ensure continuity of the kind of energy, experience and dedication that our stewardship mandate calls for at this time."
Shea will now answer to Sylvia Baca, who has been named acting assistant secretary for lands and minerals management. Both appointments are subject to approval by the U.S. Senate.
Although Shea will not direct the day-to-day activities of the BLM, his new assignment puts him over the BLM, as well as the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the Minerals Management Service, said John Wright, Interior spokesman.
The Office of Surface Mining is a regulatory agency that ensures environmental compliance with reclamation of coal mining developments. The Minerals Management Service oversees offshore drilling, the royalties from which comprise a large portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund given to states for major recreation projects.
"On this end, Pat has done an extraordinary job revitalizing BLM programs, and we look forward to that same kind of energy in his assignment over three important agencies," Wright said.
Although he has been a prominent Democrat in Utah politics, Shea has won resounding praise from Utah's Republican leaders during his short tenure as the BLM head.
"It has been valuable to have a person of that capability in that position who understands our topography and the challenges we are working to resolve," said Gov. Mike Leavitt, a Shea supporter.
"It sounds like he will continue to have a significant role with the BLM, and we welcome that."