The Bureau of Land Management has filled a leadership post that oversees onshore energy development with a career geologist on loan from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Tina Roberts-Ashby, director of the USGS’ Geology, Energy and Minerals Science Center, is serving as BLM’s acting assistant director for energy, minerals and realty management, according to documents reviewed by POLITICO’s E&E News and an Interior Department official granted anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.
The BLM directorate plays a central role in President Donald Trump’s energy dominance agenda, handling everything at the bureau from authorizing mining projects to oil and natural gas drilling and geothermal power projects.
In addition, the assistant director oversees the development of energy corridors on federal lands, as well as rights-of-way grants for solar and wind energy projects and overhead power lines and pipelines.
