"Obama Picks Babbitt Aide To Run BLM"

"Bob Abbey, who helped former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt complete a Utah wilderness inventory 10 years ago, is President Barack Obama's nominee to head up the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the nomination Tuesday evening, calling Abbey a 'consummate, professional natural-resource manager.'

Abbey has more than 32 years in state and federal public service, including eight years at the helm of the Nevada state BLM office until his retirement in 2005.

Early reactions indicated general approval of Abbey's nomination from conservationists, off-roaders and oil and gas officials."

Patty Henetz reports for the Salt Lake Tribune June 10, 2009.