Coverage of our Drakes Bay Oyster Company lawsuit against the Department of the Interior and National Park Service continues. Listen as Owner Kevin Lunny details the fight on KALW San Francisco:
Drakes Bay Oyster Company, an oyster farm in the Point Reyes National Seashore, is at the center of a nationwide debate over what it means to preserve wilderness. When the national seashore was created, the oyster farm got a 40 year lease to operate on the park land. That lease expired at the end of 2012, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar refused to renew it.
There is more trouble at the Department of the Interior this week. Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta, an Obama Appointee, has resigned following an investigation into his official travel. More from the Washington Post:
A Department of Interior official whose official travel and other conduct was being investigated has resigned. Tony Babauta, the Assistant Interior Secretary for Insular Areas, is leaving the agency Feb. 1, a spokesman tells the Loop, though Babauta has been on administrative leave since Nov. 17 while the investigation was pending. President Obama named Babauta, a native of Guam, to the position in 2009. He was tasked with overseeing U.S. territories including Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Ray LaHood announced that he will vacate his position as Secretary of the Department of Transportation after four years in the position. The Washington Times has this story:
President Obama is losing another trusted member of his Cabinet with the announcement Tuesday that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is leaving the administration. Mr. LaHood, 67, the last Republican still serving in Mr. Obama’s Cabinet, said he will stay on until a successor is confirmed by the Senate. The president has not yet announced a nominee.
There’s a new watchdog in town this week as the SEC names a new Inspector General.
More interesting reads:
Federal Computer Week – Groups call for stronger FOIA
