Zinke looks to shake up DOI organization

Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke announced last week he’d like to see a major reorganization of the Department of Interior offices that aligns watersheds and ecosystems instead of states and bureaus.

For example, the Park Service is currently divided into regions by state. Montana is part of the Intermountain region, which includes, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

By reorganizing, Zinke claimed in a video address that agencies could better manage federal lands and share offices and resources “on a system level,” which would help with permits and other environmental reviews.

“To make it work, it will require more flexibility, resources and decision making authority to front line superintendents and resource managers so the right actions can be quickly made without excessive paperwork and burdensome administrative requirements,” he said.

A map that was widely shown online last week showed Montana being cut roughly in half, with Glacier National Park being wholly in the western half of the state, not divided by watersheds.

How it would impact staffing levels at a Park like Glacier also remains to be seen.

DOI spokeswoman Heather Swift said it was too soon to draw conclusions, noting the plan was a work in progress.

“There is no final plan for reorganization. The meeting the secretary had this week was an internal brainstorming session with career officials to talk about options and ideas,” she said in an email. “The Secretary laid out his philosophy for organizing the Department along watersheds rather than political boundaries. The concept would push more assets, personnel and decision making to local and regional areas and allow for better streamlining of services and public lands management.”

Zinke made the announcement in a video released to Interior Department employees. It opens with Zinke sitting next to a crackling fireplace, espousing the virtues of former President Teddy Roosevelt and his own plan.

This is not the first time Zinke has talked about restructuring the Department. When he was first appointed, he made similar remarks about empowering the individual parks and managers during a visit to Glacier.

But taken on its face, if the Department division goes by watershed, Glacier could be split in thirds, as Glacier drains into three separate watersheds. Earlier maps did show the Park being split in two, along the Continental Divide. A later map shows it kept whole, in a region that encompasses western Montana, Idaho and part of Washington.

The reorganization would require approval by Congress.

Montana’s congressional delegation was split by party, with Republican Sen. Steve Daines and Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte giving support to the measure.

“I look forward to receiving more details about Secretary Zinke’s plan to make the Department of Interior more efficient and work better for the American people,” said Gianforte.

Sen. Daines had similar sentiments.

“I look forward to learning more about Secretary Zinke’s vision for making land management decisions closer to the ground, closer to the resources, and closer to the people,” Daines said.

Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, was far more reserved.

“Senator Tester is reviewing the proposal, but at first glance it appears to be missing critical details that could have a significant impact on Montana,” spokeswoman Marnee Banks said.

The video address can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE2mnNHO6qE&app=desktop