Statement of Lyle Laverty

Nominated for the position of Assistant Secretary for

Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Department of the Interior

Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

United States Senate

Mr. Chairman, Senator Domenici, Members of the Committee, I am truly
honored to join you today as I seek your confirmation to become the
Assistant Secretary of Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. As a
career resource manager and public servant, the opportunity to be
entrusted with the care and stewardship of the icons of America's
heritage, is the ultimate experience. I want to thank both President
Bush and Secretary Kempthorne for their confidence in me shown through
my nomination.

My personal connection with America's great outdoors begins in Montana
nearly 60 years ago. Born and raised in California, I have vivid
memories of our family journeys to Montana to visit my grandparents,
aunts, uncles, and cousins in Missoula. I remember to this day catching
my first trout. I remember waking up in Yellowstone as my grandmother
chased bears out of our campsite, beating a big metal pot. I remember
helping my dad set up our tent in the floor of Yosemite. I remember the
ranger hikes. I remember watching the "firefall" during the evening
interpretative programs. Little did I realize that these personal
connections created a lasting imprint on my being, my inner soul.

I began my professional journey over 4 decades ago in Orleans,
California, a small rural mountain community. It was to this remote
ranger station on the Klamath River, that I brought my bride, who has
shared a wonderful journey with me for these past four decades. Our two
children experienced life on a ranger station as we moved throughout
this great country. I have worked across the country as a 35 year career
employee with the US Forest Service, and most recently as the Director
of Colorado State Parks.

Throughout my career, I have been a practitioner of science, policy and
resource capacity in a multitude of project and program decision
responsibilities. My leadership assignments over these past four decades
have provided me with the foundation of practical field operations and a
rich understanding of the structural importance of sound public resource
policy.

I was asked to lead a team to respond to the 1999 GAO Report identifying
the need for an integrated strategy to address the hazardous fuel
conditions on National Forest lands. The strategy became the foundation
for the National Fire Plan, funded by the Congress after the
catastrophic fire season in 2000. I was subsequently asked to lead the
agency's implementation of the National Fire Plan and did so through
2001.

Late in 2001, I accepted the position of Director of Colorado State
Parks. The Colorado State Park system is different than most state park
systems in America. More than 85 percent of the division's operating
budget comes from revenue other than general fund.

In 2002, we commissioned a market assessment of Colorado State Parks. We
contracted with PriceWaterhouseCoopers to conduct this assessment.
Through this assessment we were able to develop a better definition of
who used Colorado State Parks, how they felt about the services, and
perhaps most importantly, how they felt about fees.

Additionally, we were able to determine who didn't use our parks and
why. Based on this foundation we developed a strategic plan for the
division, a plan build on community conversations in every corner of
Colorado. From the ideas C0loradans shared with us, we developed an
investment strategy, an investment strategy built on principles and
business plans that would lead us to financially sound park operations.

Given my broad and extensive resource background, I bring a set of
qualifications, experiences and insights that will add value to an
excellent team of professional resource managers. Over the course of my
career I have worked with individuals, volunteers, organizations, state
agencies and numerous federal agencies. The relationships I have
developed over these years have resulted in the support of my nomination
by a wide variety of organizations across the country.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from Humboldt State
University in Arcata, California, and a Master in Public Administration
from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

My career has afforded me the opportunity to work in a variety of
communities across this great nation, in the Douglas fir forests of
northern California, the Cascades of Oregon and Washington, the Southern
portion of California's Costal Range, and the great Rocky Mountains in
the Intermountain west. I have found throughout these experiences people
care deeply about America's resources. I have worked on the ground with
a variety of resource projects and served in senior policy positions as
well. I was intimately involved in the implematation of the National
Fire Plan and enjoyed the opportunity to work with many of you in that
endeavor.

I have participated in a number of projects working towards the recovery
of endangered species. As Regional Forester, I was actively engaged in
working with the U S Fish and Wildlife Service on the recovery of the
lynx in Colorado. Ten years ago I served on the Interagency Grizzly Bear
Committee, coordinating agency activities to support the recovery of the
grizzly. As Forest Supervisor of the Mendocino National Forest, I worked
closely with the US Fish and Wildlife staff and the California Division
of Fish and Game in managing the complex southern portion of the spotted
owl habitat. As the Director of State Parks, with the Fish and Wildlife
staff and Colorado Division of Wildlife staff, we designed an
implemented successful wild land fire mitigation project in lynx habitat
in the Front Range Colorado.

In my capacity as Director of Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness
Resource, both in the Pacific Northwest Regional Office as well as the
National Headquarters of the Forest Service, I experienced the
challenges of managing natural resource setting for quality visitor
experiences.

Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, I am aware of the challenges
and unique opportunities associated with position. I am committed to
work closely with you to provide the oversight and stewardship of the
resources entrusted to me in this position.

Thank you Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee for considering my
qualifications supporting my nomination. I will be happy to answer any
questions you may have.