Obama will nominate Sally Jewell to take over as secretary of interior. Strong opposition unlikely

Sally Jewell If she is confirmed by the Senate, Sally Jewell will be the first secretary of the interior in nearly 30 years who hasn't come from the government side of things. President Barack Obama is scheduled to announce her nomination this afternoon to replace Ken Salazar.

Jewell is president and CEO of the giant outdoor and recreational co-op retailer REI and previously worked as a banker, and for a three-year stint right out of college, as an engineer for Mobil Corporation, the oil giant that later merged with Exxon. Her brief experience there landed her a staff job providing advice on loans to oil operations at Rainier Bank in Seattle, near her hometown.

The department of interior has a long history of controversy, included crooked dealings. Its stewardship over public lands, including'through the bureau of Indian affairs'tribal trust lands, at a time when there is tremendous pressure for energy development on those lands, will presumably generate at least a few tough questions during Senate confirmation hearings. There's no reason to believe, however, that Jewell will run into any serious opposition. A unanimous vote is not out of the question.

An avid outdoorswoman, Jewell can boast some environmental credentials, including the Audubon Society's 2009 Rachel Carson Award for environmental conservation and The Green Globe'Environmental Catalyst Award from King County, Washington. Well before Jewell became CEO, REI was known for its environmental initiatives, including work to reduce its own carbon footprint.

The traditional eco-advocacy group Sierra Club issued a statement in Jewell's favor:

"There are few more outspoken or dedicated champions in the effort to connect children with nature than Sally Jewell, who has provided critical support to the Sierra Club Inner City Outings program and played an integral role in founding the Outdoors Alliance for Kids.

"In Jewell, President Obama chose a leader with a demonstrated commitment to preserving the higher purposes public lands hold for all Americans ' recreation, adventure, and enjoyment. We look forward to working closely with her to preserve more of those benefits and more of our natural heritage by designating new national monuments, protecting America's Arctic from risky drilling, and keeping dirty and dangerous fracking out of our public lands.'

Natural Resources Defense Council president Frances Beinecke stated:

'Sally Jewell has the mind of an engineer, the heart of an environmentalist and the know-how of a businesswoman. It's not surprising President Obama would turn to such a talented woman to balance the responsible use of America's public lands, the protection of these resources and the wildlife that depend on them

Defenders of Wildlife also expressed support for Jewell. Continue reading what others say about Jewell and what she says about herself below fold.