This story is part of our Quick Hits series. This series will bring you breaking news and short updates from throughout the state.
Brian Nesvik, Wyoming’s former Game and Fish director, faced questions from U.S. senators at his confirmation hearing on March 26 to become the next head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
Nesvik said in his opening remarks that there are immediate and transformational opportunities in Pres. Trump’s “America First” agenda that he hopes to apply to the agency that oversees conservation of the nation’s fish and wildlife and their habitat on public lands.
“Improving the Service’s interactions with the public, simplifying regulations, accelerating permitting with technology, and relying more on education, voluntary compliance, and verification,” he told senators on the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Nesvik’s nomination comes after 30 years with Wyoming Game and Fish. He oversaw Wyoming’s management of sensitive species, like sage grouse and mule deer, trying to balance their habitat with an eye toward energy development. He unsuccessfully advocated to remove grizzly bears from the threatened species list.
One conservation group, Western Watersheds Project, is pushing back on his nomination because of this track record.
If Nesvik passes his confirmation vote in the Senate, he’ll follow Montana’s Martha Williams in the role.