National Park Service official expected to take reins at CEQ

The White House is planning to hire a National Park Service official and public lands expert to take the helm at the Council on Environmental Quality, according to two sources familiar with the administration's plans. Christy Goldfuss, who's now deputy director of congressional and external relations at the Park Service, will soon join CEQ as a senior adviser, according to CEQ spokeswoman Taryn Tuss. She's expected to ultimately replace acting CEQ Chairman Mike Boots, who's slated to step down in March after leading the agency for the past year, the two sources outside the White House told Greenwire. Goldfuss will be central to the administration's work on climate change -- a priority for the remainder of the term, Tuss said today in a statement. She declined to comment on personnel shuffles that may occur when Boots leaves his office. "She will help oversee implementation of the President's Climate Action Plan and work with other White House partners on new strategies to tackle this global challenge, and will continue to advance the President's agenda for protecting the lands and waters Americans value." Goldfuss will be part of a new green leadership team in the White House. Obama's top environmental aide, John Podesta, plans to leave the administration next month. His energy portfolio will be taken over by White House budget expert Brian Deese, the White House announced this week (E&E Daily, Jan. 22). Along with Deese and Obama's special assistant for energy and climate, Dan Utech, Goldfuss would be tasked with pushing through the White House environmental agenda during the administration's final years...more