Mary, Mary, Not Contrary

Enviros give thumbs-up to Bush's pick for National Park Service director

President Bush this week nominated Mary Bomar to serve as director of the National Park Service, and conservationists let out a sigh of relief. Whereas outgoing director Fran Mainella had been accused of being too cozy with commercial interests, Bomar has built up a good rep as the Park Service's Northeast regional director and in other NPS positions. "It's good to see a career Park Service professional nominated," said Amy McNamara of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. "As a career professional, she'll have an understanding of the daily challenges park managers face." Tom Kiernan, president of the National Parks Conservation Association, predicted Bomar "will be a strong and effective director." Said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, whose department includes the NPS, "I greatly admire the passion that Mary brings to her work." If she has a passion for inadequate budgets and deteriorating infrastructure, she'll feel right at home!