Hill Heat

• David Hayes, nominee to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior

This week’s nomination hearing will be the second time around for Hayes, who previously held the deputy secretary position at the tail end of the Clinton administration. Hayes was confirmed by a unanimous Senate vote to serve as second-in-command at Interior under former Secretary Bruce Babbitt.

During his previous stint at Interior, Hayes worked on negotiations for habitat conservation plans under the Endangered Species Act, acquisition of old-growth redwood forest in Northern California and introducing new water management approaches in the West.

He also helped to settle longstanding American Indian water and land disputes and establish the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado, according to a biography provided by Interior.

Recently, Hayes oversaw the energy and natural resources transition for President Obama. Also, he has been partner and global chair of the Environment, Land and Resources Department at Latham & Watkins. In addition, he served as chairman of the board of the Environmental Law Institute and as a senior fellow at the World Wildlife Fund and the Progressive Policy Institute.

Hayes’ name was floated as a candidate for Interior secretary. The option was met with resistance from some environmental groups, which noted that he has worked as a lobbyist for several groups, including Sempra Energy and the San Diego Gas & Electric Co., and that as a lawyer he represented the Chemical Manufacturers Association and Ford Motor Co.