Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: March 8, 2001

Contact: Mark Pfeifle 202-208-6416

Norton Announces Nomination of J. Steven Griles
to Serve as Deputy Secretary of the Interior

(WASHINGTON) - Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today announced the nomination by President Bush of J. Steven Griles to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Interior. The nomination is subject to U.S. Senate confirmation.

"I am exceptionally pleased with the President's nomination of Steven Griles as Deputy Secretary," Secretary Norton said. "Steve will bring enormous institutional knowledge as well as extensive experience in bringing all voices together to turn environmental and energy conflicts into sound solutions. Steve's work will be critical in building partnerships and trust with all people of goodwill. I'm confident the Senate will move quickly on his confirmation."

Griles served at the Department of the Interior under President Reagan. Griles was the Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals Management from 1984 to 1989, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Water from 1983 to 1984 and Deputy Director of the Office of Surface Mining from 1981 to 1983.

Griles currently serves as a Principal of National Environmental Strategies and as President of J. Steven Griles & Associates LLC.

From 1989 through 1995, Griles was Senior Vice President of Public, Environment and Marketing Activities at The United Company in Bristol, Va. Griles was also executive assistant director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Economic Development in Richmond from 1970 to 1981.

Griles, a native Virginian, received his B.A. in Psychology and Economics from the University of Richmond in 1970 and conducted graduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Deputy Secretary is second in command in the Department and has policy and administrative responsibility for assisting the Secretary in managing the Department's eight bureaus: the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Minerals Management Service, Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation and the Office of Insular Affairs.

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