Elko man to temporarily head BLM

WASHINGTON — Nevada native Neil Kornze will soon be named acting national director of the Bureau of Land Management, officials confirmed Monday.

Kornze, from Elko, joined the BLM in 2011 as acting deputy director for programs and policy. From 2003 until 2011, he worked as an adviser to Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on public lands, mining and wildlife.

“It is (Interior) Secretary (Ken) Salazar’s intent to have Neil Kornze assume the duties of acting director of the Bureau of Land Management,” Interior spokeswoman Jessica Kershaw said.

Kornze, 34, would take over for Mike Pool, who is expected to step down as acting director later this week. Kornze would serve until a full director is nominated and confirmed by the Senate.

Kornze would become the second person with Nevada ties to head the BLM during the Obama administration. Bob Abbey, who was the agency’s state director in Nevada for eight years ending in 2005, headed the national office from August 2009 until last May.