[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         A TRIBUTE TO ED HASTEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your 
attention today the fine work and outstanding public service of my very 
good friend, Ed Hastey. Ed is looking forward to a full and productive 
retirement after serving the Bureau of Land Management, the State of 
California, and the nation for over 46 years.
  A fourth generation Californian and native of Pacific Grove, Ed 
attended Fresno State College and Monterey Peninsula College, and 
following his service in the military, graduated from the University of 
Washington in 1957. He joined BLM in 1957 after several years in the 
Army Airborne. Over the years, he served as the BLM's national budget 
officer, assistant director for administration, and as associate 
director in Washington, DC. He also served two stints as BLM's 
California State Director, the last stretching from 1982 to the 
present.
  During his tenure at the BLM, Ed spent most of his career directing 
the management of 16 million acres of public lands in California and 
Northern Nevada. In that time, he has worked under a dozen Secretaries 
of Interior. ``I once referred to Ed Hastey as `the viceroy of 
California,' and I truly believe no single individual has had a more 
positive impact on California's landscapes than Ed,'' said Interior 
Secretary Bruce Babbitt. ``He will be missed.''
  Ed is widely credited with founding the California Biodiversity 
Council which draws together all Federal and State land management and 
environmental agencies with County Supervisors Associations from 
throughout the state to collaborate on ways to better manage 
California's diverse natural resources.
  Ed is especially proud of the land exchange and acquisition program 
that he directed in cooperation with the State of California and 
several private land conservancies that has ensured protection of many 
unique California landscapes. Several examples include the King Range 
National Conservation Area on the north coast, the Carrizo Plain in 
central California, the Santa Rosa Mountains in Southern California, 
and Cosummes Preserve in Sacramento County, and numerous other areas 
throughout the state. Ed was also instrumental in the recent 
acquisition of the Headwaters Forest in Humboldt County which the BLM 
will manage in partnership with the state.
  On a personal note, Ed has been a longtime friend and trusted advisor 
on important public land issues affecting my congressional district in 
southern California. We have, over the years, enjoyed many back country 
excursions together. I know that our friendship will continue and fully 
expect to spend many more days together exploring the vast and 
beautiful California wilderness.
  Mr. Speaker, few people in public life ever make the type of 
contributions made by my very good friend, Ed Hastey. As he begins his 
well-deserved retirement, Ed leaves many admirers in and out of 
government who respect him for his work, his fundamental sense of 
decency, and most importantly, his integrity. All of us wish Ed, his 
wife of 45 years, Joyce, and his family much happiness in the coming 
years. It is only appropriate that the House pay tribute to Ed Hastey 
today.

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