Veteran

President Obama has tapped Robert Abbey, a veteran public land policy leader, to be the next director of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Abbey has more than 32 years in public service, working with state and federal land management agencies before retiring from the federal government in July 2005. He was the Nevada state director for the BLM for eight years. Abbey’s nomination requires Senate confirmation.

Lamar McKay, a veteran of U.S. oil company Amoco, as been appointed chairman and president of BP America, succeeding Robert A. (Bob) Malone who has elected to retire after 34 years with the company. McKay, a member of the BP plc executive management team, has led the company’s Special Projects Team since early 2008. In that capacity, he played a major role in establishing a new governance model for TNK-BP, BP’s Russian joint venture. Prior to that assignment, he served as executive vice president and COO for BP America and brings deep knowledge of BP’s U.S. operations to his new position, the company announcement said. McKay joined Amoco Production Co. as a petroleum engineer in 1980 and later served in a variety of operating and commercial roles. During his career he has led upstream production businesses in the Arkoma Basin, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. After working on the BP-Amoco merger, he led BP’s worldwide exploration and production strategy efforts followed by a posting as chief of staff for the company’s global exploration and production business. Prior to his first assignment with BP America, he served as group vice president for BP’s Russia and Kazakhstan operations.

Lamar McKay, a veteran of U.S. oil company Amoco, as been appointed chairman and president of BP America, succeeding Robert A. (Bob) Malone who has elected to retire after 34 years with the company. McKay, a member of the BP p.l.c. executive management team, has led the company’s Special Projects Team since early 2008. In that capacity, he played a major role in establishing a new governance model for TNK-BP, BP’s Russian joint venture. Prior to that assignment, he served as executive vice president and COO for BP America and brings deep knowledge of BP’s U.S. operations to his new position, the company announcement said. McKay joined Amoco Production Co. as a petroleum engineer in 1980 and later served in a variety of operating and commercial roles. During his career he has led upstream production businesses in the Arkoma Basin, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. After working on the BP-Amoco merger, he led BP’s worldwide exploration and production strategy efforts followed by a posting as chief of staff for the company’s global exploration and production business. Prior to his first assignment with BP America, he served as group vice president for Russia and Kazakhstan.

Veteran state regulator and former governor’s communication director Kris Mayes was selected Tuesday by her colleagues as chairman of the five-member Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). She is a Republican who has been elected twice to the regulatory panel after originally being appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano in 2003.

Just days after Democrats turned in a solid victory, a crack in the caucus’ armor has surfaced as firebrand Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has challenged veteran Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), who at 53 years in the House is considered the dean of the chamber, for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Denali — The Alaska Gas Pipeline LLC, which is the producer-backed proposal for a pipeline to tap Alaska’s North Slope gas supplies and carry them to Alberta, appointed industry veteran Bud E. Fackrell to be its president. And the Denali project has attracted the interest of Russia’s Gazprom.

The 2008 retirement of veteran Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), a key figure in shaping energy policy over the years, will be a major loss to the oil and natural gas industries.

The 2008 retirement of veteran Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), a key figure in shaping energy policy over the years, will be a major loss to the oil and natural gas industries.

Veteran California Rep. Henry Waxman earlier this month challenged the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its handling of the offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal planned by Australian resources giant BHP Billiton. Waxman expressed concerns in a Jan. 16 letter that the federal agency was rolling over for proponents of the offshore LNG terminal.