WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton today praised President Bush's intention to nominate Mark A. Limbaugh to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science. The announcement is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate, once the official nomination is made by the President.

Limbaugh currently serves as Deputy Commissioner at the Bureau of Reclamation, a position he assumed in 2002. In this role, Limbaugh has helped to shape and promote Norton's Water 2025 initiative, as well as revise and implement agency policies to reflect the principles of cooperation, consultation and communication.

"While in his current position at the Bureau of Reclamation, Mark has become an important member of the Interior team working on water issues," Norton said. "His collaborative style is consistent with my commitment to cooperative conservation in resolving tough natural resource issues. With Mark's continued leadership, I have extreme confidence that Americans will continue to be well served by Interior's work on both water and science issues."

Limbaugh's experience includes work as executive director of the Payette River Water Users Association and as watermaster of Water District 65, both in Payette, Idaho. He has served as a board member of the U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, which fosters sustainable, socially acceptable and environmentally responsible irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems and practices for providing food, clothing, and shelter to the people of the United States and the World.

Additionally, he served as president and director of the Family Farm Alliance, a national, grass-roots water resources association representing water users in the West on national water issues. Limbaugh also spent 13 years operating an 800-acre irrigated commercial family farm in Fruitland, Idaho. He has also worked as a certified public accountant at Deloitte and Touche in Boise, Idaho.

Limbaugh received his bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, graduating cum laude. Limbaugh and his wife, Cindy, have four children and four grandchildren.
The position of assistant secretary for water and science is currently vacant, with Tom Weimer filling the position on an acting basis. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Bennett Raley. President Bush last week announced his intention to nominate Weimer to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget.

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