Public Lands

Senior Counsel

Jeff serves as Senior Counsel to PEER, where he specializes in civil service, scientific integrity, and whistleblower protection issues. Jeff was PEER’s Executive Director from 1997 to 2019 and its Pacific Director from 2019 to 2025. Previously, he was the Policy Director and a staff attorney at the Government Accountability Project, representing whistleblowers from both the public and private sectors. Before coming to DC, Jeff worked in California state government for 17 years, mostly in the State Legislature as counsel to various committees where he drafted hundreds of laws on topics ranging from energy conservation to the rights of employed inventors. Jeff served stints as a deputy district attorney and an appellate court clerk. He is a graduate of the California Correctional Officers Academy.

Minnesota Timber Practices Draw Sharp Federal Scrutiny

by PEER | August 22, 2023
Joint Inspections of Logging in Wildlife and Aquatic Management Areas ...

Rampant Grazing Trespassing Goes Unpunished

by PEER | August 21, 2023
Whistleblower Faces Suspension for Saying BLM Lacks “Gumption ...

“P” in PEER Also Stands for Persistent

by Paula Dinerstein | August 15, 2023
Persistence pays off for PEER even in the battle for the skies of national parks ...

BLM Data Measuring Rangeland Health Not Available

by PEER | August 14, 2023
Suit to Uncover Success of Efforts to Reverse Severe Livestock Eco-Damage ...

Laudable or laughable? Southern Utahns, others talk Biden’s proposed public lands rule

by Elizabeth Duan | August 13, 2023
President Joe Biden’s administration proposed a new public lands rule emphasizing conservation. The “Conservation and Landscape Health” rule, first proposed in March, lists conservation as a use of BLM lands on par with grazing, recreation and resource extraction, among others. “ ...

COMMENTARY | Is Congress Too Dysfunctional to Fund the National Parks?

by Jeff Ruch | August 10, 2023
In past decades, America’s best idea was one of the few domestic programs enjoying bipartisan support ...
Phone: 202-265-7337

962 Wayne Avenue, Suite 610
Silver Spring, MD 20910-4453

Copyright 2001–2026 Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility

PEER is a 501(c)(3) organization
EIN: 93-1102740