national parks

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.

Op-Ed | The Park Service Has Lost Its Conservation Compass

by Jeff Ruch | May 17, 2021
The Park Service has cut programmatic work on conservation of species like endangered sea turtles - what will it take for NPS to turn itself around ...

Suit to Bar E-Bikes from Park Trails Gets Greenlight  

by PEER | March 31, 2021
Claims Challenging Legality of NPS E-Bikes Approval Will Be Heard ...

National Parks Screwing Up Cell Tower Permits  

by PEER | March 18, 2021
Nearly One-Third Invalid or Expired; Call to Extend Permit Moratorium ...

BLOG | COVID-19, Yellowstone, and the Company that puts the American Public at Risk

by Guest Contributor | November 10, 2020
Winter snow guides in Yellowstone protest pandemic response in managed Yellowstone National Park, six guides were fired as a result ...

Beyond 2020: National Park Service

by Jeff Ruch | September 2, 2020
How the Park Service can continue to preserve the country’s natural and historical heritage for current and future generations ...
Phone: 202-265-7337

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

Copyright 2001–2025 Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility

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