Norton leaves public lands in a mess

Re “Cabinet Official Norton Resigns,” March 11

Gale M. Norton’s five-year tenure as Interior secretary has irreparably damaged our country. Under her leadership, employees in the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service have been demoralized into leaving their positions -- replaced by people who don’t mind giving away our public lands to the energy and timber industries. Our national parks are in their worst shape ever.

Now Norton intends to visit her cherished Western mountains. She will find the scenery altered; it now includes drilling rigs, clear-cutting and new roads churned by off-road vehicles. Her oil and gas friends will probably take good care of her; they owe her big time.

CRISTA WORTHY

Pacific Palisades