USDA

Jeff Ruch

Jeff Ruch was the Executive Director of PEER from 1997-2019 and now serves as Director of Pacific PEER, headquartered in California. Prior to that Jeff was the Policy Director and a staff attorney at the Government Accountability Project representing whistleblowers from both the public and private sector. 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 literally hundreds of laws on topics ranging from energy conservation to the rights of employed inventors. Jeff served stints as a deputy district attorney, an appellate court clerk and is a graduate of the California Correctional Officers Academy.

COMMENTARY | Letter to the EPA: Take Action on “Devil’s Bargain” Pesticides

by | March 27, 2023
The environment needs protection from neonic-coated seeds, which are by far the broadest pesticide/insecticide application across the country ...

COMMENTARY | “Climate Smart” Agriculture Requires Better Environmental Assessments

by | October 2, 2022
USDA should skip playing the markets and allow for greater public input as it develops its climate programs ...

Letter to BLM, USDA – Scope of environmental review for Federal Lands, Minnesota – 01-19-2022 (PDF)

by | January 19, 2022
DESCRIPTION: PEER submitted a letter covering past USFS employee critical feedback, treaty rights impacting NEPA scope, and economic issues related to a USFS and BLM proposal to remove a large amount of BLM-controlled mineral resources under the Superior National Forest from leasing for ...

BLOG | Research Suppression at USDA and Stagnation of Agricultural Science

by | February 11, 2021
Jonathan Lundgren was a top-rated USDA research scientist until he started revealing the environmental harms of the neonicotinoid insecticides and other favorite products of the pesticide industry ...

BLOG | Vilsack Pick Fails Scientific Integrity Test

by | February 3, 2021
Biden’s nominee for USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack, had a dubious record on scientific integrity and ties to agri-business during his previous stint at USDA ...
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