WASHINGTON — President Bush plans to nominate Colorado's state parks director to take a top job in the Interior Department.

The White House announced today that Bush plans to nominate R. Lyle Laverty, the director of Colorado State Parks, to become assistant secretary for fish and wildlife, and commissioner of the United States section of the Great Lakes Fishing Commission.



The U.S. Senate would have to confirm the nomination.

According to brief biographical information provided by the White House, Laverty was a regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service early in his career. He received a bachelor's degree from Humboldt State University and a master's degree from George Mason University.