DOT deputy Van Tine departs

DOT deputy Van Tine departs    Kirk Van Tine, the number two man at the U.S. Department of Transportation, left his post without fanfare at the end of December, spokesman Brian Turmail confirmed. No replacement has been named.
   Van Tine has returned to Baker Botts, the high-powered Washington law firm of former Secretary of State James Baker, where he practiced from 1978 until 2001.
   Van Tine was DOT general counsel from September 2001 until October 2003. He announced his retirement and planned to return to private practice when President Bush nominated him as deputy secretary to replace Michael Jackson, who had left for a private sector job. Van Tine served as acting deputy from December 2003 until May 2004, when he was confirmed by the Senate. The nomination was placed on hold by several senators following objections by FedEx, which was upset with decisions Van Tine made related to air cargo while he was the department’s general counsel.
   President Bush last week named Jackson to be deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.
   The Washington Post first reported Van Tine’s departure.