A decision by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to open thousands of acres of public lands abutting national park properties in Utah could be halted by President-elect Barack Obama once he takes office, according to his transition team.
"They want to have oil and gas drilling in some of the most sensitive, fragile lands in Utah," John Podesta, who heads the transition team, said Sunday on a Fox network news show. "I think that's a mistake."
It was on Election Day when BLM officials in Utah announced they planned next month to offer 360,000 acres for oil and natural gas leases. Some of the proposed leases lie adjacent to or near Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dinosaur National Monument.
Mr. Podesta did not say, however, how the incoming president could reverse any leases auctioned off by the BLM before he takes office.
Comments
I'm not sure what can be done before the new administration takes office. After that time, the DOI can be instructed to attach additional environmental requirements to outstanding leases, and I think that will be the best defense against this assault on some of America's most treasured public lands.
On another note, BLM's Utah State Director Selma Sierra has 2.5 months worth of mischief left, hopefully the damage she does can be undone once President Obama takes office and she can be "reassigned".
That's O.K., we'll not need jobs cause Uncle Obama will be spreadin' the wealth!
Kurt: God forbid such a terrible misdeed to be enacted upon this scared land that offers so much to the world in natural beauty and recreation. This pathetic insensitivity by the Bush administration is just another example of the callus behavior that reflects more rape, pillage and greed. This is Bush's last stance of in your face politics to scorch earth the environment before leaving office. Yap, trash the White House files, burn the bridges and pollute the environment before leaving to his Texas peacock ranch. Bush your legacy as President will be written in heavy scorn for many many years to come.
Geez, Anon, do you have anything to say other than recite talking points?
Try researching issues for yourself and come back with an educated opinion.
Kurt, the above comment is not mine. FYI
Anon,
You need to see a good psychiatrist to cure your obviously serious case of BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome).
Well Roger, with Bush's recent approval ratings at a lowly 28%, the worst in American Presidential history, I guess I must be on something that justifies my discontent with the man. What's your excuse for his foul-up administration? I believe there's plenty of us that feel strongly as I do about the pathetic performance of this and now former President to be. Roger, I don't hate the man but I deeply despise what he's done to this country (his hate & divide syndrome) and to are world wide prestige. Tell me differently!
How about the Democrat congress' 17% approval rating? Besides, if it were not for the liberal media feeding people like you misinformation, he would probably be at 60%. All it's been outa them for 8 years is HATE, HATE, HATE.
And I really don't care what the rest of the world thinks of us...I've been to 19 different countries and NONE of them are worth living in compared to the USA...and they know it.
History will look at President GW Bush fondly...especially as the continued threat of Islamofascism plays out...he was the first president with the cajones to take the fight to them since the Shores of Tripoli. Under Obama, they will reload and regroup for a much, much more deadly attack on our homeland.