The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is known by anyone who has any experience with environmental law, to be an agency of industry (mainly oil, gas, and mining) and not really an agency of the government. It is supposed to protect and preserve the lands owned by the American people while also putting it to productive uses.
Well, it puts the lands to productive use... but only in order to make industry a lot of money at the expense of the taxpayer. Industry can get drilling and mining rights for pennies on the dollar compared to what would be paid to a private land owner.
Now, the BLM is not even monitoring the oil & gas industry as it promised to do to get around the fact that they are not protecting and preserving the land as is in there mandate.
Neglected Vows Cited At BLM
By Blaine Harden
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 1, 2006; Page A03
The Bureau of Land Management has neglected its public commitments to monitor and limit harm to wildlife and air quality from natural gas drilling in western Wyoming, according to an internal BLM assessment.
In the Pinedale, Wyo., field office of the BLM, which oversees one of the most productive and profitable gas fields on public land in the West, there is often "no evaluation, analysis or compiling" of data tracking the environmental consequences of drilling, according to the document, which was written in May and which BLM officials confirm is genuine.
(Full Story)
Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts
Friday, September 01, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006
Environmental Reforms Coming One Way or Another
With the lack of leadership by the Republicans in Washington to do anything about global warming, the president vetoing federal funding on stem cell research, and Congress giving themselves a hefty raise while ignoring the working class Americans, state and local officials are taking it upon themselves to pass legislation of these issues.
Unfortunately, due to each state coming up with different rules and regulations for each issue, we end up with a hodge-podge of laws across the country that make it much more expensive for business to operate and for people to know what the hell is going on.
Even with the majority of Americans supporting national legislation on these issues, the GOP which controls all three branches of the government, can't seem to be able to pull themselves together long enough to do anything about it. There lack of foresight will only lead to hurting the economy and the people they are sworn to protect and serve. Instead, they are focusing their attention and the really insignificant stuff like flag burning and gay marriage.
Cities, States Aren't Waiting For U.S. Action on Climate
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 11, 2006; Page A01
With Washington lawmakers deadlocked on how best to curb global warming, state and local officials across the country are adopting ambitious policies and forming international alliances aimed at reducing greenhouse gases.
The initiatives, which include demands that utilities generate some of their energy using renewable sources and mandates for a reduction in emissions from motor vehicles, have emboldened clean-air advocates who hope they will form the basis for broader national action. But in the meantime, some businesses say the local and state actions are creating a patchwork of regulations that they must contend with.
This flurry of action is part of a growing movement among state and local leaders who have given up hope that Congress and the administration will tackle major issues, and are launching their own initiatives on immigration, stem cell research and energy policy. Last week alone, former president Bill Clinton launched an effort with 22 of the world's largest cities to cut their emissions, while California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said they will explore trading carbon dioxide pollution credits across the Atlantic.
Recently, 22 states and the District of Columbia have set standards demanding that utilities generate a specific amount of energy -- in some cases, as high as 33 percent -- from renewable sources by 2020. And 11 states have set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
(Full Story)
Unfortunately, due to each state coming up with different rules and regulations for each issue, we end up with a hodge-podge of laws across the country that make it much more expensive for business to operate and for people to know what the hell is going on.
Even with the majority of Americans supporting national legislation on these issues, the GOP which controls all three branches of the government, can't seem to be able to pull themselves together long enough to do anything about it. There lack of foresight will only lead to hurting the economy and the people they are sworn to protect and serve. Instead, they are focusing their attention and the really insignificant stuff like flag burning and gay marriage.
Cities, States Aren't Waiting For U.S. Action on Climate
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 11, 2006; Page A01
With Washington lawmakers deadlocked on how best to curb global warming, state and local officials across the country are adopting ambitious policies and forming international alliances aimed at reducing greenhouse gases.
The initiatives, which include demands that utilities generate some of their energy using renewable sources and mandates for a reduction in emissions from motor vehicles, have emboldened clean-air advocates who hope they will form the basis for broader national action. But in the meantime, some businesses say the local and state actions are creating a patchwork of regulations that they must contend with.
This flurry of action is part of a growing movement among state and local leaders who have given up hope that Congress and the administration will tackle major issues, and are launching their own initiatives on immigration, stem cell research and energy policy. Last week alone, former president Bill Clinton launched an effort with 22 of the world's largest cities to cut their emissions, while California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said they will explore trading carbon dioxide pollution credits across the Atlantic.
Recently, 22 states and the District of Columbia have set standards demanding that utilities generate a specific amount of energy -- in some cases, as high as 33 percent -- from renewable sources by 2020. And 11 states have set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
(Full Story)
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