WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration has approved oil and natural gas drilling on federal lands in the Otero Mesa in Mew Mexico, despite pleas from the state's governor and environmentalists to protect the desert grassland from energy exploration.
The decision mirrors the White House's national energy plan to open more federal lands to drilling to boost domestic oil and gas supplies.
However, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who is a Democrat and served as U.S. energy secretary under President Bill Clinton, opposes vast drilling in the area and will fight the government's ruling.
"I am very disappointed by the Bush administration's failure to respect New Mexico's position on oil and gas leasing in this precious, sensitive and world-renowned area," Richardson said.
http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050125/2005-01-25T191450Z_01_N25329654_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-ENERGY-NEWMEXICO-DRILLING-DC.html
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
