Bush rule limits US Congress on drilling, mining

[DogPoundPup]

Source: International Herald Tribune

WASHINGTON: The Bush administration is trying to make it tougher for Congress to block mining or drilling for oil and gas on public lands.

The Bureau of Land Management, which manages 258 million acres (400,000 sq. miles) of federal property, stripped from its regulations Thursday a provision that gives two Congressional committees the power to compel the Interior Secretary to place public land temporarily off-limits to mining and oil and gas development.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, a Democrat from the Western state of Arizona and a top candidate for Interior secretary under President-elect Barack Obama, attempted to employ the little-used provision for the first time in more than 20 years this year to halt uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, one of the best-known U.S. natural landmarks.

The House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee passed a measure to block the mining 20-2, but the Interior Department has yet to issue an emergency withdrawal on the contention that not enough Republicans had been present at the committee session for a quorum.

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/05/america/NA-US-Bush-Public-Lands.php