George Bush...Ken Salazar to review 11th hour purge on environment!

Gray Wolf needs protection

When the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Republican Administration's request to open up a wild-life preserve for oil and gas exploration, George Bush jumped into the frey and began an 11th hour purge on the environment.

I reported on Bush's last ditch attempt to shore up leases for his cronies in the energy industry - and essentially - stick it to the American people.

Post: 11/21/08

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3458481441884861780&postID=6299630567232075


The Interior Agency Secretary - Ken Salazar - announced on Tuesday the new administration will be reviewing a number of the 11th hour decisions approved by George W. Bush in the final hours of his Presidency.

In particular, the focus will be on a move to open Federal land near National Parks to oil and natural gas drilling.

In addition to the oil and gas issues raised in respect to arid areas where water is required to extract oil from rock - Salazar promised to take a second look at the process for resumption of oil exploration in coastal areas and several directives Bush approved in respect to the Endangered Species Act.

"I'm very concerned about a number of the midnight actions that were taken by the Bush Administration. We barely have moved in, but we already know enough to know that there are many issues we need to revisit," Salazar lamented to the press.

Mr. Salazar has expressed his desire to reinstate a rule that requires Federal Agencies to consult with scientists in specialized fields before approving projects that could adversely affect or endanger threatened plants and animals.

Environmentalists have urged swift action, but there are many considerations which hinder the process of restoring much-needed protection of the environment.

Lobbyists, for example, have warned that tossing out some of the changes made by the Bush administration may slow down domestic energy development - and likewise - put a hold on energy independence goals already promised by Mr. Obama.

Scandals that have ripped apart the agency in recent days haven't helped matters.

Government investigators determined in their probe that Interior Staff manipulated endangered species decisions to advance political agendas, for instance.

In addition, tawdry accounts of cocaine use and the unsavory practice of sex and graft for favors, surfaced.

Salazar noted that he planned to fly to Denver to have commence meaningful talks with the Minerals Management Staff to instill in the government employees there the need for the "highest expectations for integrity and ethics from the secretary down to each of the agencies".

http://www.julianayrs.com