John Leshy is correct when he states in your Sept. 4,
2006, article “When Can the BLM Say ‘No’?” that
“It’s absolutely clear that the agencies have discretion
(about offering leases).” The BLM’s attitude that it has
“little authority to prevent drilling,” is the consequence of a
self-imposed Bush administration policy not required by any federal
law. This policy was imposed via an internal “instruction
memorandum” in February 2004, without any opportunity for public
review and comment. It was instituted by administration officials
in their ongoing effort to make oil and gas development the
BLM’s foremost priority. It has nothing to do with the
agency’s mandate to protect and manage the public lands for
natural resource and environmental values — including the
public drinking water supplies of Grand Junction and Palisade,
Colo. The BLM is not required by any statute to issue an oil and
gas lease just because someone says they want one.
Dave Alberswerth,
The Wilderness
Society
Washington, D.C.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline The BLM chooses to say ‘yes’.
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