Wilderness system is under siege by oil, gas, mineral, and timber interests
The administration supports the natural resources industry in its effort to develop oil and gas, hardrock minerals, and timber on wilderness areas despite ecological fragility. New legislative proposals could grant Congress the power to block leases outside Alaska to counteract Interior Secretary Watt's intention of opening wilderness areas to mineral development. Before taking office, Watt successfully led the Mountain States Legal Foundation lawsuit against the government that has opened a flood of new lease applications. Several test cases are bringing out development issues and triggering environmental concerns. The focus of attack is on current leasing procedures, which critics claim frustrate good land management and confuse national priorities. Wilderness advocates question why industry focuses on threee percent of land that is wilderness when they could explore elsewhere. (DCK)
- OSTI ID:
- 5837727
- Journal Information:
- Natl. J.; (United States), Vol. 47
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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