Environmental groups criticized by committee for blocking projects
Noel told the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee, which he co-chairs, that separate lawsuits are aimed at preventing the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management from allowing for test drilling for uranium in Arizona and for oil and gas development with what's known as the "Enduring Resources' Rock House" project.
Noel sought support of fellow committee members in signing their names to two letters of support for federal agencies' decisions to allow development to continue each matter.
The first letter is addressed to Kaibab National Forest supervisor Mike Williams, telling him in a draft of the letter that at least the chairs of Noel's committee support the Tusayan Ranger District's decision to approve a proposal by VANE Minerals to go looking for uranium in the Arizona Strip. The letter states that the decision "properly balances environmental concerns with multiple use principles."
The second letter addressed to Utah BLM director Selma Sierra praises the bureau's respect of the "principles of multiple use embodied in federal law." Groups like the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and Sierra Club were singled out by Noel as groups that, in effect, are blocking a revenue stream for the state, which gets royalties from successful development of oil, gas and mineral claims.
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com
Recent comments
Can't help feel a shotgun approach is being used now to try and...
OilbeseeingU | April 23, 2008 at 4:56 a.m.
Since the property in question is my land also then I want my gas...
Just Me | April 17, 2008 at 10:32 a.m.
The BLM and the Forest Service have a long history of mismanaging...
Business of Land Management | April 17, 2008 at 8:47 a.m.
