Oil Lands Lay Fallow As Bush Pushes For More

Despite 30,000,000 unused acres, the Department of the Interior hopes to lease more environmentally-sensitive areas to drilling firms. Watchdogs argue VP Cheney is using the plan as corporate welfare for his industry cronies.

1 minute read

June 6, 2004, 5:00 AM PDT

By Jeffrey Goodman


New statistics from the Bureau of Land Management show that only a quarter of the 40,000,000 acres of federally-owned land leased to oil companies actually produces oil. Critics claim the remaining area, about the size of Kentucky, serves only to inflate company assets while threatening protected wilderness areas. Nevertheless, the current administration seeks to expand the program.

Thanks to Jeffrey Goodman

Friday, June 4, 2004 in Newsday

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