US overhauls public land use planning; senator vows reversal

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

US overhauls public land use planning; senator vows reversal

Matthew Brown, Associated Press
Updated 5:43 pm, Thursday, December 1, 2016



BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. government officials on Thursday finalized an overhaul of how they plan for oil and gas drilling, mining, grazing and other activities across public lands in the West.

The move by the Bureau of Land Management aims to address longstanding criticism of an often-cumbersome process that dictates development across almost 250 million acres of federal lands, primarily in 12 Western states and the Dakotas.

Administration officials said the changes would improve public involvement and government transparency by adding additional steps to land-use planning.

. . .

The timing of the new rule in the Obama administration's last days drew a rebuke from U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, who predicted it would take authority away from local land managers. The Wyoming Republican pledged to work to reverse the action once President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/APNewsBreak-US-overhauls-public-land-use-planning-10647529.php

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[center]

[mdbl]

1. Money rules

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso drools.

[Javaman]

5. and will do nothing but rule for at least the next 4 years...

their has always been a wink and a nod about money basically call the shots, but now it's out front and no one appears to give a damn.

[Turbineguy]

2. There's 250 million acres out there!

And they need to get fucked up as soon as possible!

[mountain grammy]

3. Drill baby drill

because, while the sun and wind drenched plains can produce enough green energy, the owners of the underground haven't figured out a way to control everything above it.

[enough]

4. Morning k&r. (nt)