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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2003

A federal study released on Thursday shows that only 12 percent of federal lands in the West are off-limits to drilling, contradicting earlier claims by the Bush administration and the energy industry, which has cited a 40 percent figure.

The interagency report was written mostly by the Department of Interior and it examines five areas that produce high amounts of oil and gas. It found that 60 percent of those lands can be leased with almost no restrictions.

An additional 25 percent had higher standards while just 12 percent were off-limits. These were in national parks and wilderness areas, which Congress has set aside for preservation.

Get the Story:
Report Finds Few Curbs on West's Oil, Gas (The Washington Post 1/17)
Study: West's oil, gas not locked up (The Denver Post 1/17)

Get the Report:
Energy Policy and Conservation Act Report (January 16, 2003)