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Congressman Would Open More National Parks To Drilling

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Published Date

March 30, 2014

There are some units of the National Park System that allow oil and gas drilling, but very few. And that's wrong, believes a congressman from Texas.

Republican Rep. Pete Olson said there are energy reserves scattered across the country that can't be tapped because they lie within the National Park System.

"Guys on the West Coast ... west of the Mississippi, they know they've got oil and gas under the land that they can't touch because it's on a national park or some sort of federal land," he told Platts, a media outlet that covers the energy sector.

Energy development already exists at places such as Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Aztec Ruins National Monument, Big Cypress National Preserve, Big Thicket National Preserve, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Gauley River National Recreation Area, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, New River Gorge National River, Obed Wild and Scenic River, Padre Island National Seashore, and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Rep. Olson, who made his comments while attending the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners annual convention, believes companies can safely develop oil and gas resources on National Park System landscapes.

"Working with the parks system, without destroying the parks' value, we can do both. We've proven that we can do that here in Texas," he said.

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Comments

Submitted by justinh on April 8, 2014 - 10:37am.

Stranger than fiction, Lee. There's a sociology dissertation up for grabs there.


Submitted by trailadvocate on April 8, 2014 - 1:37pm.

You can rant about small towns about Park issues but have you not been paying any attention to the overreach of the corrupted Lois Lerners (IRS)and above that could (should) give pause to what many fear? Seems that you and a few others here could be living in a quaint village yourselves, respectfully.

This from NPS LE Rangers top boss:
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/administration/202932-holder-claims-va...


Submitted by Rick B. on April 8, 2014 - 2:17pm.

Sorry, trail advocate, but that sounds a bit like Tea Party paranoia.


Submitted by trailadvocate on April 8, 2014 - 3:54pm.

As opposed to being oblivious or having one's own agenda,I guess. There is something going on.


Submitted by Lee Dalton on April 8, 2014 - 4:28pm.

Yes, there is something going on. There's big money to be made by frightening the wits out of gullible folks.


Submitted by trailadvocate on April 8, 2014 - 5:43pm.

Well, I have to hope gullible people wise up to reality before it smacks them along side the head or they're to far gone to realize what's happened. I don't think what's going on is particularly groovy and many rational folks that I know are very concerned, scared out of their wits or just supremely disappointed that good people could possibly buy into unbelievable crap that's being shoveled. Adios.


Submitted by Sara on April 8, 2014 - 6:06pm.

The 900 Executive Order comment made by one of the Manti residents was debunked by Snopes .


Submitted by Rick B. on April 8, 2014 - 6:20pm.

There's something happening here
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking' their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?

What a field day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly saying, "hooray for our side"

It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away

=====

Lessons from the 60's, and ironically enough both sides probably think the song is singing about their side.


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