Elitists who drive up the price of gas

In June of 2008 the Bureau of Land Management issued a report that tries to explain why most of the onshore oil and gas reserves are "off limits" to being tapped. Though 23 percent of federal land is open to drilling, there are so many possibilities for lawsuits and restrictions that drilling is just not worth it. The BLM report reads in part: "lands can be leased but stipulation...limit the time of that oil and gas exploration and drilling can take place to less than three months." How can any company be expected to make any progress much less a profit when limited to three months?

Federal land will also be subject to the following environmental terms: "All oil and gas leases on federal lands, including those issued with only the standard lease terms, are subject to full compliance with all environmental laws and regulations. These laws included, but are not limited to, the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. While compliance with these laws may delay, modify, or prohibit oil and gas activities these laws represent the values and bounds Congress believes appropriate to manage federal lands."

Can anyone imagine the lawsuits to which the oil companies will be subjected? These laws and regulations are a full-employment act for trial lawyers. Environmentalists have also blocked drilling in ANWR. We remember they opposed drilling in Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. We were told the caribou would be afraid to pass under the Alaska pipeline on their way to their calving ground on the North Shore. All the caribou would surely die out. These environmentalist elite couldn't have been more wrong. The caribou linger under the pipeline enjoying its warmth. The caribou have increased from 3,000 to 27,000 since 1973.

Why does Congress continue to genuflect before these elitists and even oil producing nations that are hostile to us? Why don't they care about the poor farmer hurt by the high price of gas? He must use a pickup truck to take his produce to market. Public transportation or using a smaller hybrid car is not an option for him. This is the Congress we elected. Look how they have paid us back-with $4 a-gallon gas, and very likely going up.

Priscilla Weese

Wheaton