A New York congressman wants to know if the White House has been influencing the Utah staff of the Bureau of Land Management concerning oil and gas development.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., commented Wednesday on an investigation launched by the Department of Interior's Office of Inspector General. In early August, Hinchey called for the probe, following publication of an e-mail by Washington lobbyist Robert K. Weidner.

Weidner represents rural counties, mostly in Utah, in dealings with the federal government. His e-mail said that working with the new state BLM director, Henri Bisson, to "fix" the agency's resource management plans was an opportunity that may never come again.

The memo urged counties to "strike while the iron is hot" in finalizing the plans and noted what he said was Bisson's "desire to favorably resolve controversial public land issues."

On Aug. 9 Hinchey wrote to the Inspector General's Office asking for an investigation. He expressed concern about "recent actions that appear to have compromised the integrity of the BLM's resource-management planning process" and eroded protection of federal land, including Bisson's attendance at a July 18 oil and gas summit hosted by Uintah County.

Since then, Bisson has been replaced by Selma Sierra. BLM's deputy director Jim Hughes said the controversy had nothing to do with the timing of that personnel change announced on Aug. 20.

The Office of Inspector General confirmed Wednesday that it has opened an investigation based on Hinchey's letter. Members of the office "will advise your office of the results," said a letter from the office of Inspector General Earl E. Devaney to Hinchey.

"Usually, if there's a congressional inquiry, we certainly respond to it," Roy Kime, spokesman for the inspector general, said in an interview.

Hinchey said he is concerned the BLM may have acted outside normal procedures and "in accordance with directions they're getting apparently from within the (Bush) administration."

He doesn't know whether the directions come from the Interior Department or are "more closely associated with the White House," he said.

"That's one of the more important aspects of this investigation. Where is this instruction coming from with the BLM?"

The investigation should be completed by the end of the year, according to Hinchey. If the results indicate it's needed, "Congress will have to take some action."

Weidner has defended the meeting, saying counties legally have a seat at the table with the BLM.

Meanwhile, the BLM issued a statement saying the agency is confident the review by the inspector general "will conclude that the energy-related discussions that took place were completely appropriate."

The statement, distributed by BLM spokesman Tom Gorey, said any suggestions that the July meeting was not an above-board listening session "are erroneous, as are any interpretations of the memo that suggest any kind of behind-the-doors deal. BLM officials attended this meeting at the request of Utah's counties."

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Contributing: Suzanne Struglinski

E-mail: bau@desnews.com