Utah BLM officials cleared of 'fixing'

The Interior Department's inspector general has cleared Utah officials of the Bureau of Land Management of allegations they were "fixing" resource management plans to encourage oil and gas projects that would benefit counties.

The controversy dates to August 2006, when Robert K. Weidner, a Washington lobbyist for several Utah counties, wrote an e-mail to his clients about a meeting the previous month at which county and BLM officials were present. It mentioned the then-BLM state director, Henri Bisson, now the BLM deputy director for operations.

Weidner's e-mail said Bisson was willing to "fix" the agency's resource management plans and that this was an opportunity that may never come again.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., who has promoted interests of environmental groups on Utah issues, asked the department's inspector general to investigate.

At the time, Weidner defended the meeting, saying counties legally have a seat at the table with the BLM. Agency officials said they thought the inspector general would conclude the energy-related discussions were completely appropriate.

In a letter to Hinchey dated April 4, the department's inspector general, Earl E. Devaney, reported his office "found no evidence to substantiate that BLM officials engaged in any behavior that could be characterized as improper dealings.

"Additionally, we found no evidence demonstrating that BLM officials had either formally or informally permitted right-of-way access across public lands without formally adjudicating these issues according to established land-use requirements."

Devaney said his office interviewed BLM officials who attended the meeting. They provided sworn statements denying they had made any commitments to county officials "other than to correct errors they discovered" in proposed resource management plans and publish the plans on schedule.

"We also interviewed Mr. Weidner, who told investigators that he used the word 'fix' solely in reference to BLM's commitment to correct errors in the proposed plans," he wrote.

Weidner told investigators his comment about promoting economic growth and reducing restrictions on access to public land reflected his personal belief that correctly-produced resource management plans would lead to economic growth and reduced restrictions there, the letter says.

Two BLM employees who were involved in land-use planning expressed concerns over the "deference" the BLM showed toward oil and gas exploration, the letter adds.

"One employee noted that there had been a 'long-standing bias' toward oil and gas planning priorities, which began in 2001. However, neither employee could point out any instances of wrongdoing by BLM officials; to the contrary, both acknowledged that BLM officials had some discretion" as long as various alternatives for land use had been disclosed and considered.

Devaney wrote that the office believes no further investigation is needed at this time.

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