Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, is leading a protest by Western Republicans against a new Interior Department order that requires it to weigh potential climate-change effects as it makes decisions on public-lands issues, such as allowing new oil drilling.

Bishop said Tuesday that the order will "allow special-interest groups with narrowly focused agendas to dictate current and future activities on federal lands, all in the name of climate change."

Bishop, chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, organized a letter protesting the new order to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. It is signed by 16 Western Republicans, including Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, both R-Utah.

As he released the letter, Bishop said, "Westerners will suffer the most from the increased burdens that will likely stifle energy development and lead to further job loss."

The letter said the new order "puts into question past and future management agreements related to oil and gas development, renewable-energy development, recreational use, grazing, hunting on public and private property and wildlife protection."

It said existing land-use agreements may be subject to change, and companies involved in mining or oil and gas drilling may be "faced with sweeping new changes in terms of what they are allowed to do on these lands."

The letter added, "Whether through administrative action or court challenges, these new rules will allow special-interest groups with narrow agendas to block all existing and future activities on federal lands in the name of climate change."

The letter said the new order means "Western businesses will be forced to raise prices to cover increasing regulatory costs. Businesses will close their doors and move to other countries where energy extraction is allowed."

The letter urges, "Let us work together to develop sound policies to manage our federal lands based on sound science and stakeholder input."

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