A New Sheriff Cleans Up Federal Lands”

1. a. What is the source of the story/information? That is, where you read about it: media source + date published + headline title
Center for American Progress February 8, 2010 “A New Sheriff Cleans Up Federal Lands”

b. Who is telling the story?
Tom Kenworthy who is a journalist for Center for American Progress

2. What appears to be the issue(s)?
The handling of oil and gas leases by head of the Department of Interior Ken Salazar.
3. What appears to be the cause(s) of the conflict?
Ken Salazar has been doing most things the opposite of the way that the previous administration did them and the oil and gas industry doesn’t like this.
4. a. Who all is involved in the conflict (stakeholders/parties)? Why are they involved? (this may touch on #4c)
Ken Salazar- He is the head of the Department of Interior and has the most control over federal land management decisions. He is involved because his staff and himself are the primary people that can make it legal to have a gas or oil operation in the United States.
Gas and Oil Industry:
They are involved because they are having to work a lot harder to get leases for oil and gas.

b.What does each “side” want? (how each side wants the conflict resolved--their position).
Ken Salazar: He wants his agencies to make the development of renewable energy a priority.
He wants to ensure that federal land management decisions respond effectively to climate change.
He wants to clean up the scandal-plagued Minerals Management Service.

Gas and Oil Industry:
They want scientists with expertise in natural and oil development to dictate where energy development should occur which they say would result in more leases being approved.

c.What are each “side’s” underlying concerns or needs (their interests)--if it is not stated, then give your best guess.
Ken Salazar: To promote sustainable actions that will help combat climate change through his management of federal land.

Gas and Oil Industry:
Want to keep their livelihood provided by their employment in the gas and oil industry.
5. a. How is the conflict being handled? (e.g. litigation, parties talking to each other, a vote….)
Salazar is receiving many industry criticisms. But Salazar, to his credit, has not backed away under industry criticisms, calling them “poison and deceptive.” Oil and gas interests, he said, “do not own the nation’s public lands; taxpayers do.”
b. Where (at what stage) are they in that process?
Salazar is trying to do the three things described in fourb and other actions despite industry criticism.
6. Why did you pick this conflict to write about? (Why does this particular conflict interest you?).
I don’t know if I agree with his decisions about the salmon issues but I am very glad he
is instructing his agencies to make the development of renewable energy a priority and he wants to clean up the scandal-plagued Minerals Management Service. His other goals sound like good goals too.