WASHINGTON (AFP) - a voice heard in the American environmental movement has slammed Republicans for their "aggression" on the public lands of the country and the water.
Bruce Babbitt, who served as Secretary of Interior from 1993 to 2001 under then President Bill Clinton, on Wednesday also chided President Barack Obama for failing to "take the mantle of Earth and water conservation... significantly.".
Babbitt, "It is clear to me that the House of representatives will not block only progress, but will continue to support the assault on our public lands and water," said in a speech in Washington.
"The intention is to lower, a blow to the time, the building of laws and regulations, avoiding a frontal attack which could draw attention to the overall environmental objective".
Babbitt emphasized a resolution of the Congress in April which deprived the gray wolf to the list of endangered species and a recent bill that would eliminate the protections for more 16 million hectares (40 million acres) of public lands.
The 250 million acres (100 million hectares) of public lands, more than 41 million acres (16 million hectares) is leased for oil exploration and gas, said Babbitt, noting that only 9 million acres (3.6 million hectares) are protected and designated as areas "savages".
"Obama President must call on Congress to extend the National Wilderness preservation system", he said, adding it should be just as strong support for "the most important places" offshore the coast and along the U.S. coasts.
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