RULE CHANGE ALLOWS DRILLING UNDER NATIONAL PARKS

(11/18/2004)
Drilling operations could soon be moving into formerly protected national parks and recreational areas - including the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the New River Gorge National River in West Virginia.

So says the Sierra Club.

The group is alleging in a lawsuit that the Bush administration has quietly changed a rule so oil and gas producers could more easily drill under national parks and lands.

The Sierra Club says 14 national parks and areas could be affected.

The Sierra Club is seeking an injunction, saying the rule change was done without public input. It also asks that the drilling be stopped.

The National Park Service denies the allegation.