WATCHING GOVERNMENT SECRETARY CAMPFIRE

Bruce Babbitt, the new U.S. Interior secretary, intends to proceed carefully on controversies facing his department.

In his first press conference last week, Babbitt was well informed on western land issues but appeared largely uninformed on offshore drilling issues.

That could be excused, given his tenure as governor of landlocked Arizona, except for the fact he should have been well briefed on offshore issues in preparation for his earlier Senate confirmation hearing.

MANAGEMENT STYLE

Babbitt dropped some clues regarding his management style. He said his role will not be to dictate policy to Congress and western governors. Rather, he will work with both and proceed on nothing without their consent.

He plans a "reasonable approach" to two issues blocking development of western land: the Endangered Species Act and designation of wilderness areas.

He said the Endangered Species Act offers government a lot more flexibility than has been realized or used.

And he said designations of wilderness areas are played out between states' congressional delegations and governors, but he will try to help them "try to put a circle around the problem and close it in."

Reporters asked Babbitt about the Clinton administration's conflicting policies of increasing natural gas production while limiting offshore drilling, even in gas prone areas.

He replied Clinton supports drilling in existing producing areas of the Gulf of Mexico and may be open to drilling elsewhere if there are adequate environmental safe-guards.

Babbitt didn't know if the administration will revise the 5 year offshore leasing schedule or favor giving governors veto power over federal leasing off their coastlines.

He appeared unaware the Minerals Management Service has reduced royalties for deepwater leases and had no opinion on claims MMS is not collecting some royalties and delay rentals.

Asked if the administration will try to permanently withdraw the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain from leasing, Babbitt said, "The president has indicated his view on oil exploration. The larger issue of whether this administration will support wilderness status (for ANWR) is something we have not dealt with. This obviously would be an administration decision and not something I would make up my mind on some Friday night."

And asked if the administration would try to buy back offshore leases that environmentalists don't want drilled, he joked, "I have gotten into the offshore buybacks just enough to wonder if there isn't some other agency in the U.S. government that would like to take over this problem."

CAMPFIRE COMMUNIQUE

Earlier, Babbitt invited Interior employees to communicate directly with him.

He told them to write their comments on a single piece of paper, place it in an envelope addressed to him, and jot the word "campfire" on the front.

Why "campfire?" Babbitt explained Interior Department employees have a history of solving their problems by talking them out over a campfire.

Well, that's one way to deal with "burning issues."

Copyright 1993 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.