"Interior Fires Back at API Chief"

"The Interior Department is firing back at American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard, saying he made several "inaccurate statements" yesterday when charging the Obama administration with slowing development of oil and gas resources.

'Mr. Gerard needs to check his facts before making statements that are so far off the mark,' said Interior spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff in a statement. 'Oil and gas production on federal lands and waters is up -- not down -- from 2008, and under Secretary [Ken] Salazar's leadership the Department has offered more than 56 million additional acres for development.'

She added, 'Interior's agencies will continue to promote oil and gas development in the right ways, in the right places, and with a fair return for the American taxpayer, regardless of the political spears Mr. Gerard may throw on any given day.'"

Noelle Straub and Anne C. Mulkern report for Greenwire January 27, 2010.

See Also:

"Salazar and Oil Group Trade Barbs" (Green Inc.)