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MONDAY, MAY 27, 2002

Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles continued to involve himself in coalbed methane drilling decisions despite agreeing not to do so.

After his Senate confirmation hearings last summer, Griles agreed to refrain from matters involving his former clients. He was a lobbyist for the coal, drilling and mining industries.

Despite that, he made decisions affecting methane development in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming. At one point, he complained that negative rating of a department study would impact the industry.

Following the incident, he signed another recusal earlier this month. He said he only became aware that former clients in the region were involved.

Nevertheless, the Department of Interior has determined he did not violate any ethics or conflict-of-interest rules.

Get the Story:
Interior Official's Memo Raises Conflict Issue (The Washington Post 5/25)

Related Documents:
Griles Recusal 1 | Griles Letter | Griles Letter [text] | Griles Recusal 2

Relevant Links:
Griles Watch, Friends of the Earth - http://www.foe.org/eco/interior/griles/index.html
Montana DEQ Coal Bed Methane Plan - http://www.deq.state.mt.us/coalbedmethane/index.asp
Coalbed Methane, Region 8 - http://www.epa.gov/region08/water/
wastewater/npdeshome/cbm/cbm.html

Related Stories:
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Impact of drilling ruling considered (5/3)
Methane drilling study discussed (5/2)
Industry opposed to gas ruling (5/1)
Coalbed methane leases ruled illegal(4/30)
Griles accused of intimidation (4/25)
Coalbed methane drilling pushed (4/5)
Tribes host coalbed methane meetings (4/4)
Halt in methane drilling sought (2/21)
Coal methane plan released (2/20)
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Mont. tribe pushing water standards (1/23)
Mont. tribe developing water standards (12/20)
Methane standards to affect tribes (9/26)