Two retired specialists say Interior excised their warnings on the effects on wildlife and water.

The Bush administration altered critical portions of a scientific analysis of the environmental impact of cattle grazing on public lands before announcing Thursday that it would relax regulations limiting grazing on those lands, according to scientists involved in the study.

These people just NEVER stop the lying. The science has not backed up many of Bush's environmental policies. No problem. Just eliminate it from the PUBLIC reports. This tactic has had the scientific community up in arms, but thus far, it hasn't translated into much "people" anger. I guess when the parks are all fucked up and there are no animals left, someone might start scratching their head in wonderment.

Oh well ...

The original draft of the environmental analysis warned that the new rules would have a "significant adverse impact" on wildlife, but that phrase was removed. The bureau now concludes that the grazing regulations are "beneficial to animals."

Eliminated from the final draft was another conclusion that read: "The Proposed Action will have a slow, long-term adverse impact on wildlife and biological diversity in general."

Also removed was language saying how a number of the rule changes could adversely affect endangered species.

The rules reverse a long-standing agency policy that gave BLM experts the authority to quickly determine whether livestock grazing was inflicting damage.

The regulations also eliminate the agency's obligation to seek public input on some grazing decisions. Public comment will be allowed but not required.

The current administration is BIG on not allowing PUBLIC OPINION. In fact, this administration would like to just ignore the PUBLIC, preferring to acknowledge its own elitest few.