Norton Questioned on Controversial Oil Permit
Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton was pressed to reconsider allowing oil drilling in a Montana valley sacred to Native Americans. A permit to drill was issued last month to a company owned by a prominent Republican donor.
Norton was questioned during a hearing about a permit issued to Anschutz Exploration Corp. Philip Anschutz donated thousands to the campaigns of President Bush, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and others.
The permit would allow an exploratory oil well in Weatherman Draw, which some compare in importance to the Sistine Chapel.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
