The environment wins with Norton.

• Author: Anderson, Terry L.
• Position: Brief Article

Before Gale Norton's confirmation hearing began, the "saynotonorton" web site was buzzing, the Washington Post carried a full-page ad sponsored by environmental groups blasting Norton, and Greenpeace protesters hung a banner at the Department of Interior reading "Our Land, Not Oil Land." It looked as though Norton might be in trouble. Despite this blitz, the environmentalists didn't get their blood and Norton sailed through the Senate on a 75-24 affirmative vote.

Why did the environmentalists lose? First, Ms. Norton proved not to be "Watt in a skirt" (referring to President Reagan's secretary of Interior) but rather charming, reasonable person capable of collaborating with all stakeholders in Interior affairs.

Perhaps more important, she explained how she could be a "compassionate conservative" and a "passionate conservationist." Her practical environmentalism exposed the radical rhetoric of the environmental groups. They say no to exploring for oil in the nineteen-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, while Norton points out that exploration would only involve 2,000 acres and then only when the tundra is covered with snow. They urged the Clinton administration to lock up nearly six million acres in national monuments and fifty-eight million acres in roadless areas without any input from state and local governments or citizens, while she wants full involvement of the people directly affected.

Although the environmentalists lost, the environment will win if the new administration pursues a theme of pragmatic environmentalism. Here are a few suggestions: allow ranchers to sell their grazing permits to environmental groups on a willing buyer-willing seller basis (the Grand Canyon Trust has tried this on federal lands in southern Utah but...