Activists Asked for Energy Meetings

WASHINGTON (AP) - Environmentalists said Wednesday they had requested a meeting with Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham (news - web sites) in the months prior to release of the administration's energy report but were rebuffed by an aide who cited Abraham's busy schedule.

John Adams, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the refusal to meet with the environmentalists stands in sharp contrast to the eight meetings Abraham had with energy and business groups in early 2001 to discuss the energy plan.