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Argentina Senate OK's Controversial Glacier Protection Bill

BUENOS AIRES -(Dow Jones)- The Argentina Senate unanimously approved a controversial glacier-protection bill late Wednesday, signaling overwhelming legislative support for a measure similar to one vetoed by President Cristina Fernandez last year.

The Senate Environment and Sustainable development Commission backed the bill earlier Wednesday and rushed it to a floor vote. The bill will now pass to the House of Representatives for debate.

The House natural resources and environment commission also backed the bill in August, but the House Mining Commission has yet to consider the proposed legislation.

The bill would prevent mining and oil exploration, as well as any kind of industrial activities that "could affect the natural condition or functioning" of glaciers as strategic water reserves.

Fernandez vetoed the bill in November due to concerns raised by governors of the mountainous provinces holding the glaciers that the ban would hurt economic development and investment.

The blanket ban "would be excessive," according to the veto order.

The House of Representatives voted unanimously for the bill in 2007, and just three senators voted against the bill when it was approved in October 2008.

Argentina's environment minister, Romina Picolotti, resigned in December under pressure from the government after she failed to support the president's veto.

-By Shane Romig, Dow Jones Newswires; 54-11-4103-6738; shane.romig@ dowjones.com

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  10-22-091101ET
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