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Protect Bridger Teton National Forest
A forest is a horrible place for a gas field.
The Bridger Teton National Forest is taking comments right now. Let them know the very reason that so many people have rallied around legislation to protect these mountains from new oil and gas leasing is the same reason why this industrial proposal should not move forward. The Wyoming Range is just too special too drill and there are other options the Forest should consider.
Add your comments to our letter below, then click on Send this Message.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Save Wyoming Range from Drilling
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
The Wyoming Range is one of those rare places where people of every background can agree on one thing - it's too special to drill. We cherish these mountains for the clean air and water, the crucial wildlife habitat, the important migration corridors, and the recognition that natural amenities increasingly drive the local economies.
As you are aware, the people have spoken and legislation is currently working its way through Congress that would protect the Wyoming Range from future oil and gas leasing. This same legislation would also allow for the fair market buy-back of existing leases such as those currently owned by Plains Exploration and Production Company.
You have other options besides transforming a roadless area into a single-use gas field, and I urge you to fully develop an alternative that looks at a buy-out/trade-out of these leases.
In addition, you have the option to slow down and look before you leap. In the twelve years since Plains purchased these leases, the broader region has changed dramatically. Massive oil and gas development has brought changes to public lands, wildlife herds, air quality and a small town way of life. Before repeating the mistakes of the past you should ensure all baseline data and information is updated and comprehensive. This would involve preparation of a forest-wide analysis to determine current oil and gas suitability and allow time for other agencies to conduct updated studies on wildlife, air, and water resources.
As managers of our public lands it is up to you to ensure our children will enjoy the same public lands benefits that we have. Please do the right thing and look at other options besides opening the Wyoming Range to intense gas extraction.
Thank you for your consideration,
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Campaign Launched:
January 23, 2008
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Plains Exploration and Production Company ("Plains"), a Houston-based company with no experience drilling on National Forest land, seeks to drill 136 wells from 17 well pads and construct or upgrade 29 miles of roads within the pristine Hoback basin.
The Hoback Basin in the northern reaches of the Wyoming Range provides an important migration corridor between Grand Teton National Park and the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and constitutes a portion of the longest migration corridor in the lower United States. The proposed drilling would occur entirely on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, including one of its largest roadless areas. This remote refuge provides crucial habitat for sensitive species like lynx, in addition to important summer range and habitat for big game animals.
The people of Wyoming have come together in the last year and voiced strong support for protection of the Wyoming Range. A bill recently introduced in Congress by Wyoming's Republican Senators proposes to withdraw these National Forest lands from natural gas development-but Plains' new proposal would undermine this legislation. If Plains is successful, its proposal would create an industrial gas field within the Wyoming Range and almost certainly would be the first step toward even more oil and natural gas drilling in these treasured mountains.
Background
This isn't the first time we've seen this proposal. Plains proposed a 3-well "exploratory" project in 2006 and even that much smaller drilling proposal generated tremendous opposition. More than 19,000 citizens wrote to the Forest Service opposing the project. In addition Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal, the Wyoming Tourism Board, the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association, and others all expressed serious concerns.
Although the Wyoming Range legislation would only protect unleased areas, it contains stipulations that allow for the fair-market buy-back of leased lands within the boundary such as those Plains' wishes to develop. The Forest Service needs to respect the broad-based public support that led to introduction of Wyoming Range legislation and it can do so by fully developing an alternative that allows for a buy-out/trade-out of Plains' leases.
Also, the Forest Service should slow down and look before they leap. In the twelve years since Plains purchased these leases, the broader region has changed dramatically. Massive oil and gas development has brought changes to public lands, wildlife herds, air quality and a small town way of life. Before repeating the mistakes of the past and authorize any component of this project, the Forest Service should ensure all baseline data and information is updated and comprehensive. It should prepare a forest-wide analysis to determine current oil and gas suitability and allow time for other agencies to conduct updated studies on wildlife, air, and water resources.
Please act before February 7th and let the Forest Service know there are other options besides sacrificing the Wyoming Range for a gas field.
For even more information visit www.wyomingrange.org
If you would like to submit your own comments, use the contact info below:
Greg Clark
District Ranger
Big Piney Ranger District
Box 218, Big Piney, WY 83113
e-mail: comments-intermtn-bridger-teton@fs.fed.us
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