Energy Department Report Threatens Reasonable Wildlife Protections
In one of the administration’s first acts to implement its national energy plan, the Department of Energy’s report claims that two-thirds of the natural gas potential in the Greater Green River Basin of Wyoming and Colorado is closed to development or significantly restricted.
"That’s just plain wrong," said Dr. Mark L. Shaffer, Defenders of Wildlife senior vice president for program. "This biased report reads as if it was written by the oil and gas industry. These special interests clearly hope to use the report as a weapon in their battle to exploit more of our public land for profit."
"Calling the natural gas potential of the Greater Green River Basin ‘unavailable or restricted’ belies the fact that there are over 5,000 wells in production and over 7,000 approved wells that have yet to be drilled on federal lands in the area," Shaffer added.
"Last year, over 486 million cubic feet of natural gas was generated from public lands in Wyoming, and over 1,200 leases were issued totaling over 1 million acres on public lands in Wyoming. The number of completed wells doubled last year over the year before," he continued.
Shaffer pointed out that the Energy Department report attacks common- sense provisions of federal oil and gas leases that allow development of natural gas while also protecting wildlife. In the Greater Green River Basin, that wildlife includes bald eagles, peregrine falcons, pronghorn antelope and elk.
"The administration’s report fails to recognize that federal lands belong to the American people, not to industry, and the public values these lands for the variety of benefits they provide -- chief among them the protection of wildlife habitat," Shaffer said.
"The so called ‘stipulations’ the administration finds so restrictive protect animals like pronghorn antelope and elk during the harsh winter when they are already stressed with limited food and freezing temperatures and sensitive birds like sage grouse, hawks, eagles, and mountain plovers during nesting season -- while also providing access to gas extraction," Shaffer added.
"These modest protections only limit certain activities for part of the year, and only in limited areas. For example, a common protection for mountain plovers is to avoid areas within 200 yards of active nests from April to July. Drilling could occur at any other time of the year."
"Any private landowner would ask for reasonable restrictions on oil or gas development on their property to protect their other valuable assets," Shaffer said. "The public expects no less on federal land."
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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation’s most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 430,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues.
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Cat Lazaroff, (202) 772-3270