December 17, 2008

ACTION ALERT!

Commissioners Act to Protect Southern Adobe Town; Drilling Threatens North End

Comments Needed Opposing Drilling in Adobe Town by December 30th!

Adobe Town is Wyoming's largest and most spectacular desert wilderness. On December 16th, the Sweetwater County Commission adopted a resolution calling for an end to future oil and gas leasing and other types of development in the southern two-thirds of Adobe Town, a decision that sends a strong message to the BLM to protect unprotected wilderness-quality lands adjacent to the Wilderness Study Area on the eve of a final decision for the Great Divide land-use plan revision.

The commission delayed a decision about the northern third of Adobe Town, which includes some lands which are "checkerboard" ownership of BLM land and private inholdings, pending a meeting scheduled for February to resolve concerns about maintaining access to the private sections.

Meanwhile, the BLM is moving ahead with a proposal by Samson Resources to drill 2 new wells (called the "Desolation Road project") in the heart of the northern section of Adobe Town, and the comment period is open.

Please mail your comments opposing drilling in Adobe Town to the Rock Springs BLM by December 30th!

The proposed project would permit Samson to bulldoze a road into the heart of public lands south of The Haystacks and close to the Manuel Gap jeep trail which have been determined by the BLM itself to possess wilderness characteristics, and drill two gas wells.

Send a letter to the BLM, telling the agency to:

• Deny the permit to drill wells inside lands with wilderness qualities;
• Require a full-scale Environmental Impact Statement prior to approving any drilling; NEPA (a federal law) requires a full EIS in all cases where significant environmental impacts are possible, and in this case the proposed industrial activity would certainly have a significant impact on the wilderness qualities of the area;
• If drilling is approved, require wooden mats to be used instead of constructing gravel roads and wellpads, and require Samson to use heliportable drilling rigs to avoid the need for road construction in potential wilderness lands.
• If drilling is approved, limit the drilling to a single well.

BLM has provided a limited amount of addition information on the project at

http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/rsfodocs/DesolationRoadGas.html

Mail your comments to:

BLM Rock Springs Field Office
280 Highway 191 N.Rock Springs, WY 82901

Or email them to Rock_Springs_Wymail@blm.gov with "Desolation Road Project" in the subject line.

Send your letter today, and help us foil this last-ditch effort to industrialize a pristine part of Adobe Town before the new administration takes office!

We would like to extend a special thanks to the Sweetwater County Commission for voting to expand protections in the southern parts of Adobe Town. In addition to BCA, there was a strong showing of public support for protecting Adobe Town at the hearing by union officials (the head of the Wyoming AFL-CIO traveled all the way from Cheyenne to speak), the Wyoming Association of Churches, the Wind River Alliance, the Wyoming Outdoor Council, and a broad spectrum of local residents.

Thank you all for showing up to voice your support for protecting this spectacular landscape!

~ and as always ~

THANK YOU FOR USING YOUR VOICE FOR THE WILD!