January 22, 2008

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is revising how oil and gas development on the Pinedale Anticline will be permitted over the next 25 years. Industry has asked the BLM for nearly eight times the number of wells already drilled and for year-round drilling activities without the current seasonal wildlife restrictions which protect big game, sage grouse, and other sensitive native species.

In December 2006 the BLM released the first Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) on the Pinedale Anticline and sought comments from the public. Many of you may have submitted comments to that first Draft SEIS. In response to the comments received, the BLM went back to the drawing board and developed two additional alternatives: Alternatives D (their preferred alternative) and E (with more protections for wildlife). These two new alternatives are included in the REVISED Draft EIS which was released by the BLM after Christmas. The BLM is now soliciting comments in response to its new alternatives. Under Alternative D, which reflects mostly industry wishes, the following development would occur:

An expanded core area which will be drilled year-round with a ½ mile buffer which could also be drilled year-round
Some leases on the flanks suspended or designated no-surface-occupancy for up to 5 years
No seasonal wildlife restrictions in core area and exceptions in other areas
4,399 additional wells and 250 additional well pads (an eight-fold increase in wells)
12,885 acres of additional surface disturbance
100 miles of new roads and 100 miles of new pipelines
Nearly 7 times more nitrogen oxide released into the air, but stronger mitigation measures

We recommend that you support Alternative D, but only with the following modifications:

Seasonal wildlife restrictions in the core area and other areas
A slower pace of drilling with a limit of 250 new well pads
Suspension of leases in the flank areas for the duration of development in the core area
Stronger protections for wildlife migration corridors
Elimination of the ½ mile buffer (potential development area) around the core area
Stronger measures to control sediment run-off in New Fork River and Green River watersheds
Operators be required to use any and all available means to protect Class I airsheds
Development of wildlife monitoring and mitigation plan IN THE FINAL SEIS, not later
When excessive impacts to wildlife occur, pace of development must be slowed
ALL off-site mitigation dollars to be paid in at beginning of project, not tied to development pace
All currently unleased areas and expired leases be withdrawn from leasing for the life of the SEIS

Your Voice Matters!

Send your comments on or before FEBRUARY 11, 2008, by mail or email to:

Bureau of Land Management
Pinedale Field Office
P. O. Box 768
Pinedale, WY 82941

WYMail_PAPA_YRA@blm.gov  (email WYMail_PAPA_YRA@blm.gov)

You can view or download the Revised DSEIS at: http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/pfodocs/anticline/seis.html