Biodiversity Conservation Alliance

PAWNEE NATIONAL GRASSLAND CANCELS PRAIRIE DOG POISONING

Thanks to pressure from a coalition of conservation groups led by BCA's Jeremy Nichols, the Pawnee National Grassland, located in north central Colorado, has abandoned plans to poison prairie dogs on its public lands. BCA has been involved in lengthy negotiations to prevent the poisoning campaign, which would have eliminated entire colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs. The prairie dog is considered a "keystone species" in grassland and sagebrush habitats. A long list of other rare wildlife, including the black-footed ferret, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, and swift fox depend on prairie dogs for their own survival.

STRIP MINE PLOTTED IN KINNEY RIM PROPOSED WILDERNESS

Anadarko Petroleum has proposed a site within the beautiful Kinney Rim North proposed wilderness, west of Adobe Town in the Red Desert, as one of 19 research and development sites for oil shale production. A brief flurry of oil shale activity in western Colorado in the 1970s ended when operations lost money, but since oil prices are high again, the administration in Washington is pushing for renewed development. Oil shale development is the highest-impact energy source known to humanity. It requires the complete destruction of lands where it is produced, and creates massive air pollution from the "retorting" process (in which the oil is literally cooked out of the rock). In addition, the process requires huge inputs of electricity, making it unattractive from an energy efficiency standpoint. BCA is working through official channels to kill the proposed Kinney Rim project.

BLM WAIVES RESTRICTIONS, ENDANGERS WILDLIFE IN PINEDALE

Last month the Wyoming BLM office approved a plan for Questar Exploration and Production Company to increase their drilling activities on the Pinedale Anticline this winter and next spring, setting off a landslide of applications by other oil and gas operators for similar favors, many of which have also been granted. BLM’s waiver of the traditional winter restrictions on drilling was done without public notice or opportunity for public comment, and flies in the face of the strong recommendation by Wyoming Game and Fish that the projects be denied. A recent WYGF study shows that the mule deer herd in the Pinedale area has declined by 46% in the last five years, which happened to coincide with the beginning of major oil and gas development there. Additional WYGF studies show that sage grouse have been heavily impacted by the increasing activity as well, and allowing heavier drilling during sage grouse mating and nesting in the spring does not bode well for grouse.

SOUTHERN ROCKIES LYNX DENIED CRITICAL HABITAT PROTECTION

Despite the Colorado Division of Wildlife's successes at lynx reintroduction, federal agencies whose responsibility it is to recover the lynx and protect its habitat are failing to do their jobs. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for recovering the lynx, and the US Forest Service is responsible for managing most of the lynx habitat in Colorado. The Forest Service has been promising to adopt a region-wide conservation plan for the lynx since February of 2000, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service released a plan on November 9th, 2005 that does not include Colorado, New Mexico, or Wyoming. Five years of lynx recovery, the birth of over 100 kittens, and the broad consensus among lynx biologists that critical habitat protection is key for the lynx' long term survival all point to the need for a better plan for the lynx. For more information on the lynx in the Southern Rockies, visit www.voiceforthewild.org/wildspecies/news/n9nov05.html.

SEMINOE ROAD COALBED METHANE DRAFT PLAN READY FOR REVIEW

Lands surrounding Seminoe Reservoir near Rawlins are the target of a Coalbed Methane Project for which the Bureau of Land Management just released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The 1,240-well Seminoe Road Coalbed Methane Project would allow the discharge of 13 million gallons of salty wastewater into channels leading to the reservoir every day. The wastwater produced from this project would be saltier than the infamous Big George coal seam in the Powder River Basin, which is causing major wastewater treatment problems in northeast Wyoming. BCA is advocating for complete treatment or underground injection of the wastewater, but such measures are not included in the BLM's proposal.

Just below Seminoe Reservoir is the Miracle Mile, a blue-ribbon trout fishery that is supposed to be protected as a Class 1 Waterway by the State of Wyoming, which means that activities that degrade water quality, such as this Coalbed Methane Project are strictly prohibited. BCA will be keeping a close eye on this project. Send your comments on this project to the BLM through February 3rd at Seminoe_Road_EIS_WYMail@blm.gov. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement hasn't yet but should soon be posted on the BLM webpage. To review, keep checking http://www.wy.blm.gov/rfo/index.htm.

THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Thanks to our board! The BCA Board of Executive Directors includes some of the wisest, kindest, most experienced professionals you will ever meet, and we are humbled by their dedication and service to us, to you, and to Wilderness and Wildlife! If you see a BCA board member, thank them! Thanks to Bob Strayer, Perry Wechsler, Mark Jenkins and Jeff Kessler.

BCA CHRISTMAS TREE FEATURES WYOMING SENSITIVE SPECIES

BCA staff and volunteers decorated a tree celebrating endangered species and Wyoming natives for a fundraiser benefiting the University of Wyoming's Art Museum. Our tree as well as many others decorated by individuals and community groups will be up for bid in the UW Art Museum, 2111 Willett Drive, Laramie Wyoming, across from War Memorial Stadium. Bidding will continue from 10 am until 2:30 pm on Saturday, December 3rd.

Biodiversity Conservation Alliance
P.O. Box 1512, Laramie, WY 82073
(307) 742-7978 - maggie@voiceforthewild.org