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September 14, 2007

Hearing Set for Adobe Town ‘Rare or Uncommon’
State Protections

ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Environmental Quality Council has set dates for public hearings on a ‘Very Rare or Uncommon’ petition to protect Adobe Town, one of the last large remnants of wild country in the southern Red Desert. This land designation protects areas from non-coal surface mining under state law and prevents mining permits from being issued. The hearings will be held October 24th and 25th at the BLM Rock Springs Field Office. Public comments and testimony will be taken both days by the Environmental Quality Council.

Biodiversity Conservation Alliance is encouraging the public to participate. “Everybody who cares about what happens to Adobe Town should attend these hearings and contribute their concerns and knowledge to the discussion,” said Carmi McLean of Biodiversity Conservation Alliance. “Recent experience with Red Desert conservation issues has led a lot of people to the conclusion that the government doesn’t care what the public thinks, but this is the State of Wyoming holding these hearings, and they’re listening.”

Under state regulations, in order to qualify as ‘Very Rare or Uncommon,’ an area must possess one or more of the following attributes: historical or archaeological values, including religious importance; wildlife values, particularly crucial wildlife ranges, falcon or eagle nesting areas, fragile lands, or other irreplaceable wildlife habitat; geological features, particularly fossil resources and unusual or scenic formations; or scenic value, particularly aesthetic values apparent to visitors or values recorded by artists or photographers.

“Adobe Town has outstanding values in all of the areas identified for designation as Very Rare or Uncommon,” remarked McLean. “This is truly one of Wyoming’s landscapes most worthy of long-term protection. It is also our heritage.”

Biodiversity Conservation Alliance and 7 other conservation groups submitted the petition to protect approximately 180,000 acres in the area, including a BLM Wilderness Study Area plus adjacent unprotected lands that remain undeveloped, including The Haystacks, a part of the Powder Rim, the wild country at the foot of the Skull Creek Rim, and the Willow Rim. Industry interests who oppose the effort are trying to limit protection to the Wilderness Study Area only, which is already protected from mining activities.

“It’s important to protect the whole landscape, so that future visitors and generations standing atop the spectacular rims can look out across the same unscarred vistas that are there today,” concluded McLean.

The Very Rare or Uncommon petition can be viewed online at http://www.voiceforthewild.org/greatdivide/pubs/AdobeTownRare_and_Uncommon.doc.