NEWS RELEASE

Contact Information

March 7, 2008

 

Groups Appeal McCullough Peaks Drilling
in Bighorn Basin

LARAMIE – Six conservation groups today submitted an appeal to the BLM State Director to reverse decision by the Cody office of the BLM to permit oil and gas drilling within citizens’ proposed wilderness lands in the McCullough Peaks unit. The proposal, advanced by WESCO (formerly Williams Energy), would allow the drilling of a wildcat well, the West Branch Well and Access Road, inside the eastern end of the McCullough Peaks citizens’ proposed wilderness, an area which has been under consideration by BLM since an intensive field inventory was submitted by Biodiversity Conservation Alliance in April of last year. The inventory identified almost 50,000 acres beyond the current Wilderness Study Area that possess wilderness qualities and merit protection, including the Whistle Creek area where the proposed wellsite is located.

“With the heavy amount of oil and gas leasing and exploration in the Bighorn Basin over the past year, there is a strong need for the BLM to carefully manage where and how drilling is allowed to take place,” said Erik Molvar, Wildlife Biologist with Biodiversity Conservation Alliance. “The fragile badlands of the McCullough Peaks deserve to be set aside for wildlife and public enjoyment in the upcoming long-term plan revision, but it looks like the oil and gas interests are already moving in before the BLM has a chance to respond to our wilderness inventory or lay out a long-term plan for the Basin.”

“It is very clear that the increased rate of permitting and new technologies used for drilling are leaving protection of air, water, and habitat in the dust,” added Deb Thomas of the Clark Resource Council. “The BLM must take a closer look at how and where this exploration and development is happening, to insure the Bighorn Basin is not sacrificed.”

The BLM itself characterized the area as having “low reclamation potential” and fragile desert vegetation that receives only 5 to 9 inches of rainfall each year.

The appeal, officially called a Request for State Director Review, centers on the fact that the BLM’s Environmental Analysis for the project ignored impacts to the undeveloped and wilderness characteristics of the area. While the groups recommended that the BLM permit the well to be drilled on a non-wilderness portion of the oil and gas lease, the BLM failed to consider this option.

“The McCullough Peaks area represents the essence of Wyoming’s desert wilderness, providing outstanding opportunities for solitude, primitive recreation, and stunning vistas in an undeveloped badlands environment,” concluded Dave Malutich of the Wyoming Wilderness Association. “Sacrificing the wilderness qualities of the McCullough Peaks area for oil and gas drilling would be irresponsible and short-sighted.  It would permanently degrade this pristine area that provides refuge for both recreationists and wildlife.”

The challenge against the drilling project was brought by Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, Wyoming Wilderness Association, Wyoming Outdoor Council, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Wilderness Society, and the Clark Resource Council. Copies of the Request for State Director Review are available upon request.