For Immediate Release
March 15, 2002

Laramie, WY – Conservation groups and concerned citizens today expressed outrage at an oil industry and Forest Service proposal to use helicopters, explosives and drill rigs throughout the summer to explore for petroleum in Rock Creek, one of the most popular roadless areas on the Medicine Bow National Forest. The project

Rock Creek roadless area, near the site of the proposed seismic exploration project. © Biodiversity Associates Larger Image For High Resolution Image contact Biodiversity Associates

would involve helicopter-based seismic “exploration” slicing through the heart of the roadless area, and the construction of 5 helipads within proposed Wilderness and Research Natural Areas near Arlington. Despite the potential damage to this popular recreation and wildlife area, the Forest Service plans to approve the project with virtually no public input and no environmental analysis.

“The Bush energy policy has put oil and gas on a fast-track, and they don’t care if they run over the public, environmental laws, or our last best places in the process,” said Erik Molvar, biologist for Biodiversity Associates. “It’s beginning to feel like America’s lands don’t belong to Americans anymore, but to the big oil companies.”

Covering over 20,000 acres, the Rock Creek Roadless Area takes in a deep, forested canyon carved by Rock Creek along the northeastern edge of the Medicine Bow Mountains. The canyon of Rock Creek is bounded by steep, forested slopes and dramatic cliff outcrops. The area provides habitat for elk and black bear as well as disappearing species like the northern goshawk, boreal owl, wood frog, and boreal toad. Lynx historically prowled the area. Rock Creek Roadless area is also a popular destination for hikers, campers, bikers, anglers, and hunters.

The seismic project involves some of the same lands that were once slated to be logged under the controversial Threemile Timber Sale in 1991. The Forest Service abandoned the timber sale after it ran into heavy public opposition.

“This is an incredibly special place on the Medicine Bow, and it deserves special protection, not a summer-long air assault with helicopters and explosives,” said Ted Zukoski of the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies.

“Wilderness quality lands like Rock Creek should be protected permanently as wilderness, not repeatedly assaulted by industrial special interests,” added Sierra Club Medicine Bow Group spokesperson Martha Christensen.

The Forest Service is currently revising its Management Plan for the Medicine Bow, and Rock Creek is proposed to be managed as wilderness and a Research Natural Area under a number of the alternatives currently being evaluated. “The idea of building 5 heliports on lands proposed as Wilderness and Research Natural Areas is one of the most hare-brained schemes I’ve ever heard,” said Laramie resident Perry Wechsler.

The Medicine Bow National Forest plans to OK a series of “shot-holes,” spaced 330 feet apart, that will be detonated with explosives along a line that extends 5 miles through the heart of the Roadless Area. Drill rigs will be helicoptered in, and trees will be logged to facilitate lowering the drill to the 80 or so blast sites. Five helicopter landing sites would be constructed for the project, which would involve the logging and clearing of forested areas. The proposal will require the use of helicopters, on-the-ground crews, drill rigs, and explosives throughout most of the summer, according to the Forest Service. One helicopter landing site will be near the popular Crater Lake trail, resulting in increased noise disturbance throughout the summer.

The Med Bow NF intends to approve the project without any environmental analysis, arguing that the project should be “excluded” from normal analysis procedures because it can’t possibly have any environmental impact on the area’s resources. The public has until April 5th to comment on the project, but the Forest Service won’t present the public with a detailed environmental analysis or any alternative courses of action. The public also will be denied the opportunity to appeal a poor decision to the Forest Service’s regional office in Denver. Once the project is approved, the only recourse will be a lawsuit to stop it. “We’re seriously considering legal action,” said Molvar.

A digital photo of the proposed project site in the roadless area is available upon request.