News about issues affecting the wild lands managed (and sometimes mis-managed) by the Bureau of Land Management -- coming to you from The Wilderness Society’s BLM Action Center
In This Issue:
Colorado’s Oil Shale Debate Spawns Unprecedented Agreement Between Conservationists and Civic and Business Leaders
In anticipation of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee’s field hearing on oil shale in Grand Junction, on May 30, CLUB 20, an organization of counties, communities, tribes, businesses, individuals and associations in Western Colorado, announced their support of a “go slow” approach to oil shale development. CLUB 20 asked the Bureau of Land Management to develop oil shale reserves in a “thoughtful manner that respects the other economic, cultural and environmental values that contribute to the Western Slope’s quality of life.” Conservationists applaud the organization’s foresight and request for caution on oil shale.
“Colorado has experienced the boom and bust scenario too many times in the past, and communities paid the ultimate price when the oil shale industry moved out,” said Steve Smith of The Wilderness Society, one of the invited witnesses at the field hearing. “With immense potential impacts to Colorado’s air, water, electric supplies, and lifestyles looming large from oil shale development, community leaders are wise to proceed with caution.”
[For more information on oil shale or the June 1 Congressional Field Hearing on Oil Shale, please contact Steve Smith, The Wilderness Society, at 303-650-5818, ext. 106.]
West-wide Energy Corridors are on the Horizon
This month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the US Forest Service will release the draft version of a plan that will drastically alter the process for moving energy around and through the states of Arizona, Colorado, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, in accordance with the Energy Policy Act.
If left unchecked, this could give energy companies the green light to construct pipelines for oil, gas, and hydrogen and electricity transmission and distribution facilities within these corridors with little or no further environmental review. Concerns include a strict two-year timetable that, as a result, severely limits the likelihood of a thorough environmental review of the impacts to wildlife, recreation, scenic values, and wilderness characteristics. New corridors could be designated and existing corridors may be expanded in areas with critical wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, and scenic values, including existing and proposed wilderness areas, national parks, national monuments and national wildlife refuges. Corridors could be as wide as ¾ of a mile and could go through some of the West's most treasured landscapes, as shown in an initial map released by the agencies last fall - several potential energy corridors go through National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, National Parks, and Wildlife Refuges.
Already, a groundswell of opposition has arisen, including concerns from military officials, the National Park Service, state and local governments, private property owners and conservationists.
[Contact: Nada Culver, The Wilderness Society, 303-650-5818, ext. 117]
BLM Asks the Public to Trust Oil Companies to Pay for a Balanced Management Plan for Sensitive Colorado Landscapes
The White River Field Office (WRFO) of the Colorado BLM recently announced its plans to let the oil and gas industry hire a contractor to prepare a critical document that would determine the management guidelines for almost 1.5 million acres of public lands in western Colorado that contain spectacular wilderness-quality lands, important big game and sage grouse habitat, sensitive plant species, and fabulous recreation opportunities – an area also targeted by the industry for oil and gas development.
The current White River Resource Management Plan (RMP) was completed in 1997 and predicted that 1,100 wells would be drilled over the 20-year life of the plan. Recently, however, oil and gas companies operating in the area informed the BLM that they expect to reach the 1,100-well threshold as early as 2008, and would like to drill as many as 15,000 additional wells – an order of magnitude increase over the number of wells envisioned in the current management plan. While the BLM acknowledges that this drastic increase in oil and gas development is a major change in circumstances, in response the BLM is simply planning to amend its WRFO management plan rather than doing a full plan revision that considers the effects this dramatic increase in oil and gas activities would have on land-allocation decisions such as protection of wildlife habitat and proposed wilderness areas. Adding insult to injury, the BLM has entered into an agreement with eight oil and gas companies whereby the companies will hire a contractor to prepare this isolated “oil and gas amendment” to the White River RMP—calling into question whether other public values will be adequately addressed or protected, and giving the perception that the oil and gas industry is calling the shots on management of Colorado’s public lands.
[Contact: Nada Culver, The Wilderness Society, 303-650-5818, ext. 117]
Washington County Land Use Bill Has Area Residents Worried – Bill is Thick on Development, Slim on Conservation
Utah Senator Bill Bennett and Congressman Jim Matheson’s proposed “Washington County Growth Conservation Act of 2006,” has many southern Utah residents concerned that St. George and the surrounding communities could double in size without a sound plan for growth or open space preservation in coming years. Instead of seeking balanced solutions for the fifth-fastest growing county in the United States, the proposed bill would actually decrease open space and fuel sprawl by selling off as much as 40 square miles of BLM land to private developers, and would designate hundreds of miles of off-roads vehicle trails, utility corridors, and pipeline right of ways—funded by money from the disposal of public lands. In addition, the proposal fails to protect more than two-thirds of the Bureau of Land Management lands that have been proposed for wilderness protection in this biologically rich and scenically spectacular Zion-Mojave region.
Residents, including local archeologists, the Shivwits Band of Paiute Tribe, and Citizens for Dixie’s Future (a citizen’s coalition group) are asking for a balanced solution that provides for smart growth, while preserving local communities’ high quality of life and protecting Zion-Mojave wilderness lands.
[Contact: Suzanne Jones, The Wilderness Society, 303-650-5818, ext. 102]
NM Governor Takes a Stand – Petitions Bush Administration to Protect National Forests from Roads
On May 31, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced that New Mexico will ask the Bush Administration to maintain full protection for 1.6 million acres of National Forest roadless areas within the state, and to add new protection for an additional 100,000 acres in the Valle Vidal region of the Carson National Forest.
Gov. Richardson is the first western governor to petition for roadless area protection, calling for the protection of all roadless areas as consistent with the protections provided under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. That national rule was repealed in 2001 by the Bush Administration, and replaced with a petition process under which governors can ask the Forest Service to protect roadless areas within their states.
[Contact: Mike Anderson, The Wilderness Society, 202-624-6430]
As America Celebrates Public Lands Milestone, BLM’s Premier Lands Suffer
A recent report from National Trust for Historic Preservation detailed threats to the National Landscape Conservation System, the premier public lands managed by the BLM. The sorry management of the BLM’s most prized lands is particularly disturbing at a time when our country is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Antiquities Act. Created by Congress in June 1906, the Act grants Presidents the authority to permanently reserve as national monuments places on federal lands with significant prehistoric, historic, or natural features.
Next week, more than 50 Westerners representing conservation, historic preservation, recreation, and ranching interests will be in Washington to celebrate the Antiquities Act and to raise awareness of the benefits provided by BLM’s Conservation System. For more information on the National Landscape Conservation System or to schedule interviews with Westerners who have traveled to DC to promote stronger protection for the System, contact Dave Slater at 202-429-8441.
[Contact: Wendy Vanasselt, The Wilderness Society, 202-429-7431]
About the BLM Action Center
The BLM Action Center was established by The Wilderness Society in response to the relentless assault on America’s public lands. The Action Center operates out of Denver with a mission to protect America’s wild lands and open spaces by helping people participate in decisions that will shape the management of millions of acres of BLM lands throughout the Intermountain West. We also serve as a resource for journalists and a link to the vast expertise of The Wilderness Society’s national staff.
BLM Action Center Staff
- Communications Manager Melissa Kolwaite, a great resource, can direct you to our many experts and spokespeople. 303-650-5818, ext. 118
- Attorney Nada Culver, a great source for interpreting legal aspects of the BLM planning processes. 303-650-5818, ext. 117
- Coordinator Heath Nero is an expert in grassroots organization and governmental processes. 303-650-5818, ext. 116
Additional TWS Communications Contacts
>> Visit the BLM Action Center
