Star-Tribune Editorial Board

Gov. Dave Freudenthal was right to protest a Denver energy company's influence over proposed oil and gas leasing in the Wyoming Range. The U.S. Forest Service has breached the public's trust and should start the process over.

In his letter to the Forest Service, the governor exposed the unbelievable control Stanley Energy has had over an environmental study of leasing in the Big Piney Ranger District in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

The company is the high bidder for some of the leases in question in a 44,720-acre area of the district, but it's important to remember that leasing has not been authorized. Despite that procedural omission, Stanley has been allowed to guide and fund planning and studies for the proposed leasing. The Forest Service even let the company recommend a consultant for the environmental study, though the agency ultimately chose a different one.

A memorandum of understanding between the Forest Service and Stanley aptly demonstrates the too-cozy relationship. The document protects oral and written communication between the two parties from disclosure "to preserve the integrity of the deliberative process." Freudenthal correctly noted, "In my mind, the integrity of a deliberative process is best safe guarded by transparency rather than secrecy."

The memorandum offered Stanley the opportunity to review public comments and offer input on them while the study was being written. The Forest Service would be obligated to "accept and utilize information" submitted by the company.

The Forest Service has proposed lifting the current suspension of earlier leases, and issuing leases that were sold but not issued in 2006. "It could be suggested that Stanley has purchased a favorable outcome," Freudenthal told the feds.

How can anyone have faith that the environmental study will be fair given the amount of influence Stanley has had on the decision-making process?

At least the Forest Service stopped allowing the company to participate in bimonthly project meetings and phone calls after the Bureau of Land Management and others objected. That action shows that the agency finally recognized that the company's involvement was improper.

But the Forest Service says it will not stop the environmental study that Stanley is paying for. Meanwhile, the highly questionable memorandum of understanding remains in place.

That's unacceptable. The entire process needs to start over, with the Forest Service footing the bill for the study.

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, who has introduced legislation to prevent oil and gas drilling on 1.2 million acres in the Wyoming Range, said the public's trust in the Forest Service "is currently in doubt." He said no special treatment - or the perception of special treatment - should be tied to any funds provided by a private company. Regrettably, Barrasso stopped short of Freudenthal's demand for a fresh start on the environmental study.

The way to rebuild public trust is to make certain the study is fair and considers the comments of all interested parties. The underlying issue is whether the people who want to preserve the Wyoming Range will have a voice in the process, or if the feds will allow continued influence by a company that stands to benefit from the leases.

A grassroots coalition of conservationists, sportsmen and ranchers has made it very clear that Barrasso's bill has widespread support in Wyoming. A tainted process should not be allowed to silence Wyoming's voice.