Star-Tribune Editorial Board

Gov. Dave Freudenthal can hardly be mistaken for an enemy of energy development. His strong support for coal-bed methane production in the Powder River Basin shows the value he places on the minerals industry to help sustain our economy.

The governor's record gives him much credibility when he decides there are some areas in the state where development should not be considered. The Wyoming Range is one of those special places.

Freudenthal has protested the Texas-based Plains Exploratory Co.'s ill-conceived proposal to drill in the Wyoming Range. He's not exaggerating when he says the project could be the "first domino" toward industrialization of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

The governor and other opponents have provided the U.S. Forest Service with evidence that explains why that domino must not be allowed to fall. The federal agency needs to heed their warnings, or Wyoming risks sacrificing an irreplaceable treasure for some short-term economic gain.

Freudenthal is rightfully skeptical of Plains' claim that it only wants to drill three wells from a single pad in the woods, as he puts it, "in the off-chance of finding a little bit of gas." He noted the company's CEO - in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission - compared the project's potential to Wyoming's hugely profitable Jonah Field.

Freudenthal knows that as governor, he has little influence over federal policy. But he played perhaps the strongest card in his hand when he stressed the state's senior U.S. senator, Craig Thomas, also opposes extensive development of the Wyoming Range.

"Hopefully, this voiced opposition will eventually take the form of federal legislative proposals to protect portions of the Wyoming Range," the governor wrote. "Perhaps the USFS should delay consideration of this proposal."

The Democratic governor and the Republican senator could be an effective team fighting this project from Cheyenne and Washington, D.C. But they aren't alone in their opposition.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is concerned about the project's impact on moose, elk, Canada lynx and their habitat. The agency has filed 10 pages of objections with the Forest Service.

The Wyoming Travel and Tourism Board said it is alarmed by the pace of development statewide in recent months, especially in Sublette and Sweetwater counties.

The board's chairman, Gene Bryan, wrote: "Wyoming and the nation need to continue to develop our energy resources, but at the same time it is equally imperative to protect and preserve the attributes that bring more than 7 million money-spending visitors to Wyoming annually."

The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce - another organization unlikely to be accused of being anti-development - expressed its concerns about the project in a letter to the USFS.

"Such extractive activities are in direct conflict with the values and conditions we support and are necessary to sustain commerce and quality of life for our communities," the chamber's board of directors noted.

If the test wells are successful, it's likely that full-field development would follow in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Wyoming can't afford the disastrous effects this project would have on our wildlife, wildlife habitat, air and water quality. Our tourism industry also could be significantly harmed if we don't adequately protect the qualities that make our state a special place to visit.

The Forest Service should heed the voices of Wyoming's governor and senior senator.