Posted: Tuesday, May 1, 2007 12:00 am
CHEYENNE (AP) - Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal says he "doubts the veracity" of a Texas energy company's claim that it intends to drill just three exploratory wells in the Wyoming Range.
In comments filed with the U.S. Forest Service on Monday, Freudenthal says he's concerned that allowing an initial exploratory drilling project in the Wyoming Range could be the "first domino" toward industrialization of national forest land in the state.
Freudenthal wrote to Big Piney District Ranger Greg Clark asking his agency to consider delaying a proposed drilling project because of concerns over its effect on the Wyoming Range. He commented on a document called the Plains Exploratory Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Plains Exploration and Production Co. of Houston is seeking permission to drill three exploratory oil and gas wells on leases located about seven miles southeast of Bondurant. An attempt to reach Plains Exploration after business hours on Monday was unsuccessful, and company officials did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.
In addition to opposition from Freudenthal, the drilling project proposed in north Sublette County has drawn fire from conservationists and others who say oil and gas development doesn't belong within the Bridger-Teton National Forest's Wyoming Range.
"Beyond the significant impacts that might follow from the full-field development of Plains' proposed Project Area, my greater fear is that history will view this project as the first domino that fell towards the industrialization of over 150,000 acres of oil and gas leases within the Wyoming Range," Freudenthal wrote. "I will actively oppose any development scheme that will result in such an outcome."
Energy industry officials have said that drilling has occurred in the southern end of the Bridger-Teton National Forest for more than 60 years with little environmental impact. They say that drilling in the area can be done without significant harm to wildlife and other recreational resources.
Under the proposed action outlined in the draft study, Plains would construct a single well pad on 4.5 acres, from which one vertical and two directional wells would be drilled.
Freudenthal's office issued a statement on Monday saying that he "doubts the veracity" of the company's claim that the drilling project is just a wildcat operation to investigate the area's potential.
The governor noted that the company is spending a significant amount of money and enduring overwhelming public opposition for the project. He said Plains has filed statements with federal financial regulators suggesting that it has huge plans for the area.
"It is clear that many people in Wyoming are not in favor of this development," Freudenthal said. "It is unfortunate that the Forest Service was not more accommodating to public concerns when it decided to turn down numerous requests, including one from my office, for an extension of the comment period on this DEIS."