help protect the environment and the animals against 7,000 new wells in Wyoming

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Wildlife Protections Absent in Pinedale Resource Area Draft Management Plan


"Wildlife habitat would generally only be protected if a mineral commodity is not present for extraction."

Draft Environmental Impact Statement


In February 2007, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Pinedale Resource Area, which would eliminate winter protections for big game species and allow drilling in close proximity to sage grouse breeding sites. The new plan will provide future direction for managing more than 1.2 million acres of public land and federal mineral estate in southwestern Wyoming.

Urge BLM to include protections for wildlife in its land use plan for the Pinedale Resource Area.

The Pinedale Resource Area has already experienced heavy energy development with existing leases covering about 61% of the area and nearly 3,000 wells in production. Multi-year, industry supported research has documented a steep decline in mule deer and sage grouse as a result of the current level of development. Now, instead of curbing development in light of this data, the BLM is considering approval of more than 7,000 new wells over the next 10-15 years and abandoning seasonal drilling restrictions that protect sage grouse and wintering big game.



Existing oil and gas development in the
Jonah Field in the Pinedale Resource Area.

A majority of the Pinedale planning area lies within the Upper Green River Valley, the southern gateway to both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Each year thousands of pronghorn and mule deer complete the longest big game migration in the continental United States across the Pinedale Resource Area. Some of these animals will make it as far north as Grand Teton National Park, a trek of over 170 miles.

Yet, according to the draft plan, wildlife habitats in the Pinedale Resource Area will be protected only where there is no oil or gas to drill. We must take this opportunity to tell the Bureau of Land Management that our wildlife and our public lands deserve better.

We have until June 15 to change their minds. Please contact the National Wildlife Federation to sign a petition

https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=299

Thank you.