© 2024 KVNF Public Radio
MOUNTAIN GROWN COMMUNITY RADIO
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Conservation Groups Cheer White River N.F. Oil, Gas Plan

This map shows which areas would be off-limits to oil and gas leasing under a newly-released plan from the White River National Forest. The areas shaded dark green would closed to future oil and gas development.
White River National Forest
This map shows which areas would be off-limits to oil and gas leasing under a newly-released plan from the White River National Forest. The areas shaded dark green would closed to future oil and gas development.
This map shows which areas would be off-limits to oil and gas leasing under a newly-released plan from the White River National Forest. The areas shaded dark green would closed to future oil and gas development.
Credit White River National Forest
This map shows which areas would be off-limits to oil and gas leasing under a newly-released plan from the White River National Forest. The areas shaded dark green would closed to future oil and gas development.

The White River National Forest released a “conservation-minded” plan Tuesday for future oil and gas drilling. Conservation groups are cheering the plan, saying it proposes closing nearly all of the Thompson Divide to future leasing. Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen reports.

The long-awaited plan maps out where future oil and gas development can happen on the White River National Forest. The Forest covers two million acres, and includes iconic places like the Maroon Bells/SnowmassWilderness and the Flattops Wilderness.

Work began four years ago to update a 1993 version anEnvironmental Impact Statement for Oil and Gas Drilling on the White River National Forest.

"This has been a long process, a challenging process and a comprehensive process," says Forest Supervisor ScottFitzwilliams. Hesays the plan minimizes the impacts from energy development to the Forest’s natural character...while still providing opportunities for oil and gas development.

"This is a forest where there are high values for recreation and wildlife and its the most visited public lands unit in the entire nation, so I believe those values are both economically important and socially important."

Under the plan, more than 1.2 million acres will be closed for oil and gas leasing including much of the contested Thompson Divide area near Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. The Thompson Divide Coalition is working to protect that area. Executive Director Zane Kessler calls the plan “a good step.”

"We’re excited that the Forest Service has taken a very strong, conservation minded lead on this."

More work needs to be done, he says, because 100,000 acres already leased on the Divide won’t be affected by the Forest Service plan. The plan only applies to future leasing.

Credit White River National Forest

Still, it’s good news for communities like Carbondale, says mayor Stacey PatchBernot.

"This decision helps establish a balance that we’ve been talking about for decades," she says. "It recognizes that some areas are inappropriate for development. It also is a major victory for rural communities and for the men and women who rely on these public lands for their livelihoods and that’s crucial for Carbondale and our future."

Other local governments are weighing in.PitkinCounty Commissioner RobIttnersays “The Forest Service deserves our thanks.” And Glenwood Springs mayor Leo McKinney is urging theBLMto follow the Forest Service’s lead initsanalysis of federal land in the region that’salready leased.

Not everyone was pleased with Tuesday’s announcement. DavidLudlamis with the West Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association.

"Disappointed is not quite the right word because it infers that you’re surprised and I think this is exactly what we expected," he says.

He thinks taking these acres out of play is ill-advised and the plan will undoubtedly impact how theBLMchooses to treat the 65 existing energy leases its reviewing.

"We do believe that this plan was planned to have an impact on thatBLMprocess and we believe demographics and politics are primarily driving some of these records of decisions and not resource values. We think that some of the acreage that’s been withdrawn conveniently aligns with the political boundary that is the Thompson Divide."

Ludlam believes energy development is possible on more acreage than what’s allowed under the proposal that targeted areas with “high oil and gas potential.”

The Forest Service will take objections for sixty days before a final decision is released. The plan is temporary. It’ll get another revision in 15 to 20 years. 

Copyright 2014 Aspen Public Radio

Originally from Montana, Marci grew up near the mountains and can't get enough of them. She began in broadcasting in Missoula, Montana where she anchored Montana Public Radio's local Evening Edition news program. She then picked up a camera and tripod and worked for Missoula's local CBS television station as a reporter. Shortly after that, she returned to radio and became the Assistant News Director at a radio station in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Marci began at Aspen Public Radio in 2007 as the station's morning host and reporter. Although you can occasionally hear Marci in the mornings, she is now quite content to be sleeping in and reporting all day. When not at the station, Marci is on her road bike, meeting people, or skiing.
Related Content