FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2001
Contact:
Meredith Taylor: Wyoming Outdoor Council (307) 455-2161
Scott Groene: Greater Yellowstone Coalition (307) 734-6004
Pam Lichtman: Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance (307) 733-9417
John Spahr: Sierra Club, Wyoming Chapter (307) 734-0441Governor Geringer Out of Touch with Wyoming Citizens on Greater Yellowstone Management: Governor pitted against Senator Thomas
Jackson, WY. Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer recently pressured the Bridger-Teton National Forest to open 370,000 acres for oil and gas development. This northwest Wyoming National Forest land is currently protected from this use, and includes key wildlife habitat and high mountain watersheds adjacent to several wilderness areas in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In December, Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton released a draft proposal to protect the area, and is expected to issue a final decision next month.
"In his zeal to make Wyoming the oil waste pit of the West, the Governor has lost touch with the will of the people," said Meredith Taylor, spokesperson for the Wyoming Outdoor Council. "More than 98 percent of local, regional and national public comment has been against leasing these pristine lands for fossil fuel development. Eighty percent of Wyoming citizens who attended the Forest Service hearings in Pinedale, Rock Springs, Jackson, and Dubois spoke in favor of the protections. In addition, the Teton County Commission, area businesses, recreationists, hunters and anglers have all endorsed the Forest Service position to protect this area at the headwaters of the nation's three major waterways - the Yellowstone, the Green, and the Snake rivers."
Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas also supports the Bridger-Teton Supervisor¹s proposal to protect this remote area of southern Greater Yellowstone. In a recent letter Senator Thomas wrote, "I certainly agree that we must work to ensure that the natural beauty of the Bridger-Teton National Forest is protected. At this time, I believe other areas in the state are more appropriate for oil and gas exploration. Clearly, some areas should and deserve to be protected - the Bridger-Teton National Forest is one of those areas."
"Eighty-nine percent of Wyoming is already open for oil and gas leasing. The Governor has taken an extreme position by advocating that remaining roadless areas should be drilled as well," said Scott Groene of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition.
"There are some places that should be protected from drill rigs and pipelines. It¹s disappointing that Governor Geringer is acting against the vast majority of the Wyoming citizens who seek balance by protecting the Mount Leidy Highlands, Union Pass and the Upper Green River areas from development," said Pam Lichtman of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance.
Geringer wrote in a March 15, 2001 letter to Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton, "that to proceed with your proposed Bridger-Teton preferred alternative would not be in the best interest of our people." The governor requested that the Forest Supervisor re-evaluate and delay her decision to keep the affected areas closed to oil and gas development.
The oil and gas industry estimates that about four days of fossil fuels at current American consumption rates may be extracted from this area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.