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A recent decision by the Bureau of Land Management that clears the way
for energy companies to drill up to 60 new natural gas wells near
Utah's White River has drawn the wrath of environmental groups and
outfitters, which contend the project will damage the ecosystem and
destroy the quiet and solitude of the river corridor.
BLM's Vernal, Utah, office issued a record of decision on the final
environmental assessment for the project on Dec. 20, finding that the
project will have no significant impacts. But several environmental
groups and river outfitters expressed concern that drilling in the
largely undeveloped area will disturb wildlife habitat, introduce noise
and hinder recreational opportunities.
"We're terribly
disappointed that the BLM has signed the death warrant for Utah's
remarkable White River," said Stephen Bloch, staff attorney for the
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.
The "Rock House" project, proposed by Denver-based Enduring
Resources, could also hurt the outdoor recreation industry in
northeastern Utah, outfitters said.
"Who would float down
a river littered with the sights and sounds of natural gas
development?" asked Marty Genereux, president of Centennial Canoe
Outfitters Inc. "No one."
A 2006 Outdoor Industry
Foundation study found that rafting and other forms of recreation
contribute $5.8 billion to Utah's economy each year and support 65,000
jobs in the state.
The groups, which include the Natural
Resources Defense Council, Wilderness Society and the Outdoor Industry
Association, note that nine years ago BLM identified the area as having
wilderness characteristics. In a brochure on recreation opportunities
on the river, BLM describes the area as "one of the quiet places, where
solitude and a sense of adventure are still very much a part of the
outdoor experience."
Bill Stringer, manager of BLM's
Vernal, Utah, field office, noted that the area is open for leasing
under the office's current land-use plan, which pre-dates the 1999
wilderness inventory. BLM, which is currently updating the plan, is
considering designating the lands as an "area of critical environmental
concern" and the river corridor as a "wild and scenic river." The
60-well project, however, will not compromise the area's suitability
for those protections, Stringer maintained.
"Those designations do not mean that nothing can take place," Stringer said.
Furthermore, drilling is already occurring on federal, state and private lands along the White River, he added.
The
Dec. 20 decision allows the project to go forward but did not approve a
specific number of wells because the company did not identify specific
well locations in its proposal, Stringer said. Each well will be
considered individually when the company applies for drilling permits.
The environmental groups are considering filing a legal challenge to the decision.
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