Forest Managers Propose New Plan for
Oil and Gas Drilling

July 5th, 2010
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Reported by Staff

Stretching from Summit County west to Garfield County, the vast  White River is the state’s most visited National Forest.

Now forest officials are proposing to downsize the amount of land available in the White River for oil and gas drilling. The move is part of a proposed overhaul of the Forest’s oil and gas management plan. The new approach involves closing off roughly 1.5 million acres of land to drilling that had been previously approved under the existing plan put in place in the early 1990’s.

While the White River is home to much of Colorado’s untapped oil and natural gas reserves, drilling in the region has always been controversial outside of the oil and gas industry.

As a consequence, Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams says his proposal to limit the amount of land available for drilling strikes a delicate balance.

“It’s finding where is it appropriate to lease these areas, and then under what condition,” he notes. “If we’re going to do it, how are we going to do it to make sure the leases are protected?”

The new plan would also bar oil and gas drilling on roadless national forests, but would allow for companies to drill directionally from adjacent, existing roads. Forest officials are accepting public comment on the plan through the end of the month. They hope to finalize it within the next year.

Filed Under: ARCHIVES • Feature Articles • OIL/GAS • POLICYWATCH

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