BLM releases Wyo. energy development options

The Bureau of Land Management has released details of two proposals for energy development in the Pinedale Anticline in southwest Wyoming.

One new alternative calls for a larger "core" area where operators would drill for natural gas without seasonal stipulations to protect big game winter range. That alternative also calls for a suspension of existing energy leases on the east and west sides of the Mesa, also known as the Anticline.

A second new alternative would allow full-field development with wildlife stipulations as outlined in the 2000 document guiding development on the Anticline — largely calling for seasonal stipulations to protect wintering wildlife.

The public has until Feb. 11 to comment on the proposals.

Questar Exploration and Production, Shell Exploration and Production Co., and Ultra Resources Inc. have proposed year-round drilling within existing natural gas fields in Sublette County.

The project area, nearly 200,000 acres of federal, private and state land generally located south of Pinedale, contains an estimated 21 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

In August, Chris Mehl with The Wilderness Society called the two proposed alternatives disappointing. He said they failed to address the effect of development on air quality and other environmental concerns.

Deena McMullen with Shell Exploration and Production, one of the operators on the Anticline, said this summer that the companies supported the decision to review two additional alternatives.

"There is a high level of public interest in the (environmental review), and it's important to us that this process is carried out to address additional suggestions about energy development on the Anticline," she said. "This allows the public an opportunity to study the additional alternatives and understand the mitigations we have voluntarily offered, which improve environmental performance and reduce impacts."

McMullen also said the companies hope a "favorable final decision" will come soon so communities and wildlife "can realize the benefits that will result from year-round access."

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