Wyoming gov. protests drilling in national forest

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-03-31T200043Z_01_N31385182_RTRIDST_0_ENERGY-WYOMING-DRILLING.XML

SAN FRANCISCO, March 31 (Reuters) - While Wyoming is fast developing natural gas and oil sites, Gov. Dave Freudenthal is drawing a line against leases for drilling sites on 19,000 acres within the Bridger-Teton National Forest, a spokeswoman said on Friday.

Freudenthal has informed federal officials he opposes plans to lease parcels within the area for drilling while a previous lease sale is appealed, spokeswoman Lara Azar said.

Freudenthal in a letter has asked the U.S. government to suspend lease sales scheduled for next month until the appeal is resolved, Azar said.

"To do otherwise will be perceived by many as a predetermination of the existing appeals," Freudenthal wrote in his letter.

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Additionally, the Bridger-Teton National Forest comprises a large part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest intact ecosystem in the lower continental United States, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

About 44,000 acres have been slated for oil and gas leasing in the Bridger-Teton, prompting opposition by a number of groups who want the area off limits to drilling, which is booming across Wyoming.

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and, yes, that is a Democratic governor!

http://www.democraticgovernors.org/elections/682/wyoming

They were among maybe a dozen Dems in their county, and campaigned for him. My mom is a WYO native and a DEMOCRAT. :-)

They live elsewhere now, but I am sure they will be pleased. We're big on natural land protection in our family.

While this is a good act by Freudenthal, it's hard to hold him up as too courageous in saving public lands from development. Whole areas of Wyoming have been swallowed up by intensive drilling. Pretty hard to watch without feeling like a significant part of the state's character is being lost.

OTOH, it's put huge bucks into the state's coffers which makes people happy. Freudenthal has played his role, as a conservative Dem in a totally repug controlled state, masterfully. Few seem to doubt that he will be comfortably re-elected and it is amusing to watch the Repub state officials try to dent him. He's played the legislative sessions like a pro since day one.

In any case, I'm glad he spoke out on this project. Wish he'd do more about a host of other areas and, in particular, the Red Desert.

Identical situation last year in Colorado, congresscritters got involved and managed to postpone the lease sale several months.

A handful of sites were removed from the auction list, but the majority went ahead. :(

He has a superb job approval rating!!

would vote for anything Repug..they could all be screwing each other on tv and their come back would be LOOK WHAT CLINTON DID...