Please browse our resource library for studies, reports,
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| Factsheets |
Pinedale RMP and Water Quality
The BLM's draft Resource Management Plan ignores industry's contamination and depletion of irreplaceable water resources. (25K)
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Position Paper on Draft Pinedale Resource Management Plan
Release of a draft management plan for Wyoming’s Upper Green River Valley marks an important turning point for the future of this biologically crucial corner of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This 4-page white paper outlines the Coalition's position regarding the development of energy resources on these wildlife-rich public lands. (107K)
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Position paper on proposed escalation of Anticline gas field
The BLM's proposal to escalate development on the Pinedale Anticline gas field would result in 4,400 more wells drilled from an additional 250 well pads and the scraping of more than another 12,000 acres. It would also result in the abandonment of seasonal drilling restrictions that protect the thousands of mule deer and pronghorn that rely on the Anticline for winter forage. This paper spells out the coalition's concerns and recommendations concerning future development here. (73K)
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Fact Versus Fiction: What the Pinedale Anticline SEIS really means
The BLM's proposal for escalated drilling on the Pinedale Anticline is full of empty promises and dubious claims. This fact sheet contrasts the rhetoric and the reality behind the plan to add another 4,400 natural gas wells in crucial habitat while abandoning seasonal drilling restrictions that could protect wildlife. (50K)
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Findings and implications of the 2006 annual report of Hall Sawyer's mule deer study
This multi-year industry-supported study examines how energy development affects winter mule deer on the Pinedale Anticline gas field. After five years of development, it appears drilling has pushed mule deer off their prefered winter range on the Mesa. This factsheet summarizes the implications of the studies most current findings. (30K)
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Experimenting with a Cherished Resource
Industry-backed research in Wyoming's Upper Green River Valley may be pushing out mule deer, pronghorn and sage grouse, wildlife that depends of the valley's winter range. (160K)
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Bridger-Teton energy Leasing: Wrong place, wrong time
The Bridger-Teton National Forest’s Wyoming Range is one of Wyoming’s unsung natural gems. While tourist crowds descend on nearby National Parks and Wilderness areas, these mountains provide places for locals to explore, hunt and fish. The Wyoming Range also may become a place to prospect for fossil fuels. In April 2005, the Forest Service announced its intent to lease 44,600 acres, thereby laying the groundwork for extending the West’s natural gas boom into this cherished range. (40K)
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Clearing the Haze: How to protect Upper Green's air qualtiy
Recent agency documents show the energy industry's emissions are worse than anticipated and the valley's air quality will decline. Reasonable solutions include phasing in development and requiring drillers to adopt practices to minimize emissions. (47K)
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Lessons from Jonah: The Big Fish That Swallowed the Upper Green?
The densely developed Jonah gas field south of Pinedale offers a glimpse of what can happen when an area is sacrificed to the energy-extraction industry. April 2006(106 KB)
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Clean, clear air is priceless
Newspaper ad: The Upper Green is exploding with oil and gas development, with 3,300 addiontal wells proposed for the Jonah and up to 7,000 for the Pinedale Anticline. Citizens ask: What will happen to our air if we don't drill smart? (92K)
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Clean Air in the Upper Green?
Newspaper ad (327K): Cost to upgrade Upper Green drill rigs: $60 million;
Annual profit from gas production: $1,500 million;
Value of Upper Green's clean air: Priceless
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Air Quality and the Jonah Infill
BLM's supplemental air quality analysis predicts energy development will haze the skies in over the Upper Green River Valley and nearby national parks, deposit acid-building compounds in alpine lakes and release so much pollution that human health standards for ozone and particulate levels will come close to being violated in the Jonah gas field. (65K)
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Gas Fields Richly Reward Drillers
The staggering profits large energy companies are funneling out of Wyomings Upper Green River Valley are evidence that pacing natural gas development would be economically practical. We should expect these flourishing operators, which grossed $4 billion from Sublette County in 2004, to do a lot more to protect our land, air and communities. (67K)
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The Upper Green's declining air quality: A primer
Energy development is taking a heavy toll on the air quality of Wyoming's Upper Green River Valley, putting the clear views, human health and the environment at risk. This four-page primer addresses common questions concerning the valley's air and how to protect it. (41 KB)
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Excerpts from the Greater Yellowstone Area Air Quality Assessment--April 2005 Update
In April 2005, a panel of state and federal scientists issued a report indicating rapid energy development in the Upper Green River Valley could pose serious risks to the air quality of the Greater Yellowstone area. Emissions far exceed what land managers bargained for when they authorized the valley's two hottest gas fields and the Forest Service lacks the resources to adequately monitor what is happening to the air over protected national forest. (19 KB)
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Quality of Life: It's Not Only About the Money
The communities of Wyoming’s Upper Green River Valley are facing a radical transformation as gas-field operations rush to suck as much natural gas out of the ground while record high prices last. Since the gas boom began in the late 1990s, parts of Sublette County have been experiencing housing shortages, infrastructure failures, bad air, increased traffic and accidents, crime and social problems, such as substance abuse and domestic abuse.
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What Should be Done to Confront Our Air Quality Problems
Reversing the slide in the Upper Green's air quality will rquire both voluntary measures from the energy industry as well as tough actions on the part of government. This paper spells out the Upper Green River Valley's Coalition position on tracking and fixing the problem. (KB34)
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Wildlife at a Crossroads: Energy Development in Western Wyoming
This factsheet summarizes a February 2005 spatial analysis that documents how energy-related road networks are fragmenting and eroding important wildlife habitat in the Upper Green. The study urges BLM to retire and reclaim unneeded roads and minimize the impacts of others. (49KB)
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Road densities in the Upper Green
This map by CommEnSpace shows that much of the valley has more than 1 mile of road per square mile, a density wildlife biologists say can have negative impacts on wildlife. Areas with densities greater than 2 miles often intersect with the valley's gas fields and migration corridors. (264K)
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BLM Oil and Gas Leasing Program in the Rockies--the Facts
Industry has access to 88 percent of natural gas resources on federal land in five Western states. While 42 million acres of BLM land are under lease, only 11.4 million are in production and the agency is breaking records issuing new drill permits. Dec. 15, 2004 (39 KB)
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South Piney: Not the Place for Another Gas Field
South Piney, tucked in eastern foothills of the Wyoming Range, possesses important natural and cultural values: habitat for big game and rare wildlife, key water resources and a century-old ranching heritage.(KB 40)
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Coalbed methane in the Upper Green
A primer on a controversial natural gas drilling technique and what it means for South Piney's split estate lands. August 2004 (38KB)
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BLM plans to open South Piney to coalbed methane drilling
Western Wyoming's first major CBM development could come to the Upper Green as BLM weighs a proposal to drill up to 210 wells. August 2004 (36KB)
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Conserving Wyoming's Hertitage
Citizen's alternative seeks to balance CBM development and nature in the South Piney project area. August 2004 (36KB)
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Responsible Energy Development proposal FAQs
The Coalition's "Doing It Right" plan calls for protecting the Upper Green's wildlife and natural values without shutting out the energy industry. July 2004 (38 KB)
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A Balanced Approach: What people are saying about drilling in the Upper Green
Many Sublette County residents, scientists and officials are calling for a balanced approach to energy development, one that conserves the natural values of the Upper Green River Valley. April 2004 (27 KB)
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Winter drilling is a misguided experiment, threat to wildlife
BLM's program of winter-long drilling violates its own regulations. Wyoming citizens are locked out of the Mesa, while drilling is allowed to continue. Jan. 28, 2004 (29 KB)
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An Uncertain Future: Big Game and Expanding Energy Development in the Upper Green
Factsheet summarizing study of energy development impacts on big game in the Upper Green River Valley and recommendations for the Pinedale Resource Management Plan Revision. February 2003 (32KB)
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Sage Grouse Habitat Needs and Management Issues in the Upper Green River Valley
Summary factsheet of Clait Braun's recommendations concerning sage grouse management issues for the Pinedale Resource Management Plan Revision. October 2002 (132KB)
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| Studies and Reports |
Sublette Mule Deer Study (Phase II): Long-term monitoring plan to assess potential impacts of energy development on mule deer in the Pinedale Anticline.
Executive summary of 2006 Annual Report. This multi-year industry-supported study by biologist Hall Sawyer has documented that drilling may be pushing mule deer off their prefered winter range on the Mesa. (360K)
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Too Wild to Drill
The Upper Green River Valley is among 17 special landscapes under threat of oil and gas development highlighted in a report by The Wilderness Society. According to a TWS analysis, Bush-era development plans call for drilling 50,000 new wells on Wyoming public lands in the coming decade, which could result in a tripling in the number of wells. (185K)
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Wildlife and Energy Development
The first phase of a five-year industry-funded study suggests the Upper Green's wintering pronghorn tend to avoid energy development and other human impacts. Wildlife Conservation Society researchers pronghorn appear to abandon habitat that has been fragmented into parcels smaller than 600 acres. None of the 48 collared pronghorn were observed entering the Jonah Gas Field, according to WCS's January 2006 progress report. (5MB)
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Sublette Mule Deer Study (Phase II): 2005 annual report
Long-term monitoring plan to assess potential impacts of energy development on mule deer in the Pinedale Anticline Project area. (2MB)
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GAO on Oil and Gas Development: Increased permitting activity has lessened BLM's ability to meet its environmental protection responsibilities
During the past six years, the number of drilling permits the BLM approves everty year has more than tripled, compromising the agency's ability to protect its lands at a time when those lands are under the greatest pressure, according to this report by the Government Accountability Office. (1.4MB)
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Greater Yellowstone Area Air Quality Assessment Update
This 26-page report, prepared by a consortium of state and federal scientists, warns that gas-field and other industrial emissions pose the most significant threat to the protected airsheds of the Greater Yellowstone Area. (554KB)
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Wildlife at a Crossroads: Energy Development in Western Wyoming
This February 2005 report used spatial analysis to document how energy-related road networks are fragmenting and eroding important wildlife habitat in the Upper Green. The study urges BLM to retire and reclaim unneeded roads and minimize the impacts of others. Forty pages in 3.3 MB.
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Big Game Migration Corridors in Wyoming
Threatened migration corridors are crucial to the survival of Wyoming big game, which persists as a major economic and quality-of-life force, according to this April 2004 report by Wyoming Open Spaces at the University of Wyoming.(2.2 MB)
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Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST) Report on wildlife impacts in UGRV
Full report of a Western EcoSystems Technology's (WEST) study of energy development impacts on big game in the Upper Green River Valley and recommendations for the Pinedale Resource Management Plan Revision. (3.4MB)
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Air quality impacts of oil and gas drilling in the Green River Valley
Drilling operations emit harmful chemicals, exhaust and dust into the air. The energy boom in the Upper Green threatens to degrade the air quality of a world-class airshed, according to this report by Paulette Middleton.(41 KB)
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Wilderness Society 2002 report on energy and western wildlands
Wilderness Society 2002 report entitled "Energy & Western Wildlands: A GIS Analysis of Economically Recoverable Oil and Gas." (9.8MB)
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Wilderness Society 2002 report of fragmentation effects of oil and gas development
Wilderness Society 2002 report entitled "Fragmenting Our Lands: The Ecological Footprint from Oil and Gas Development." (5.1MB)
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Mule deer study in the UGRV (phase 1)
Results of a 2001 study identifying critical seasonal ranges, movement patterns, and estimated survival rates of mule deer in Sublette County, Wyoming (phase 1). (790KB)
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Paper documenting effects of development on sage grouse in the UGRV
Scientific paper documenting "Oil and Gas Development in Western North America: Effects on Sagebrush Steppe Avifauna with Particular Emphasis on Sage-grouse." (37KB)
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| Letters and Comments |
Pinedale Anticline Escalation: Second round of comments from the Environmental Protection Agency
E.P.A. has given the latest version of the Pinedale Anticline drilling escalation plan its worse possible grade. Such a grade could force the BLM to take the entire plan back to the drawing board.
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Pinedale Anticline Escalation: Second round of comments from the Forest Service
The Forest Service has sent BLM a critical critique of their proposed drilling escalation on the Pinedale Anticline gas field. Forest Service is concerned the proposed scope of driling will have harmful implications for air quality in adjoining class I wilderness air-sheds.
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: Second round of comments from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has sent BLM a critical review of their proposed drilling plan. They raise significant concerns regarding impacts to sage grouse, bald eagles, other raptors, and wetlands/riparian areas.
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Pinedale Anticline Escalation: Second round of coalition comments.
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: second round of comments from the Town of Pinedale
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RMP Comments: Conservation groups' joint comments
The Upper Green River Coalition and its conservation partners lay out support for Alternative 3, which provides a great deal more protection to the Upper Green's air quality, wildlife and quality of life than the BLM's "preferred" alternative, while allowing almost as much energy extraction. See supporting exhibits below. (240K)
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RMP Comments: Wildlife
Exhibit 1: Comments prepared by wildlife biologist William Alldredge, a retired university professor from Thermopolis, Wyo. Alldredge concludes the Draft RMP fails to consider an alternative that would truly protect wildlife, fails to take the requisite "hard look" at the environmental consequences of the proposed level of development, and "fails to present adequate plans for monitoring, mitigation and reclamation such that impacts to big game animals and their habitats could be evaluated and reduced." (162K)
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RMP Comments: Sagebrush ecosystems
Exhibit 3: An analysis of impacts to sagebrush ecosystems by Carl Wambolt, a range sciences professor at the Montana State University. (177K)
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RMP Comments: Air quality
Exhibit 4: Air quality comments prepared by experts Cindy Copeland and Megan Williams, who found that the Draft EIS does not adequately analzye the air quality impacts associated with the level of oil and gas development outlined in the draft RMP. And the preferred alternative fails to ensure compliance the Clean Air Act.
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RMP Comments: Socioeconomic analysis
Exhibit 6: An analysis of the RMP's socioeconomic impacts by Michelle Haefele and Joe Kerkvliet of The Wilderness Society. The researches conclude that the BLM's Draft EIS overestimates the benefits of accelerated oil and gas development, as well as downplays its costs, and fails to assess the benefits of phasing development.(246K)
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RMP Comments: Wildlife habitat
Comments regarding impacts to wildlife habitat by Janice Thomson and Mark Wilbert of The Wilderness Society's Center for Landscape Analysis. The researchers discovered a consistent bias favoring oil and gas development in the draft RMP, which fails to take into account the best science available to assess and mitigate the impacts of oil and gas development on wildlife habitat. The BLM needs to consider an alternative requiring clustered and phased development. (1MB)
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RMP Comments: Loopholes
An analysis of problematic loophole language in the proposed RMP revision by Peter Aengst and Nada Culver of The Wilderness Society. The researchers found these loopholes could lead to the redesignation of protected lands as intensively developed gas fields and the waiver of No Surface Occupancy stipulations, thereby allowing drilling in sensitive lands. (88K)
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RMP Comments: Governor Freudenthal
Gov. Dave Freudenthal urges balance in the revised RMP. "Given the intense level of (oil and gas development) in areas administered by the Pinedale Field Office, there needs to be a high level of assurance that the very limited remaining unleased portions of the management area remain unavailable to leasing in order to maintain a functional landscape for wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, grazing, cultural resources and open space,” he wrote. (50K)
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RMP Comments: Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Wyoming wildlife officials' comments endorse Alternative 3, insisting on "a reasonable and balanced approach to energy development and management of the other uses and resources" in the Upper Green.
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Coalition ad: Tell the BLM to keep drill rigs out of critical wildlife habitat
Every year, 100,000 big-game animals rely on undisturbed habitat in the Upper Green for their survival, migrating each winter from surrounding mountains into the Valley for winter. With your help we ensure that additional development doesn't undermine the Valley's abundant wildlife.
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: Comments from the Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA insists the BLM must prepare a meaningful range of alternatives, including one that envisions a slower pace of development. The agency gives the project's SEIS a low EO rating, meaning it requires further analysis.(870K)
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: Comments from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
The DEQ calls on the BLM's plan does not adequately protect air quality. Industry must be required to speed up its emissions-reduction proposal by at least two years, writes the agency's director John Corra. (737K)
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: Coalition comments regarding wildlife impacts by William Alldredge (91K)
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: Coalition comments regarding air quality impacts by Megan Williams and Cindy Copeland (355K)
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: Coalition comments regarding sage grouse impacts by Clait Braun (80K)
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: Coalition comments regarding socio-economic impacts by Joe Kerkvliet of The Wilderness Society (70K)
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Governor's letter regarding Pinedale Anticline escalation
Acknowledging the federal government’s push to rapidly develop energy resources in Wyoming, Governor Dave Freudenthal challenged the Bureau of Land Management and industry to strike a balance between development and conservation in the Pinedale area.
The Governor commented on the need to find a solution that maximizes gas recovery while providing long-term protection for the state’s resources in a letter to Dennis Stenger, Pinedale field office manager for the BLM, focusing on the Draft Supplemental EIS for the Pinedale Anticline.
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: Coalition comments (434K)
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Pinedale Anticline escalation: comments from the Town of Pinedale (341K)
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Wyoming Game & Fish asks BLM to drop proposed leases in the Upper Green
"These BLM administered lands provide an important, unrestricted movement corridor for mule deer during fall migrations to winter ranges located within the Pinedale Mesa and spring migrations back to summer ranges located throughout the Bridger-Teton National Forest," writes the agency's deputy director, Gregg Arthur, in this letter to the BLM. "Antelope use this same corridor, and a sage-grouse lek, containing over 200 mlaes, has been observed on these parcels. (476K)
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Groups protest proposed energy leases in Upper Green's crucial wildlife habitat
The Coalition and five other conservation groups are formally protesting portions of a massive 11,000-acre lease sale, scheduled to be auctioned on Dec. 5, 2006. Some the parcels proposed parcels occupy crucial wildlife habitat, yet were authorized for leasing without any environmental review. This 17-page letter to BLM Wyoming director Bob Bennett spells out the reasons these parcels should not be leased.(255K)
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Commitments Made in Decision Documents not yet Achieved
In this internal BLM memo, the agency acknowledges it has failed to meet its obligations to monitor and limit impacts to air quality and wildlife related to oil and gas development in the Upper Green River Valley. (1.4M)
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Forest Service: Curb Jonah emissions now
Oct. 7, 2005 letter to BLM: Two regional forest chiefs ask the agency to take steps to prevent predicted air-quality degradation in Wilderness areas; work co-operatively to find further mitigation; require reduction in drill rig emission become a condition for project approval, as well as emission offsets from existing pollution sources and conservation measures. (42K)
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Governor: Seasonal Stipulations Should Stay
Increasing funding for staff and technical expertise on pipelines, permitting and environmental analysis would do far more to expedite energy development than ending valuable seasonal wildlife stipulations, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal believes. In a letter to Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., Freudenthal said he had significant reservations about ongoing House Committee on Resources discussions that would effectively put an end to seasonal wildlife stipulations. (20K)
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Sen. Lieberman Says BLM Disregards Its Obligation to Protect the Environment from Oil and Gas Development
The BLM is so focused on issuing permits for oil and gas drilling that it's neglecting its responsibility to protect the land, air, water, fish and wildlife damaged by the drilling, said U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman in this July 21, 2005 press release. (13K)
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Jonah Infill Position Paper
The Upper Green River Valley Coalition insists industry adopt measures that minimize impacts associated with the infill development of the Jonah Gas Field. And BLM must do a better job analyzing Jonah impacts to protect the health of the land, air, water and communities of the Upper Green. (161 K)
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Conservation groups' letter questions (and praises)Questar winter-drill plan
Questar's 9-year plan for year-round drilling on the Pinedale Anticline could threaten air quality and wintering wildlife, while BLM approval sets a dangerous precedent. The conservation community, meanwhile, applauds Questar's environment-friendly measures. (144 K)
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Selected locals who have endorsed the Responsible Energy Development Proposal.
Ranchers, residents and outfitters speak up in support of balanced use of public lands in the Upper Green. (15 KB)
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Governor's June 7, 2004 letter protesting Upper Green leases
Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal announces opposition to new oil and gas leasing while the revision of the Pinedale BLM's Resource Management Plan remains incomplete.
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Editiorial comment by Joel Berger of the Wildlife Conservation Society
"Is It Acceptable to Let a Species Go Extinct in a National Park?" by Joel Berger, Conservation Biology, Vol 17, No. 5, October 2003. (1MB)
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Summary of Wyoming Game & Fish Department's Annual Report 2002
Summary of Wyoming Game & Fish Department's Annual Report 2002 on the devastating impacts of recent drought on wildlife in Wyoming. (7KB)
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Scoping comments submitted to BLM by conservation groups
Scoping comments submitted to BLM by conservation groups on proposed revisions to the Pinedale Resource Management Plan. (309KB)
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Wyoming Game and Fish Department letter to BLM about the effect of oil and gas leasing in UGRV
Wyoming Game and Fish Department letter to BLM expressing concerns about the effect of oil and gas leasing on the migration bottleneck for big game animals near Trapper's Point, west of Pinedale, Wyoming. (68KB)
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Letter to BLM from major conservation groups
Letter to BLM from major conservation groups outlining their position on energy development on public lands within the Pinedale Resource Area. (14KB)
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Open letter to BLM Director Kathleen Clarke from conservation groups
Open letter to BLM Director Kathleen Clarke concerning BLM's repeated failure to sponsor fair and even-handed public forums on Wyoming oil and gas projects. (10KB)
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| Symposium Proceedings |
Archaeology paper
Selected Proceedings from March 2003 Ancient Corridors Symposium: "Archaeological Evidence of Pronghorn Migration in the Upper Green River Basin." (430KB)
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Pronghorn Migration
Selected Proceedings from March 2003 Ancient Corridors Symposium: "Migration in a Global Context and the Contribution of Pronghorn of Wyoming's Upper Green River Basin." (33KB)
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Conservation Initiative
Selected Proceedings from March 2003 Ancient Corridors Symposium: "Restoring Wild Patterns," describing a conservation initiative to identify, protect, and restore large mammals in the southern Greater Yellowstone region. (50KB)
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| Testimony |
Testimony of John F. Amos, SkyTruth, before the U.S. HR Committee on Resources
Testimony of John F. Amos, SkyTruth, before the Committee on Resources of the United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, September 17, 2003 regarding Environmental Aspects of Modern Onshore Oil and Gas Development. (500KB)
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| Resources Outside Our Website |
BLM Pinedale Resource Management Plan (RMP)
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a new Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Pinedale Field Office. The plan, known as the Pinedale Resource Management Plan, will provide future direction for managing over 900,000 acres of federal surface estate lands and over 1.1 million acres of federal mineral estate lands in Sublette, Lincoln, and Fremont Counties, Wyoming ... more>
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2004 Competitive Oil and Gas Sale
Parcel List, Notices and Results
Oil and gas sale and lease information from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) ... more>
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Upper Green River Valley: A View from Above
Sky Truth produced this 10-minute video flyover tour of the Upper Green River Valley, giving a bird’s eye view using the latest in satellite imagery, aerial photography, and Google Earth 3-d technology. Watch the video to get a look at the dramatic growth of gas and oil drilling in this ecologically important region, learn about the impacts of this development on our public lands, and tour the adjacent Wyoming Range where new development has recently been proposed by the U.S. Forest Service... more>
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