CRAIG, CO (May 16, 2007) - Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) closes its public comment period on its proposed draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Little Snake Resource Area, which will govern the fate of 1.3 million acres of public lands in the northwest corner of Colorado.  Area residents fear that their opposition to BLM's plan to bring more than 3,300 new oil and gas wells and associated infrastructure to the region will go unheard. Ranchers, hunters, and other residents expressed concerns that despite local resistance, northwest Colorado - known for its fertile hunting grounds, abundant wildlife habitat, and spectacular recreational opportunities, including the culturally rich Vermillion Basin proposed wilderness area - may soon be home to more oil and gas development than unspoiled backcountry.  

Quotes about BLM's plan for the Little Snake Resource Area 

"This area has already experienced the fallout of a 'get it, while the getting is good' attitude toward energy development," said Wes McStay, rancher and area resident for more than 45 years.  "We need put our resources behind sustainable ventures that protect our natural heritage.  Focusing too heavily on energy development is simply shortsighted… a lesson we should have already learned."  
 
"Energy companies often question why wildlife biologists are concerned when development claims to disturb only a small percentage of an area, not unlike the BLM's plan to limit surface disturbance to 5 percentage in the Little Snake plan, but all too often this small percentage directly affects wildlife's most critical habitat,"  said Bill Alldredge, a wildlife biologist, and professor emeritus and former chair of the Wildlife Major in the Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University.  "For example, during the first five years of energy development at the Pinedale Anticline in western Wyoming, only about 2 percent of crucial mule deer winter range was disturbed.  Scientifically credible studies documented a 46 percent reduction in the number of mule deer wintering on the Anticline during that five-year period.  The fact is, the negative impacts on wildlife are undeniable."

"Little Snake is an ideal location for Colorado Governor Bill Ritter to implement elements of his Colorado Promise - New Energy Economy seven point plan," said Luke Schafer of the Colorado Environmental Coalition.  "The Governor's plan supports, 'measured and responsible development of oil and gas, (while indicating that) it is imperative that we protect Colorado's environment including its wildlife, air, and water, as the energy sector expands.'  Little Snake could be the poster child for smart energy development decisions in the state.  We are not asking BLM to exclude oil and gas development in the region, but rather to require that any energy development is done responsibly and in an environmentally sensitive manner." 

"Presently Little Snake is one of the best hunting grounds in the county, and is known locally and nationally for producing trophy-winning elk, mule deer and pronghorn," said Allan Reishus, area resident, physician and avid hunter.  "What makes this area such a fertile hunting ground is undisturbed expanses of quality habitat and unspoiled winter range.   My fear is that if BLM moves forward with its plan and allows rampant oil and gas development in the region, big game herds and the much needed capital hunting brings to this region will be lost."

"Vermillion Basin is one of Colorado's greatest natural treasures," said Jane Yazzie, a community college professor and area resident.  "Home to Native American petroglyphs, spectacular desert canyons, an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers, and countless recreational opportunities, Vermillion is truly worthy of permanent protection.  BLM's plan to allow drilling in this area, especially when much of the Little Snake Resource Area is already leased, represents a failure to develop a balance plan for our region."   

Overview of the plan

Under the BLM's preferred alternative in the draft plan, 93 percent of the Little Snake Resource Area would be opened to oil and gas drilling, including all of Vermillion Basin proposed wilderness - only 160,870 acres out of the 1.3 million-acre Resource Area would be placed off limits to energy development.  The plan fails to propose any new Areas of Environmental Concern (ACECs) to protect unique and rare resources such as endangered plants or special scenery, and abolishes all existing ACECs except one for Irish Canyon.  Further, the plan does not protect against the destruction of vital sage grouse habitat and essential big game winter habitat from oil and gas development over the life of the plan.

Already over 60 percent of the Little Snake Resource Area is leased for oil and gas drilling although much has yet to be developed.  Scientific analysis conducted by The Wilderness Society found that the proposed wilderness lands in Little Snake, including the sought-after Vermillion Basin, contain only enough technically recoverable gas to supply U.S. energy needs for about 11 days, and less than 50 minutes worth of oil; when economic factors are considered, this amount would be much less.  Moreover, Vermillion Basin and the six other proposed wilderness areas contain less than 5 percent of the total technically recoverable gas and less than 1 percent of the technically recoverable oil reserves within the entire Little Snake Resource Area.

Locals and conservationists are urging the BLM to improve the Little Snake draft plan by including provisions to:

• Preserve Vermilion Basin and other citizen-proposed wilderness areas by protecting them from oil and gas leasing and development, off-road vehicles, and other actions that would impair wilderness character;
• Maintain existing ACECs and designate new ACECs to protect sensitive resource values (including rare plants and prairie dog colonies);
• Require that any energy development is done responsibly and in an environmentally sensitive manner that protects wildlife and other rare, unique, and vulnerable natural and historical resources;
• Protect the Wild and Scenic character of eligible segments of Yampa River, Beaver Creek and Vermillion Creek; and
• Better manage recreation by restricting off-road vehicles to designated roads in order to minimize environmental impacts and social conflicts, and by providing for a balance of "quiet" recreation opportunities as well.