Forest Service Closes the Book on 44,000 Acres in the Wyoming Range

Before the Wyoming Range Legacy Act was a figment in the imagination of Senator Barrasso, 44,720 acres of land were offered to lease for oil and gas development in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. These leases, located on the eastern slope of the Wyoming Range, galvanized a diverse coalition that dedicated itself to preventing new drilling activities in a picturesque mountain range. NOLS was a key member of this coalition, as these acres overlaid a unique summer and winter classroom.

As opposition mounted to the leasing of the 44,720 acres through successful protests and appeals, the Forest Service was forced to go back to the drawing board. Having overlooked lynx habitat concerns, air quality impacts, and overwhelming public opposition, the Forest developed an Environmental Impact Statement to more carefully analyze the affects that development of these acres would have.

This February, the final Environmental Impact Statement was released, and the results are precedent-setting. Through the EIS, the Bridger-Teton National Forest decided that leasing should never have occurred, and that these 44,720 acres should not be available for oil and gas development. Those leases, which have been in administrartive limbo for five years, will now presumably be cancelled, with the monies refunded to the high bidders on those leases. From the perspective of the numerous outfitters, sportsmen, businesses, and organizations that have spent years of work protecting the Wyoming Range, this decision is a hard-fought victory.

To see the final Environmental Impact Statement on the 4,720 acres in the Wyoming Range, visit www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf/projects

Photo by Joy Bannon