Locals Decry What They Call Flaming Gorge “Secret”
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Rock Springs, WY – They didn't see it coming. Some Wyoming residents say they've been blindsided by the federal Bureau of Land Management, which has granted permission for natural gas drilling in a popular recreation and hunting area near Flaming Gorge on the Utah border.
One of those upset is Karl Kronfuss, a Rock Springs hunter who says the BLM did not give the public much advance notice or information about the drilling plans. He also complains that the recent nine-day comment period was over before it was publicized. Kronfuss suspects the projects are being kept quiet to try to keep local people quiet. He says no information about the impact on wildlife habitat was made public.
"For the local people in Rock Springs and Green River, if they knew that this was going to go on, they would have been up in arms. Nobody even knew it was happening."
The BLM points out the project is just for two exploratory wells, not for mass development. Kronfuss says he doesn't buy that, however, based on the history of other exploratory projects in the state.
"'Well, we're just going to put these two wells in.' That's what they're saying now, but then it will be 20, and then it will be 200 and then it will be 2,000."
Kronfuss says the BLM should let the public review the information and offer input before wells go in. The BLM says it did follow all guidelines in giving the drilling company permission to move into the area, which includes Little Mountain and Parea Butte.
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