U.S. Make Drilling Compensation Voluntary

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. Make Drilling Compensation Voluntary

Federal Land Managers Make It Voluntary for Companies to Compensate for Drilling Rigs

By JUDITH KOHLER Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press



Roads leading to gas drilling rigs can
be seen on top of the Roan Plateau in
this aerial photograph taken July 27,
2005, near Parachute, Colo. With
energy development proliferating in
the Rockies, federal land managers
have quietly passed a policy that
environmentalists fear will let
companies off the hook when it
comes to restoring land damaged
by oil and gas drilling.
(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)


GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. Aug 5, 2005 — With drilling rigs sprouting across the Rockies, federal land managers have quietly made it voluntary for companies to compensate for oil and gas development by improving the environment.

Environmentalists are concerned that the policy lets companies off the hook when it comes to fixing up areas near drilling sites, a process known as "offsite mitigation."

"There's no excuse to so completely destroy a site that you need offsite mitigation," said Erik Molvar, a wildlife biologist with Biodiversity Conservation Alliance in Laramie, Wyo. "(But) if offsite mitigation is going to be an outcome, then it should be required."

The Rockies have become ground zero in the rush to find new domestic sources of natural gas, oil and coal-bed methane. Industry experts say Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico have vast stores of energy waiting to be tapped. The Bureau of Land Management has been swamped for several years now with permits to drill.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=1010662

[cornermouse]

1. I would call that good reason to refuse to allow them to drill.

God knows what the repub/oil company collusion will come up with next.

[enough]

2. kick

[DeepModem Mom]

3. kick

[barbaraann]

4. US Makes Drilling Compensation Voluntary

By JUDITH KOHLER, Associated Press Writer
Fri Aug 5, 3:29 AM ET

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. - With drilling rigs sprouting across the Rockies, federal land managers have quietly made it voluntary for companies to compensate for oil and gas development by improving the environment.

Environmentalists are concerned that the policy lets companies off the hook when it comes to fixing up areas near drilling sites, a process known as "offsite mitigation."

"There's no excuse to so completely destroy a site that you need offsite mitigation," said Erik Molvar, a wildlife biologist with Biodiversity Conservation Alliance in Laramie, Wyo. "(But) if offsite mitigation is going to be an outcome, then it should be required."
...
The agency in February decided that the offsite improvements are optional. It was a subtle change — the improvements were never officially mandatory, although a few BLM offices were requiring them, said Kermit Witherbee, deputy chief of the BLM's mineral fluids division in Washington.
...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/drilling_compensation

The next time you hear "Liberals hate America" bring up this story.

[mike_c]

5. this does not surprise me in the least....

Pigs.

[TX-RAT]

6. It's mandatory in lease agreements here.

All locations to be restored. Most only involve small area's of land.

[phusion]

7. Voluntary?!

This is f**king ridiculous...

These bastards get so many breaks from the Bush* administration. I'm so sick of this fascist government.

[tex-wyo-dem]

8. This is a subject near and dear to my heart...

as they are in the process of destroying the Upper Green River Valley in my home state (Wyoming). For the past 3-4 years the BLM has been handing out drilling permits like candy and the environment is suffering as a result. Rampant, unchecked drilling in one thing, but the fact that energy companies are making the largest profits in their history, yet are not being held responsible for restoring the environment is nothing short of a crime.

Read the recent National Geographic article:

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0507/feature5/

Help do something about it...

http://www.uppergreen.org/

http://www.greateryellowstone.org/

[mitchtv]

9. Red States getting what they voted for

Pity the wildlife