Oil Well Proposed for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (ENS)

[Up2Late]

Oil Well Proposed for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 22, 2005 (ENS) - The National Park Service is allowing public comment until July 31 on a proposed wildcat oil well project that conservationists warn would damage fragile redrock lands in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is requesting an environmental impact statement be prepared for the 9,730 acre area, known as Middle Moody Canyon, which can only be accessed along a rough dirt road that first goes through one of the Bureau of Land Management's crown jewels, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Viking Exploration proposes a well pad and access roads that would be located in classic redrock country and along a unique geologic formation known as the Waterpocket Fold. The proposal would involve blading a drill pad, and also putting in a sludge pit and holding tanks, as well as reconstructing and creating several miles of dirt road. SUWA points to the scars from other failed wells in the region that have lasted for many years, and fears oil development in the Middle Moody Canyon would also damage the unique resource.

The National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management are jointly preparing an Environmental Assessment to evaluate the environmental effects of this proposal. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is asking that the agencies prepare a more detailed environmental impact statement to analyze the project and hold public meetings in major metropolitan areas such as Salt Lake City to inform the public.

In its invitation for public comment, The Park Service lists issues and concerns as: air quality, vegetation and wildlife, lightscapes, threatened, endangered and species of concern, geology, geohazards and soils, cultural resources, natural soundscapes, visitor use, water resources, public health and safety, paleontological resources, and wilderness values. Members of the public can review documents and send a comment letter via the Park Service's website by clicking here. <http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?projectID=12592&documentId=11645>

Submit written comments to: Superintendent Glen Canyon National Recreation Area P.O. Box 1507 Page, AZ 86040-1507, or hand-deliver comments to Glen Canyon NRA headquarters at: 691 Scenic View Drive Page, AZ

Find out more from SUWA at: <http://www.suwa.org/entry.php?entry_id=682>

<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2005/2005-07-22-09.asp#anchor4>

(more enviromental news at the links above)

[acmejack]

1. Fuckers

I'm sure there are just billions of bbls under that pristine area. I hate these people, glad Malloy is on soon!

[Skink]

2. Oil the most abundant element in the Universe....

:yoiks:

[Up2Late]

3. I'm really starting to feel like, they are just doing this to Piss Off...

...enviromentalists and most Democrats.:banghead: :mad: