Bridger-Teton will prepare a Supplemental Impact Statement concerning drilling in the Wyoming Range

The Bridger-Teton National Forest has decided to conduct an additional environmental study and solicit more comments on a proposal to drill in the Upper Hoback Basin of western Wyoming.  The Forest Service made the decision after considering over 60-thousand comments on the proposal by Houston based Plains Exploration and Production Company.  The company wants to drill 136 wells in the area.  The Forest Service will be developing a new alternative for drilling in the area.  Dan Smitherman of the group Citizens for the Wyoming Range is thrilled with the move and says he hopes this will lead to negotiations where citizens can buy out the leases.

“We would have to put together a group of funders and basically sit down and negotiate and that price would be paid and they would then retire those leases back to the federal government.”

Smitherman is optimistic that they would be able to raise the money to buy off the leases.