WildEarth Guardians

Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Obama Administration Public Lands Fracking Plans to Unleash as Much Carbon Pollution as a Coal-fired Power Plant

WildEarth Guardians Appeals to Block Approval of 15,000 Oil and Gas Wells on 1.7 Million Acres of Colorado
Contact: Jeremy Nichols (303) 437-7663

Denver- An Obama Administration proposal to open up 1.7 million acres of public lands in western Colorado for fracking threatens clean air and the climate, prompting a challenge by WildEarth Guardians this week.

"it’s clear that we can’t drill and frack our way to a safe climate," said Jeremy Nichols, WildEarth Guardians' Climate and Energy Program Director.  "While President Obama is calling for action to combat climate change, his Administration seems to be doing everything they can to appease the oil and gas industry and open the door for more carbon pollution." 

At issue is a plan to approve the drilling and fracking of more than 15,000 new oil and gas wells on public lands in the White River area of northwestern Colorado.  The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management has proposed the plan. 

According to the agency’s environmental analysis, the greenhouse gas emissions that would result from this development would equal nearly 4.2 million metric tons annually, more than a coal-fired power plant releases. 

Under the Bureau of Land Management’s plan, smog-forming pollution would also increase by nearly 400%.  Already, the White River area of western Colorado and the neighboring Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah have been suffering from excessive smog levels as a result of unchecked oil and gas development.   

Modeling prepared by the Bureau of Land Management shows that oil and gas development in the White River area will contribute to future violations of health-based smog limits.  The pollution will come from leaking pipelines and tanks, more traffic and more drilling rigs, and venting of volatile gases that are byproducts of drilling and fracking.

In an appeal filed late Monday, WildEarth Guardians challenged the Bureau of Land Management’s failure to rein in oil and gas development in order to protect clean air and safeguard the climate.

“Clean air and a safe climate go hand in hand,” said Nichols.  “Whether it’s smoggy skies or extreme weather, the writing is on the wall that the Obama Administration’s plans for more fossil fuels are a disaster waiting to happen.”

WildEarth Guardians’ appeal was filed with the Bureau of Land Management Director in Washington, D.C.  A decision is likely in the next month.