WildEarth Guardians

Thursday, May 13, 2010
Conservationists Aghast at Ag Department's Decision to Gas Colorado Roadless Area

Vilsack Lifts Protections for Coal Mine to Waste Methane
Contact: Jeremy Nichols (303) 573-4898 x1303

Denver-WildEarth Guardians is deeply disappointed to learn that today, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture lifted protections for a western Colorado roadless area to allow the Elk Creek Coal Mine to waste what will likely be millions of dollars of methane gas.

“This is reckless,” said Jeremy Nichols, Climate and Energy Program Director for WildEarth Guardians. “If the Oxbow coal company can’t safety expand its operations without despoiling a protected roadless area, then they should not be allowed to expand the Elk Creek Mine.”

Oxbow, a multinational corporation, wants to expand its Elk Creek Coal Mine into a protected roadless area and in doing so, drill methane wells and ultimately blow the gas into the air, fueling global warming.

Methane, otherwise known as natural gas, is not only a valuable product, it’s a potent greenhouse gas with more than 20 times the heat trapping ability of carbon dioxide. In a decision announced today, Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack authorized Oxbow to drill 12 methane venting wells in a protected roadless area. The decision authorizes Oxbow to construct roads, clear pads, and drill the wells.

According to the Bureau of Land Management, the Elk Creek Coal Mine wastes more than 7 million cubic feet of methane daily from dozens of wells. This is enough gas to power more than 35,000 homes a year and at current natural gas prices, is worth more than $10.2 million annually.

It also makes the Elk Coal Mine one of the largest single sources of greenhouse gases in the State of Colorado, equaling more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide every year.

“The Secretary’s decision exacerbates this reprehensible waste at the expense of Colorado’s wildlands,” said Nichols. “This is beyond outrageous, we’re rewarding wasteful business by allowing them to ravage our public lands.”