WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Clean Energy Comes out Ahead on Santa Fe National Forest

WildEarth Guardians Overturns Forest Service Oil and Gas Drilling Plans
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

SANTA FE, N.M.-WildEarth Guardians has overturned a U.S. Forest Service decision to expand oil and gas drilling on the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico, a victory that promises to better safeguard clean air, wildlife, and clean water in the region.

“We need clean energy solutions, not more dirty energy development,” said Jeremy Nichols, Climate and Energy Program Director for WildEarth Guardians. “More oil and gas drilling means more air pollution, more impacts to wildlife and clean water, and more threats to public health. It’s time to put clean energy in the driver’s seat and dirty energy in the back where it belongs.”

The reversal comes in response to an administrative appeal filed by WildEarth Guardians on November 6, 2008. That appeal challenged an August 15, 2008 decision by the Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor to let the Bureau of Land Management lease more than 113,000 additional acres of public lands in the Forest for oil and gas drilling. Leasing conveys a right to drill, so the Forest Service by extension authorized drilling.

WildEarth Guardians’ appeal challenged the failure of the Forest Service to safeguard these public lands to protect clean air, clean water, and wildlife in the face of ramped up drilling on the Santa Fe National Forest.

On January 7, 2009, the Southwest Regional Office agreed with the appeal, ruling that the decision failed to protect air quality and endangered species like the Mexican spotted owl.

“With the region struggling to meet basic air quality standards, this is an important victory,” said Nichols. “Oil and gas drilling shouldn’t come at the expense of clean air and the health of the region-we’re happy the Forest Service agrees.”

The Deputy Regional Forester of Southwest Regional Office specifically stated in his decision, “My reversal is based on the lack of analysis to meet Endangered Species Act requirements for the proposed amendment. I also note that the document lacks current air quality regulations and data.”

The decision was reversed entirely.

For a copy of the appeal decision, contact Jeremy Nichols, jnichols@wildearthguardians.org.