Oct. 6, 2002--
The project involves seismic exploration, using sound
waves to find oil and gas. But environmentalists are
making waves too.
This suit and others raise the question: Is the Bush
administration cutting legal corners to get energy?
Others ask, are Bush's critics too quick with a
lawsuit?
The latest battleground is an isolated, uninhabited
landscape which showcases the competing values of
public land.
It may be the best wildlife habitat in the state, with
abundant elk, deer and bear. But it also has an
abundance of energy. Parts of it are punctured by
thousands of oil and gas wells.
The new project covers more than 2 million acres.
Trucks and helicopters will criss-cross 472 linear
miles in 17 straight lines with thousands of explosive
charges. Seismic instruments will use sound waves to
map underground gas and oil.
"FOUR-INCH DIAMETER HOLES ARE
DRILLED, CHARGES ARE PLACED
UNDERNEATH THE GROUND AND THEN
DETONATED."
Environmentalists say it's another example of the Bush
administration's unbalanced approach, giving low
priority to wildlife and wilderness.
"THEY'VE SAID THAT OTHER RESOURCES
ARE LESS IMPORTANT. AND THEY'RE
OBVIOUSLY WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEIR FRIENDS IN THE OIL
AND GAS INDUSTRY HAVE A CLEAR
PATH."
The BLM says the project work will be carefully
regulated.
"SO WE THINK THIS PROJECT, WHEN
PROPERLY MITIGATED, WILL NOT CAUSE
A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT."
The BLM approved it late last week, even though
environmental groups generated more than 25,000
written comments from across the country.
Seismic crews could start rolling tomorrow, but
environmentalists will go to court to stop it.
"THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME PLACES
FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION.
LIKEWISE THERE NEED TO BE PLACES
FOR WILDERNESS, FOR WILDLIFE."
It's the third major seismic project in Utah to face legal
challenges recently. The BLM spokesman says land
managers can't get their work done because they're
too busy fighting on the legal front.
"IT IS IN MANY WAYS FRUSTRATING.
I'M A 25 YEAR VETERAN OF THE PUBLIC
LAND FOOD FIGHTS, BUT I'VE NEVER
SEEN ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WE'RE
SEEING TODAY."
"WE'VE BEEN TURNED AWAY AT THE
DOOR. THERE IS NO OTHER RECOURSE
FOR CITIZENS BUT TO FILE THESE
TYPES OF LAWSUITS, THAT I WOULD NOT
SAY ARE HARASSING, THAT I WOULD SAY
ARE MEANT TO FULLY ENFORCE FEDERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS."
The opponents have a mixed record in court. A similar
but smaller project near Moab is currently on hold
because of a pending lawsuit. Another project near
Dead Horse Point was completed after opponents
failed in court to stop it.
