Director's Message

As Wyoming rushes blindly into what is widely recognized as the largest natural gas development project in North America, concerns about how to manage the boom and its long-term environmental consequences continue to grow among the state's residents and conservation organizations. The challenges presented by the boom are exacerbated by the governor's "open for business" policy that puts profits above people and his related "one voice" directive that has effectively turned regulatory agencies charged with protecting the public health and welfare into business advocates.

For 34 years, day in and day out, this organization has been at the frontlines of efforts to protect the land and values we care about so deeply.

Enter WOC.

• We are working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop new pollution limits for wastewater produced by coalbed methane extraction. Each CBM well produces 10 to 15 gallons of water per minute. Given that there are now more than 5,000 active CBM wells in the Powder River Basin, and tens of thousands of additional wells are projected over the next decade, more stringent pollution limits are essential to protect the basin's aquatic life and irrigation water.
• WOC recently submitted to Wyoming's Bureau of Land Management a citizen-crafted proposal for coalbed methane development in the Powder River Basin. The alternative maps out a strategy for responsible CBM development that protects the land and people in northeast Wyoming while providing for a reasonable level of development. We have asked the BLM to evaluate the alternative in its upcoming environmental impact statement due out later this fall. The full proposal can be viewed on WOC's web site.
• We are a key player in ongoing efforts to ensure that the U.S. Senate's comprehensive energy legislation expected later this year protects our public lands from rampant oil and gas development. Our focus is on making sure that industry-supported language in the House energy bill, HR 4, encouraging more development on public lands, is kept out of the Senate version
• Our new oil and gas publication, Preserving Our Public Lands: A Citizens' Guide to Understanding and Participating in Oil and Gas Decisions Affecting Our Public Lands, is heading to the printer and should be available later this fall. The 50-plus page booklet is the most comprehensive, up-to-date guide on public lands oil and gas issues available anywhere. For reasons all too apparent to the residents of the Powder River Basin, the guide contains a special section on challenges and problems unique to CBM development.
• WOC continues to lead what has become a national effort to secure lasting protection for Wyoming's extraordinary Red Desert. The BLM has announced that it will prepare a supplemental draft environmental impact statement for the Jack Morrow Hills area in the heart of the desert that will include both a conservation and preservation alternative, as requested by WOC, and we are continuing our work to develop a legislative proposal to designate the area a National Conservation Area or National Recreation Area.
• Our work to protect Wyoming's environment and quality of life has attracted the attention of national and international news outlets such as BBC News, Fox News, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal and many others, all of which have broadcast or published major stories on the development boom sweeping across our state.

It is difficult, indeed even a little scary, to imagine Wyoming without the Wyoming Outdoor Council. For 34 years, day in and day out, this organization has been at the frontlines of efforts to protect the land and values we care about so deeply. We have attracted a dedicated volunteer board of directors and a professional staff of ten whose reputation for getting the job done is unparalleled.

Fortunately, WOC is also blessed with loyal members like you who appreciate the critical role and importance of this organization. A substantial gift from one WOC member has allowed us to create an endowment which we hope will grow over time to a level that can ensure that WOC remains an effective voice for Wyoming.

I am enormously grateful for your continued support and encouragement, and proud to be part of this fine organization. We hope you have a peaceful and productive fall season.

Dan Heilig