No More Oil and Gas Development on Federal Lands in Sublette County

The following editorial was published in the Pinedale Roundup on
May 23, 2003 and is reprinted with permission.

by Rob Shaul, Editor

Will the next generation look around this county in disgust and ask, "Who allowed this to happen?"

Sublette County has a rich and proud heritage of oil and gas development. Since the early 1950's oil and gas development has been a major part of Sublette County's economy and community development. But today, we're taking a stand against the future development of oil and gas on BLM and Forest Service lands in Sublette County.

This position isn't because of any great concern that oil companies can't develop oil and gas appropriately on public lands. Indeed, Sublette County is proof that oil and gas can be developed with the environment in mind. We have thousands of wells here already, still Sublette County is rich in natural beauty, clean streams and water, and wildlife.

No. This position comes from responsibility.

We simply have a responsibility to the future generations of this great place.

Isn't it obvious? What makes Sublette County so incredibly unique and special is the natural world here. Even the most environmentally friendly oil and gas development carries with it unavoidable and significant disturbance to the environment.

That environment - this natural wonderland we live in - needs our protection, not only from oil and gas development, but from careless real estate development and industrial tourism.

A few weeks ago, we wrote on this page concerning development that 25 to 30 years from now the next generation will look around this county in disgust and ask, "Who allowed this to happen?"

That generation will ask us the same question about oil and gas development on BLM and Forest Service public land. How will we answer?

Oil and gas development has benefited Sublette County greatly. The industry pays the highest wages here. Its tax revenues have made our county government the richest in the state.

Beyond economics, people who moved to Sublette County to work in the oilfields have diversified our communities and added texture to our character.

The stand we take today is not a criticism of the oil and gas industry or what it has done for Sublette County. It is an appreciation for the incredible beauty that God has created in Sublette County and a recognition that preserving this beauty is our responsibility. It's ours alone.