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WW in the News

Recent media coverage of the Wilderness Workshop:

  • Coal Basin lease to expire May 31 – Aspen Times, May 9, 2013 – SG Interests announces it will let one of its leases expire; WW calls the announcement a “publicity stunt” by the company to deflect criticism for its attempt to hold onto 18 other Thompson Divide leases that should have expired.
  • Appeals filed over Thompson Divide plan – Aspen Times, May 7, 2013 – WW and three local governments file requests to the Colorado state BLM director asking her to reverse the April 9 lease suspension decision.
  • BLM extends Thompson Divide leases – Aspen Times, Apr. 10, 2013 – WW blasts the decision as bailing out the energy-development industry rather than letting undeveloped leases that were sold illegally in the first place expire on schedule.
  • Mountain bike-servation – Elevation Outdoors, Apr. 1, 2013 – WW director Sloan Shoemaker is featured in an article about conservationists and mountain bikers finding common ground to protect natural landscapes both for recreation and ecological values.
  • Time to comment on Hunter-Smuggler plan – Aspen Times, Apr. 1, 2013 – The Forest Service is seeking public comment on a management plan for the 4,000-acre area, following a two-year process that WW participated in.
  • Last-ditch effort or diligent development in Thompson Divide? - Glenwood Business Journal, Mar. 9, 2013 – Excellent article summarizing the issues surrounding proposed oil and gas development in the Thompson Divide, and reflecting the positions of the drilling opponents (WW, the Thompson Divide, Pitkin County), the leaseholders and the federal officials who will decide on the matter.
  • Legal battle over Thompson Divide takes shape - Aspen Times, Mar. 1, 2013 – WW, the Thompson Divide Coalition and Pitkin County lay down the gauntlet: oil and gas companies had 10 years to develop their leases in the Thompson Divide, they didn’t, time’s almost up, the leases should expire.
  • The return of the wolverine to Colorado? - Aspen Times, Feb. 5, 2013 – WW’s Will Roush is interviewed about the proposed listing of this carnivore under the Endangered Species Act, and the improved prospects for its reintroduction in Colorado.
  • Settlement rejected in region’s oil and gas bid-rigging case - Aspen Daily News, Dec. 21, 2012 – Siding with WW and other conservation groups, a federal judge throws out a proposed settlement with two natural gas drillers and tells the Department of Justice to come back with something that actually deters future bid-rigging.
  • Industry claims opponents want to ruin drilling plans in Thompson Divide – Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Nov. 9, 2012 – They blame us for the fact that “leasing decisions made almost 10 years ago, including leases with producing wells, may have to undergo further environmental review and may be in jeopardy.” Poor drillers, they’re just not used to being held to the regulations!
  • WRNF acreage for gas drilling to shrink - Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Oct. 21, 2012 – A thorough article on the new oil & gas leasing plan being considered by the White River Forest; WW’s Peter Hart is quoted, advocating for a more restrictive scenario with no new leasing.
  • Gas drilling company works on keeping leases – Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Aug. 4, 2012 – Antero Resources proposes the Wolf Springs Unit to extend the life of its leases – yet another threat to the Thompson Divide.
  • Colorado roadless rule gets mixed reaction – Aspen Times, May 3, 2012 – WW criticizes the proposed new state-specific plan for giving second-class protection to many Forest Service lands, including seven roadless areas in the Thompson Divide.
  • Settlement in gas lease case draws local criticism – Aspen Daily News, April 24, 2012 – WW and four other groups are protesting the Department of Justice’s proposed settlement with two natural gas companies over bid-rigging, and want the DOJ to investigate other alleged violations involving Thompson Divide leases.
  • Time, economics against Thompson Divide drilling – Aspen Times, March 10, 2012 – What should have been the lead of this story is buried in the middle: WW’s Peter Hart reveals that gas leases in the Thompson Divide sold for hundreds of times less per acre than those in the gasfields around Rifle. Any reporters want to investigate why?
  • Trustees settle fight over community grants – Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Jan. 12, 2012 – Despite concern about supporting “politically active organizations,” the Carbondale Town Council voted to make grants to WW and the Thompson Divide Coalition.
  • Roadless rule decision could affect drilling in Carbondale – Aspen Times, Oct. 22, 2011 – A federal appeals court decision on the 2001 Roadless Rule is potentialy very good news for the Thompson Divide, and a vindication of our long-term strategy of challenging the legitimacy of gas leases improperly let in inventoried roadless areas.
  • Thompson drilling decision ‘months away’ – Glenwood Springs Post-Independent, Oct. 3, 2011 – WW attorney Peter Hart explains why the BLM should deny a proposal to “unitize” 18 leases in the Thompson Divide.
  • PitCo tackling oil and gas regs again – Aspen Daily News, Sept. 2, 2011 – Stricter regs, drafted with help from WW’s Peter Hart, may be back on the table after a lull due to a litigation threat.
  • Forest travel plan upheld on appeal — with a caveat – Aspen Times, Aug. 9, 2011 – With appeals by both WW and by motorized user groups denied, the White River National Forest’s Travel Management Plan is now cleared for implementation. (Despite our appeal of some elements, we’re very satisfied with the final plan.)
  • Motorized user groups appeal forest travel plan – Aspen Times, July 7, 2011 – Despite the headline, the article reports that the White River National Forest has received dueling appeals over its Travel Management Plan: from motorized groups wanting more trails, and from WW seeking to close some routes.
  • Rocky roadless  – Aspen Daily News, June 6, 2011 – Column on the Forest Service’s upcoming Colorado Roadless Rule open house, and WW’s public awareness campaign on the issue.
  • 1,211 miles of routes to be cut from WRNF  – Glenwood Springs Post Independent, May 5, 2011 – After 10 years of engagement in the process by WW, the White River National Forest releases an ecologically balanced Travel Management Plan.
  • The great divide  – Aspen Daily News, April 17, 2011 – News feature on gas leases in roadless areas and the ongoing effort to protect the Thompson Divide landscape, with quotes by WW’s Peter Hart and others.
  • Aron Ralston ‘Wins It’ for Wilderness Workshop – Aspen Times, Feb. 22, 2011 – Ralston, author of the book “Between a Rock and a Hard Place” and the inspiration for the film “127 Hours” (and a WW board member), talks about competing on the game show “Minute to Win It” to benefit the Wilderness Workshop.
  • As a forest dies, officials plan what’s next – New West, Sept. 23, 2010 – In a story about the White River National Forest’s response to beetle kill, WW director Sloan Shoemaker expresses skepticism about human engineering of nature.
  • Oil industry wants input on county regs – Aspen Daily News, March 11, 2010 – Proposed stricter oil & gas regulations in Pitkin County, which WW has helped create, are challenged by industry.
  • Wild Generation – Aspen Times, Jan. 18, 2010 – columnist Paul Andersen is inspired by the winners of WW’s student essay contest
  • Aspen Newsmakers of the Year – Aspen Times, Dec. 27, 2009 – WW executive director Sloan Shoemaker named No. 2 newsmaker of the year (right after our local bank robber/domestic terrorist)
  • Coalition seeks protections for remote PitCo – Aspen Daily News, April 15, 2009 – announcement of the Thompson Divide Coalition, which was incubated by WW to protect lands west of the Crystal River from gas drilling