Oil and Gas

Natural gas development is the preeminent danger to ecological values in the western portion of our service area, and is threatening to expand into the Roaring Fork watershed. Our Oil & Gas Defense Program’s goal is to prevent or minimize the adverse ecological impacts of energy development on these lands. In addition, oil shale development being contemplated on public lands north of Rifle poses a risk to the entire region.

Led by WW staff attorney Peter Hart, the Oil & Gas Defense Program provides the frontline defense on all these issues, typically partnering with other local, regional and national groups. We file comments, protests, appeals, and (if necessary) lawsuits to ensure that nature is given due consideration in the decision-making process, and we mobilize our members and the public in support of our positions.

We’re currently concentrating on the following issues:

Thompson Divide
WW is defending this 220,000- acre landscape from oil and gas development, including leading opposition to the Lake Ridge Unit and development of leases in roadless areas. More…

Roan Plateau
We’re one of the plaintiffs in the long-running lawsuit to keep drill rigs out of the plateau’s ecologically sensitive areas. More…

Federal lands oil & gas policies
We’re pushing for the strongest possible revision of the White River National Forest’s oil and gas leasing plan and a similar BLM planning process that will set priorities for the next 15-20 years. More…

Regional air quality
With EarthJustice, we’ve filed suit to force the BLM to revisit 1,400 as-yet undrilled gas wells which it approved without adequate analysis of air impacts. More…

Oil shale
We’re a key player in the conservation community’s effort to rein in this proposed development in Colorado, which could have devastating regional impacts. More…