Time is running out on efforts to protect the Wyoming Range from oil and gas leasing, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal told U.S. senators Wednesday during testimony for the Wyoming Range Legacy Act.

Freudenthal was one of five people to testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests on Sen. John Barrasso’s bill. The bill would prohibit further leasing on about 1.2 million acres of mountainous land south of Jackson.

Freudenthal said the Forest Service is feverishly speeding efforts to finish environmental studies that would finalize 44,000 acres of additional energy leases. Those leases were sold, but the Interior Board of Land Appeals found the environmental studies used to justify the sale were insufficient and ordered a supplemental environmental impact statement before the federal government could complete the sale.

“This is a supplemental EIS on leasing of lands in an incredibly sensitive area,” Freudenthal said. “It has been placed on an expedited schedule unlike any other expedited schedule that I’ve seen, with the intention that the final be done in September. We need this legislation and we need progress on this legislation in order to preserve a proper treatment of these lands over time.”
Despite Freudenthal’s plea, subcommittee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the governor might have to be more patient.

“We all hope we can get important environmental legislation out of the Senate, but thus far it has been very hard to do it on Senate-originated bills,” he said.

Daniel outfitter Gary Amerine, who earns his living guiding hunters, fishermen and horseback riders into the Wyoming Range near his home, echoed Freudenthal’s words and sense of urgency at the hearing.

“I know there is a place for balance, and the Wyoming Range Legacy Act is a step toward that balance,” he said. “We would like to keep the Wyoming Range for our kids, for their kids, for your kids and for balance.”

To further convince legislators of the value of the range, Amerine invited them on a field trip.

“I am not against oil and gas development — I am not a hypocrite,” he said. “But I do think there are places too special to drill. Come out and see for yourself. I will have a horse saddled for you.”

Claire Moseley, executive director of Public Lands Advocacy, represented the interests of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, which opposes the legislation. Moseley said most public land is already off limits to the oil and gas industry and it would be irresponsible to extend additional protections to the Wyoming Range, an area with large proven reserves of natural gas.

“We do support Senator Barrasso’s goal of preserving the natural beauty that is an integral part of Wyoming’s heritage,” she said. “But we feel this can be achieved while preserving access to the mineral resources underneath the Wyoming Range.”
Efforts to preserve the Wyoming Range got a slight boost from Department of Agriculture Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Melissa Simpson.
“The administration supports this bill,” she told the subcommittee.
But Simpson went on to detail concerns that her department has with specific parts of the bill, including language that would keep the 44,000 acres of contested leases from being issued.
“We currently support the EIS efforts being conducted by Bridger-Teton National Forest to analyze new information to meet the direction from the IBLA,” she said. “You should modify the bill to clarify that these leases that were sold but not issued may be issued.”
After the committee hearing, the bill will still have to undergo a “mark up” to make any changes to specific language before going before the full Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for a vote. It can then proceed to the Senate floor for a final vote. No schedule has been set for subsequent hearings.