Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal reiterated his criticism of Bridger-Teton National Forest officials Friday for allowing an energy company undo influence in a process that would allow oil and gas leases in the Wyoming Range.

Talking before the conservation group Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development in Grand Teton National Park, Freudenthal also emphasized the need for compromise when it comes to development of coal, natural gas and wind energy.

In April, Freudenthal denounced Bridger-Teton National Forest officials for allowing Stanley Energy, Inc. to participate in meetings on an environmental impact statement to determine whether 44,700 acres of contested energy leases should be reissued.

Stanley Energy not only participated in the meetings, but even hosted one at the Holland and Hart, LCC law offices in Cheyenne. The other meetings were conducted over the telephone. Stanley Energy also approved the selection of the contractor that will write the document and is paying for the analysis, which is expected to cost between $250,000 and $500,000.

Bridger-Teton officials subsequently admitted to an inappropriate relationship with Stanley Energy, but said they would go forward with the document despite the governor’s calls for a new analysis.

While responding to questions after his speech, Freudenthal said the EIS is one example of how the Bush Administration is trying to rush forward with energy leases before leaving office next January.

“This EIS on the 44,000 acres is nothing more than ‘let’s get this done while we’re still in power,’” he said, directly addressing Bridger-Teton forest supervisor Kniffy Hamilton, who attended the speech. “It’s not a terribly rational decision.”

In the Wyoming Range, Freudenthal also urged conservation groups to consider a proposal for directional drilling that would allow energy companies to drill seven to eight miles into areas that would be protected from surface energy development.

“Only one mile inside a withdrawal area doesn’t make any sense to me,” Freudenthal said. “[Seven to eight miles with no surface occupancy] seems to be a good compromise.”

Still, the governor said efforts in Washington by U.S. Senator John Barrasso to protect the Wyoming Range have, so far, been met with success. “The Wyoming Range is one that I think we’ve got a pretty good shot at,” he said.

Freudenthal urged conservationists to take a realistic approach when it comes to wind power, saying that more transmission lines are needed across the state in order to harvest Wyoming’s vast wind resources. “You have people saying, ‘we don’t want any power lines,’” he said. “But the wind is where the wind is.”

The governor also said conservation groups to take a more active role in the process. “If you want to affect things, you’re going to have to get in the arena,” he said. “You can’t just sit here in the stands in Jackson Hole.”

Freudenthal chided meeting organizers for not including any industry representatives in the symposium. “If you’re going to talk about responsible energy development, you’ve got to have more players at the table,” he said. “If you’re serious about it, you’ve got to have a conversation.”