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Drilling

Most people agree that Americans are too dependent on foreign oil, and need to find ways to reduce that dependency.

But just how we should do that continues to spur controversy. Innovations in alternative fuel technologies – such as cars that run on hydrogen and electricity, wind farms and solar power – have gained in popularity over the past several years. But so, too, has a push to drill in America’s wilderness areas – pristine public parks in the western United States that are home to elk, trout and thousands of acres of scenic conifer forests and meadows.

The U.S. government has opened 85 percent of the federal oil and gas reserves in the Rocky Mountains in recent years. In fact, the current administration issued nearly twice as many drilling permits in 2005 as the prior administration did in 2000.

The increased drilling on public lands is now drawing opposition from a broad range of opponents who are joining forces to protect these vast national treasures. Hunters, fishermen, outdoor outfitters and guides have joined forces with environmentalists to protest the flood of drilling permits. And Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) is pushing for legislation to prohibit drilling on hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness in California, Idaho, Oregon and New Mexico.

The bill passed the House, but is currently stalled in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. With control about to shift to the Democrats, it seems unlikely Senate Republicans will move to pass Democratic-sponsored environmental legislation during their final days in office. But a spokesman in Rep. Udall’s office said that if the bill does not come up for a vote this year, he would reintroduce it next year.

In the meantime, some energy companies appear to be making a few concessions. Questar Corp., a natural gas company, recently gave up 1,500 acres of oil leases in Montana’s Blackleaf area, as a donation to Trout Unlimited. Company representatives said they got tired of fighting over the land and were pursuing more profitable projects in Wyoming.

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To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org