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The White River National Forest, described as the "top recreation forest in the nation" by the U.S. Forest Service, provides one of the last pristine habitats for Rocky Mountain wildlife, such as elk, Canada lynx and Colorado River cutthroat trout. Yet oil companies are pushing forward with a scheme to drill 45 polluting natural gas wells, accompanied by a sprawling industrial maze of roads and pipelines, in this national treasure. "If we don't act now, the mighty Rockies themselves will disappear in a murky haze of air pollution," says Sharon Buccino, director of NRDC's Lands Program.
Over the past decade, the number of drilling permits issued annually in Colorado has more than tripled, exceeding the levels allowed by existing land-use plans. This unbridled industrialization has unleashed a tide of dangerous pollution -- including deadly ozone and soot -- on Colorado's western slope, threatening wildlife and the health of Rocky Mountain communities. In response, we are once again headed to court with the support of our Members -- including some 11,000 Colorado residents -- to block the onslaught. Our latest lawsuit charges that the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management dodged federal law by approving oil and gas drilling in the White River National Forest without taking necessary steps to protect air quality in the region's designated wilderness areas. Some of our Colorado Members are supporting the case by providing firsthand testimony on the hazardous impacts of unchecked drilling. NRDC will continue fighting any efforts to expand harmful oil and gas drilling in our last Rocky Mountain wildlands.
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| “If we don't act now, the mighty Rockies themselves will disappear in a murky haze of air pollution.”
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