DURANGO, Colo.-
Environmentalists, residents and elected officials opposed to new gas wells in the San Juan Basin of southwestern Colorado have appealed plans for new wells on federal land, including roadless forest areas.
The appeal filed Monday says the U.S. Forest Service violated federal laws by inadequately assessing the energy development’s potential impacts on air quality, wildlife, old-growth forests, water and human health and safety.
The plan approved earlier this year by the Forest Service would allow up to 127 new natural gas well pads and accompanying roads and facilities over 125,000 acres in the northern San Juan Basin. One pad can have several wells.
Petrox Energy Corp., which has mineral leases in the area, filed a separate appeal. San Juan National Forest spokeswoman Ann Bond said Tuesday that Forest Service officials hadn’t read the appeals yet and didn’t know why Petrox Energy filed an appeal.
Petrox Energy didn’t return an after-hours call from The Associated Press.
The regional Forest Service office in Denver has 45 days to consider the appeals.
The wells in Archuleta and La Plata counties would be coal bed methane wells. The gas is extracted from coal seams by pumping groundwater into them to relieve pressure trapping the gas.
Area residents have voiced concerns about drilling along the edge of the HD Mountains, where the coal seam runs to the surface at the Fruitland formation outcrop.
In the 1990s, drilling in an outcrop released methane gas in several homes near Bayfield. Four homes had to be demolished.
“We are concerned that the Forest Service’s decision will not protect the health, safety and welfare of Archuleta County residents from potentially adverse impacts of gas development near the Fruitland outcrop,” said Bob Moomaw, chairman of the Archuleta County commissioners.
Forest Service officials have said drilling near the outcrop will be monitored and development could be restricted if there are problems.
Archuleta County joined the appeal filed with the Forest Service by the San Juan Citizens Alliance, Colorado Wild, Colorado Environmental Coalition, the Oil and Gas Accountability Project and The Wilderness Society.
Rancher Bill Vance also signed on to the appeal. He said he’s worried that drilling will cause the water table to drop and harm the water wells he uses for irrigation and livestock.
Keith Bauerle, an attorney with Earthjustice, an environmental law firm representing the various groups and residents, said the Forest Service didn’t adequately address the potential impacts on air quality. He said the visibility in Mesa Verde National Park and the Weminuche Wilderness is a big concern.
———
On the Net:
Northern San Juan Basin Coal Bed Methane Project:
