Day 067: 04/16/12 – Don’t Frack The Hoback

The Mountain Pulse

Last week, the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance welcomed the Wild & Scenic Film Festival to the Center for the Arts to celebrate environmental cinema and raise awareness of natural gas drilling near the Hoback River by Plains Production Corporation of Houston Texas. The drilling leases are currently under environmental review by state agencies. If the company retires or sells their leases, the land will be protected forever, which is the ultimate goal.

If unfamiliar, the “Noble Basin Project” plans to develop 136 wells next to the headwaters of the Hoback River in an area that is coveted by Wyoming hunters and outdoors enthusiast. The project has been under review since 2010, and is moving forward through the legislative process. There is a public comment period approaching where citizens will be offered the opportunity to weigh in on the project. During the last public comment period, over 60,000 people responded to help save the Hoback River. The river is treasured by local residents and tourists alike for its paddler-friendly rapids and superb fishing opportunities. The forested slopes and meadows surrounding the river provide vital habitat for migratory big game herds and dozens of other wildlife species, including the threatened Canada lynx and grizzly bear.

Springs, seeps, and beautiful wetlands characterize its upper reaches, which flow through a roadless area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. It’s so treasured, that in 2009, Congress designated the Lower Hoback as a Wild and Scenic River. During the film festival, voices in opposition of drilling in the Headwaters of the Hoback River were provided an opportunity to voice facts and opinions. “The Hoback is a wild and scenic river, congressionally designated. To the best of our knowledge and research, this is the only drilling proposal in the headwaters of a congressionally designated wild and scenic river, and that is troublesome.” stated Clair Fuller of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. Her comments were followed by elected officials and concerned citizens who questioned the intent of Plains Production Corporation and their efforts to pursue the Noble Basin Project.

Local Leaders Spoke To The Audience About The Hoback River

Hoback River, Wyoming – #7 America’s Most Endangered River for 2011

This video was shown at the film festival. The good people in Pinedale Wyoming are making a stand against the project and its important that we support their efforts and pressure Plains Production Corporation to retire the permits and protect this treasure.

Aerial view of gas development on Riley Ridge, southern Wyoming Range – Imagine this scene with 136 wells, storage, roads… The image was made with LightHawk aerial support.

For more information, get in touch with the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance or contact your Wyoming State Representative.

Image by Western Wild

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