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March 1,
2005
FOREST MAY BE
OPENED TO OIL & GAS
LEASING IN 60-90 DAYS
Agency Says Decision is Imminent
Goleta, CA - The Forest Service is preparing to finalize its
decision that could dramatically expand oil and gas drilling in the Los Padres National Forest. A decision is
now expected in May
2005.
In a
formal letter to the public dated February 22, 2005, Supervisor
Gloria Brown says that she expects to release the Final
Environmental Impact Statement and announce her decision within
the next 60 to 90 days.
The
leasing study has been underway since 1995. The Forest
Service released its draft analysis in 2001, studying over
760,000 acres on the Los Padres National Forest for potential
oil and gas drilling. An estimated 140,000 acres are at
the highest risk of being opened to new leasing, and nearly
three-fourths of these lands are wild and roadless areas.
The areas
threatened by this proposal provide vital habitat for many
sensitive species, including 20 federally-listed threatened and
endangered species such as the California Condor and the San
Joaquin Kit Fox. Also at risk are several proposed
wilderness areas, rivers, and archaeological and cultural sites. In addition, oil expansion will forever alter the recreation
experiences for those who enjoy the wide-open spaces of the
national forest.
As a
direct result of this oil and as leasing analysis, the Los
Padres National Forest has consistently been declared one of the
most threatened wild places in California.
ForestWatch believes that no new oil and gas leasing should
occur in the national forest, and will immediately review the
agency's final proposal to safeguard our national forest. |
