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The very integrity of the Sagebrush Sea in parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and the Dakotas is threatened by oil and gas extraction, particularly coalbed methane (CBM) development. CBM development has a huge "footprint" on the landscape and the process used to extract coalbed methane depletes local aquifers, causing groundwater levels to drop and wells to run dry. The accumulation of coalbed methane wells and associated compressor stations, service roads, powerlines and related infrastructure fragments sagebrush habitat, harms wildlife, including sage grouse and pronghorn, and blocks migration corridors for mule deer.

Peer Reviewed Research Documents Impacts of Energy Development on Sage Grouse

June/July 2007 Research accepted for publication in peer reviewed journals describes the negative effects of coalbed methane development on greater sage-grouse.

Ongoing Research Shows Impacts of Energy Development on Sage Grouse Habitat

May/June 2006 Ongoing research demonstrates the harmful impacts of natural gas (coalbed methane development) on sage grouse habitat.

Study Shows Major Impacts of Energy Development on Sage Grouse

January 19, 2006 A new study shows that natural gas development is affecting population size, nest selection, and distribution of greater sage-grouse in western Wyoming.

Court Sends BLM Back to Drawing Board, BLM Must Protect Wildlife in CBM Development Planning

June 13, 2005 The U.S. District Court for the District of Montana has ruled that the Bureau of Land Management violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a bedrock federal environmental law, by failing to consider a phased development alternative to coal bed methane development in the Powder River Basin ....News Release....

Aerial view of the Jonah natural gas field, upper Green River Valley, Wyoming, 2001 - SkyTruth

Coalbed Methane Development in the Powder River Basin

In April 2003 the Bureau of Land Management authorized a massive energy development scheme on public and private lands in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana. The agency prepared two Records of Decision and supporting Environmental Impact Statements (one ROD and EIS for each state) to permit development of at least 57,000 new coalbed methane wells, 27,000 miles of new roads, and over 50,000 miles of new pipeline, electrical line, and utility corridors over the next two decades. However, in signing the RODs and preparing the EISs, BLM violated the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The Sagebrush Sea Campaign (through its original sponsor, American Lands Alliance), Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, and ecologist George Wuerthner filed litigation in federal court against the BLM for: (1) failing to prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of greater sage grouse and black-tailed prairie dog habitat from energy development; (2) committing the Powder River Basin to full field development prior to conducting the requisite "hard look" at environmental impacts and considering a reasonable range of alternatives under NEPA; (3) failing to prepare a single EIS for the entire Basin; (4) failing to take a hard look at impacts to sage grouse and prairie dogs; and (5) failing to assess the efficacy of mitigation measures.

The Powder River Basin litigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, BLM continues to develop other massive energy projects in the Sagebrush Sea in Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming (including in the upper Green River Valley pictured above).

Powder River Basin Bird Map
National Geographic Map: Public Lands at Risk ("Drilling the West")

Naugle, D. E., K. E. Doherty, B. L. Walker. Sage-grouse winter habitat selection and energy development in the Powder River Basin: Completion Report. University of Montana, College of Forestry and Conservation, Wildlife Biology Program. (June 24, 2006).
Naugle, D. E., B. L. Walker, K. E. Doherty. Sage-grouse population response to coal-bed natural gas development in the Powder River Basin: Interim progress report on Region-wide lek-count analyses. University of Montana, College of Forestry and Conservation, Wildlife Biology Program. (May 26, 2006).
The Wilderness Society Oil and Gas on Public Lands: An Overview (November 2005)
Western Organization of Resource Councils Filling the Gaps: How to Improve Oil and Gas Reclamation and Reduce Taxpayer Liability (August 2005)
Government Accountability Office Increased Permitting Activity Has Lessened BLM's Ability to Meet Its Environmental Protection Responsibilities (GAO-05-418; June 2005)
The Wilderness Society Wildlife at a Crossroads: Energy Development in Western Wyoming (February 2005)
Western EcoSystems Technology Sublette Mule Deer Study: Long-term monitoring plan to assess potential impacts of energy development on mule deer in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area
The Wilderness Society Drilling in the Rocky Mountains? Not So Fast! [factsheet] (April 2004)
The Wilderness Society Drilling in the Rocky Mountains: How Much and at What Cost?
(March 2004)
Wyoming Game and Fish Department Recommendations for Development of Oil and Gas Resources within Crucial and Important Wildlife Habitats (December 2004) (1.15mb)
Trout Unlimited Gas and Oil Development on Western Public Lands: Impacts on Fish, Wildlife, Hunting and Angling (2003) (4.5mb)
The Wilderness Society Wildlife Impacts from Energy Development in Wyoming's Upper Green River Valley (September 2003)
The Wilderness Society Fragmenting Our Lands: The Ecological Footprint from Oil and Gas Development (September 2002) (5.1mb)


  Sights & Sounds of Drilling the West - National Geographic


Salt Lake Tribune Editorial: Drilling at any cost: Let's not sacrifice wildlife for energy (10/11/07)
Jackson Hole News & Guide Study: Pinedale wells would hurt wildlife (1/10/07)
Wyoming Wildlife Gas fields and wildlife (October 2006)
Idaho Post Register Editorial: Drilling the heart out of the West (10/24/06)
Denver Post Editorial: BLM lets down its Wyo. Guard (9/10/06)
Casper Star Tribune Wildlife in peril? (4/30/06)
Washington Post BLM more focused on drilling than wildlife (2/21/06)
Billings Gazette Development effects upon wildlife studied (1/10/06)
Land Letter Court calls on BLM to consider Montana development's effects on 2 species (6/17/05)
Billings Gazette 2nd judge finds BLM violated law (6/14/05)


News Advisory: Conservation Groups Amend Powder River Basin CBM Lawsuit: Raise Concerns that Coalbed Methane Drilling May Lead to West Nile Virus Epidemic

February 19, 2003 Conservation groups challenging the Bureau of Land Management's Powder River Basin Coalbed Methane EIS filed papers today in Federal District Court in Montana, seeking to amend their lawsuit to account for the relationship between CBM development, West Nile virus, and impacts to the human environment, in particular people and sage grouse ....News Release....