Push to drill shouldn’t hurt Wyoming Range bill, senators say. By Chris Merrill. Casper Star-Tribune environment reporter.
I wouldn’t count on their judgment here. Drilling has quickly become such a Republican campaign theme that their GOP colleagues will probably vote against protecting the Wyoming Range out of pure symbolism.
Sept. 3, 2008, a related story. New leasing standards. Forest supervisor undertakes critical analysis on Wyoming Range leases. By Cory Hatch. Jackson Hole News and Guide.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
The Wyoming Range is composed of highly erodible sedimentary soils. Road building to set up drilling pads
will be very destructive to the watersheds. Most likely the
soil science of the highly erodible soils will be ignored.
The Wyoming Range is well watered and full of elk, moose, deer, and an abundance of many other kinds of wildlife.
It will be a big disappointment if the Wyoming Range bill is voted down.