Chevron USA surrendered all of its oil and gas leases
in the Bridger-Teton National Forest near Jackson Hole, Wyo., last
month. The surprise release of both its new 1993 leases and older
ones dating back to the early 1980s may spare the 60,000-acre
Willow Creek roadless area from drilling. Chevron says it backed
off the controversial exploration plans for economic reasons after
a $6 million test well struck a dry hole. However, in a letter to
the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management office, Chevron land manager
Richard Hughes said the move “renders moot” a lengthy appeal of its
Willow Creek oil and gas leases by the Jackson Hole Alliance for
Responsible Planning, and asked the BLM to dismiss the case. Jeanne
Klobnak, public lands director for the alliance, says the surrender
is a mixed blessing. Had the appeal been heard and won, it could
have had a significant impact on oil and gas leasing of national
forests nationwide. But, Klobnak adds, the decision is still a
victory for Willow Creek.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Chevron drops leases.
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