FOREST PLAN HOLDS RESTRICTIONS

Feb. 19, 1990
The petroleum industry will have 90 days beginning Mar. 2 to appeal the long awaited Bridger-Teton Forest Plan approved this month by the U.S. Forest Service. The plan, originally due in 1986, makes about one fourth of the 3.4 million acre forest in Northwest Wyoming available for oil and gas leasing with surface occupancy but contains many restrictions. Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association is considering an appeal. Environmental groups might appeal as well.

The petroleum industry will have 90 days beginning Mar. 2 to appeal the long awaited Bridger-Teton Forest Plan approved this month by the U.S. Forest Service.

The plan, originally due in 1986, makes about one fourth of the 3.4 million acre forest in Northwest Wyoming available for oil and gas leasing with surface occupancy but contains many restrictions.

Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association is considering an appeal. Environmental groups might appeal as well.

About 1.4 million acres of the forest is designated wilderness or withdrawn from multiple use for other reasons. The Forest Service decided not to lease a further 114,000 acres.

Of the 56% of the forest deemed suitable for leasing, a total of 1 million acres would be subject to "no surface occupancy" stipulations.

Most leases for the remaining 915,000 acres would be subject to other restrictions. For example, surface occupancy would be banned in some areas during denning seasons for grizzly bears or calving seasons for elk.

In addition, the Forest Service said it would restrict activities on some leases to preserve visual standards but did not specify the acreage involved.

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