The Forest Service is going to let Chevron USA drill
an exploratory well two miles north of the boundary of the High
Uintas Wilderness in northern Utah. Wasatch-Cache Forest Supervisor
Susan Giannettino’s decision allows Chevron to construct a bridge,
2.8 miles of new road and improve 2.1 miles of an existing road, as
well as construct a 3.43-acre drill pad. The Chevron well has been
fought by environmental groups for years because it borders a
heavily used existing wilderness and is in mostly unroaded terrain
(HCN, 4/19/93). “This decision is tragic,” says George Nickas of
the Utah Wilderness Association. “We’re not talking about hundreds
of wells,” says Chevron spokesman Walt McQuire. “We’re excited
about the opportunity to punch a hole in the ground and see if our
exploration is successful.” Chevron USA plans to begin road work
this summer and expects its exploration to take about nine months.
The Record of Decision of the Forest Service is open to appeal
until Feb. 25. Appeals can be sent to District Ranger Stephen
Ryberg, Evanston Ranger District, 103 Hwy 50 South, Suite A,
Evanston, WY 82930.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Chevron gets a go-ahead.
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