Environews, Environews, Minis

Environews: Court rejects Desolation Canyon drilling

By Amy Brunvand

A federal judge rejected a “Finding of No Significant Impact” for oil drilling in wilderness-quality land located in upper Desolation Canyon on the Green River. The judge found that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) failed to consider cumulative impacts of oil drilling on ozone pollution (note that part of the Uinta Basin is an ozone non-attainment area), or impacts of noise on river recreation. The lawsuit opposing Desolation Canyon drilling was filed by Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and Natural Resources Defense Council and The Wilderness Society.

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance: suwa.org

 

Amy Brunvand is an academic librarian who currently works in the University of Utah Sustainability Office, coordinating sustainability education, research and initiatives at the University.

This article was originally published on November 3, 2016.