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Anadarko Petroleum Corp.
This drill rig is part of an existing field in southern Utah that Anadarko will expand on under a deal with the Obama administration and environmental groups.
Up to 3,675 new natural gas wells on federal land in Utah were approved Tuesday by the Obama administration in a deal that even has the backing of key environmental groups.
"This agreement is a great example of how collaboration can allow us to uphold America’s conservation values, while bringing growth to Utah’s economy and further reducing our dependence on foreign oil by developing our resources here at home," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a statement.
Under the deal struck with the U.S. and environmental groups led by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), Anadarko Petroleum will avoid drilling in 15,000 acres around the White River and instead add the new wells to an existing field in southern Utah.
The Utah conservation group called the deal "goundbreaking and exciting."
"We discussed the conservation community’s concerns about the company’s project — primarily impacts to the White River proposed wilderness area and river-related recreation," SUWA attorney Steve Bloch told msnbc.com in explaining how the deal came together. "We also listened to the company’s concerns about regulatory certainty and their hope for a path forward to develop this project without appeals and litigation."
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which worked with SUWA and studies energy issues across the country, agreed the deal shows promise.
CNBC's Eamon Javers reports the Interior Department's vow to speed up drilling permits on federal land., with Bill Richardson and Gale Norton join the discussion
"We do think this is a model for collaboration" that avoids litigation and conflict, NRDC lands advocate Bobby McEnaney told msnbc.com. "There are right places to drill, and wrong places to drill."
The deal also has the support of The Wilderness Society and the Sierra Club.
Republicans have attacked Obama for not opening more public lands to drilling, especially for natural gas.
“Utahns have gotten used to the Obama administration closing off federal lands to domestic energy production, so this announcement is a long time coming," Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said in a statement. "The fact is that much more has to be done to open up more of our state’s land to development."
Salazar on Tuesday countered that the focus is on "expanding safe and responsible production of natural gas as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs."
McEnaney credited Anadarko for showing "a lot of leadership" and taking a "much more proactive stance" than others in the industry.
Ray Bloxham / Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Part of the White River that runs through southern Utah.
Anadarko did not immediately respond to msnbc.com's request for comment, but Reuters quoted spokesman John Christiansen as calling it a "new model for prudent development."
And Brad Holly, Anadarko's general manager for the project, told the Associated Press that "at the end of the day, we all want the same thing — clean air, clean water and cheaper fuel."
Environmental activists did have some criticism for the Interior Department, noting that it has shown support for the Gasco natural gas project that would see 200 wells in separate proposed wilderness area.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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OK-now let'ssee the industry start picking up theball and actuallydrilling. sofar they haven' t done much with all the permits already issued to the oil and gas industry that has a bad tendency to stockpile leases and leverage barrowing agianst them rather than actualy doing anything.
The bulk of the industry is more interested in tax breaks rather than actally driling. They aren't in the energy biz-they are in the use finainces to avoid taxes biz.
That's a big difference and it's got to end.
Arlin! Stick your head back in the sand! You don't have a clue!
Try reading this and see if you still feel that way: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-big-fracking-bubble-the-scam-behind-the-gas-boom-20120301
mas, you're the idiot without a clue. Check the stats on the number of working wells in the Gulf if you don't believe me.
I am happy to see this happen although the timing of it with the upcoming election makes me wonder. Surely the President wouldn't be trying to gain votes from this.
That's the name of the name game, get it? If you have a plan, you need a plan that will bail you out in case the original plan doesn't work. I tell you, this guy in the WH is shrewd and manipulative. He does things for his own personal gain, and not because he wants America to have the energy she needs. And this is the person elected to presidency? Don't people run for elected position because they believe it is a noble thing to do - they are inspired to serve - because they love America? This guy only thinks of himself.
I wonder what this might have done for jobs and our enemic national energy poliy if these drilling sites ahd been approved 3 years ago.Drilling that many holes require a lot of workers on site and off.Just goes to show you,all Berries has been about in the past three years is re-election.If he is re elected,God help us! He will ruin this country forever!
Odd indeed...
Since natural gas prices are well below the levels needed to be able to drill??
Not to mention that all of the natural gas storage facilities in the United states are currently maxed out??
Anadarko is also an off shoot of The Union Pacific Railroad that still holds massive amounts of land and leases all through the west and does not need to pursue any new holdings??? (leftovers of the government incentive for the company to build the transcontinental railroad)
This is nothing but political hay.
By the way..
Anadarko is infamous for .. Drilling the last well first.
meaning..
They will drill just enough to satisfy the lease agreement .. then peddle the leases and convert the rest to cash..
I'm not a bit surprised.. they had..
no comment.
I remember canoeing down that beautiful White River in Utah. Wild with a lot of biting flies. While I'm all for acquiring the energy required for our needs, it's also important for me, personally to use less when I can. So whenever possible now I ride my bike. Even as I get older it keeps me feeling healthy. So here's images of others enjoying riding when they can http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou1AvKDicxA
I'm wondering..
Wanna2..
What percentage of the American people engage in canoe paddling and biking on our Federal Lands? Or .. for that matter how many have the time or the resources? How many people .. know.. that these are not ..Wilderness areas.. but rather ..wilderness study areas set aside to placate the likes of The Sierra Club and other eco terrorists that have been preying on the American People and our supposedly shared resources?
??
How tragic and pathetic, our national leaders are ignorant as to how Earth functions and cycles to give and protect all life on the Earth.
Calling Sierra Club members terrorists in print is libelous exodus. In essence, you're falsely accusing us of a crime. There have only ever been a handful of eco-terrorist crimes ever, despite the fact that conservative extremists tend to obsess this subject. I'd bet you can't actually name more than 2 or 3 eco-terrorist events. Legal political activism is not terrorism and is an important part of our democracy.
Sierra Club is a big organization with over half a million members, almost all of which are regular folks who happen to love the outdoors, and upon which you have now borne false witness. It would be pretty funny if one of us decided to sue.
BTW, people out west flock to Utah for bicycling and paddling in the thousands. It's enough to cause traffic jams in Moab on Saturdays.
@ wanna2 - Just what was the carbon footprint of your trip to the wilderness?
Another bubble in the making!
Prediction: This will go totally un-noticed by the conservative blisterheads and un-acknowledged by those who are not.
Probably very few use the federal lands, as many probably can't afford the vacation.
Although, it would be nice. Remember the economy?
Critical times hard to deal with, will be here.
While I think the global economy is driving oil...I think this deal is kind of nuts. Let see, If you drill where there is little oil, we will not allow you to drill where you may find tons of oil because I am an environmentalist. Go back to smoking wacky weed folks. Its about all your mind is capable of processing. I would understand if they stated that we don't want you to drill where I can sit in a canoe and eat granola...but I think the environmentalist would be better to strike a deal that allows drilling but when drilling ends to go back to restoration or asking for taxes to shelter other areas away from drilling .
If they opened up a hundred thousand new wells we'd still be paying $4 gal.
CNG is a lot cheaper then $4..00 a gallon, these aren't oil wells.
Poor Utah!!!
If this had been an article about the Feds restricting drilling the wingnuts would be all over it. But because it has to do with licensing new drilling operations they're hiding in the shadows.
A utility company in Pennsylvania designed a power cell that ran off of natural gas and could fit in a closet during the 1970s. That released consumers from the grid but it was suppressed and all reference to it was eliminated. I still have the clippings to prove it. Now that gas is plentiful a device of this source would make sense if the insiders would allow it to happen.
While the World is converting to NG; mass-transet, electrical generating, vehicles (including trains) and even making aircraft fuel. The USA energy industry is gearing-up to EXPORT their NG surplus...
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