7/11/2008 - 4:00:09 PM
House candidates divided on Wyo Range protection
By Brodie Farquhar
CASPER - Candidates for the House of Representatives Wyoming seat differed strongly on protecting the Wyoming Range from energy development, during last night’s candidate forum at Casper College.
The Wyoming Range Legacy Act, originally sponsored by the late Sen. Craig Thomas, and now championed by Sen. John Barrasso would ban further energy leasing in the Wyoming Range and allow conservation groups to buy and retire existing energy leases.
Republican Cynthia Lummis championed suggestions from the Lincoln County Commissioners, who want to exclude sagebrush ecosystems from the ban, and want to limit the drilling moratorium because better drilling technology might emerge in the future.
Republican Mike Holland called the bill “ill advised” and said states were better stewards of the land than the federal government.
Republican Mark Gordon suggested that cutting-edge 3-D seismic exploration of the Wyoming Range might provide better quality data for decision-making, than a blanket moratorium.
Democratic candidate Gary Trauner said he applauds the Thomas/Barrasso bill. He acknowledged that the nation needs energy, but also that Wyoming has special places that need protection from development.
Republican Bill Winney said he can look out his window at the Wyoming Range and said it is worth preserving, but also that the energy industry knows how to tap resources without damaging the environment.
Libertarian David Herbert did not respond to the question.
Some 100 citizens attended the forum at Casper College's Aley Fine Arts Center.
Watch the Wyoming Business Report's Website, East-Central Region, for more on the candidate forum next week.
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