Greenwire: Conservationists in Wyoming say they have found a way to lessen the effects of natural gas drilling on sage grouse: reducing tanker truck traffic.
Oil and gas operators are already expanding their network of pipelines in the Pinedale Anticline, and an ongoing study shows that doing so will reduce tanker truck traffic in the area, ultimately protecting more of the birds.
Wyoming Wildlife Consultants released a progress report on a five-year study of sage grouse in the area. It is one of a series of studies commissioned by operators Shell Rocky Mountain Production, Questar Exploration and Production Co. and Ultra Resources to determine the impact of natural gas development on mule deer, antelope, sage grouse and the local ecosystem.
Questar first installed a liquids pipeline network in the field, eliminating 75,000 truck trips between November 2005 and December 2009. Shell and Ultra Resources are adding their own pipelines. Field operators think they can reduce overall traffic by 165,000 trips per year.
Senior ecologist Matt Holloran said that while sage grouse are avoiding all aspects of the drilling, there seems to be a link between truck traffic and the areas sage grouse will visit. He cautioned the results are still preliminary and the overall effects will not be known for years (Dustin Bleizeffer, Casper [Wyo.] Star-Tribune, April 6). – JP