Federal Judge Upholds Drilling In SW Colorado

A federal judge has upheld approval of gas wells in parts of the southwestern Colorado mountains, rejecting arguments by environmentalists that the plan doesn't adequately protect sensitive areas and wildlife. U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch said in his ruling, issued Monday, that any flaws in the plan authorizing about 140 natural gas wells in the San Juan National Forest are "minor in proportion to the full context of the agency action under review." Environmental groups contend the project conflicts with the forest management plan. They say federal agencies' pledges to avoid old growth forests and protect key wildlife habitat and waterways on the public land have been ignored. Of special interest are the HD Mountains, which include roadless areas and make up roughly 45,000 acres of the 125,000-acre project area. Environmentalists also argued in a December hearing that the environmental assessment of the project didn't adequately consider the potential effects on air quality, particularly on nearby federal wilderness areas and national parks in Colorado and New Mexico...more