Coming Up Short For Buy-Out
The push to raise funds to buy-out oil and gas leases in the Noble Basin area of the Wyoming Range is intensifying as the December 30th deadline to consummate the deal approaches. The Trust for Public Lands was given until then to raise $8 ¾-million dollars to obtain the leases from Plains Exploration and Production and so block oil and gas development in that area. As of now, $7.7-million has been raised, falling short of the needed funds. As a final effort, a benefit has been planned in Jackson featuring three local musical groups at 6:00 pm on December 21st at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts. Most of the acreage is located within the Bridger-Teton National Forest and includes migratory routes for mule deer, antelope and elk. If developed, PXP would drill about 136 wells from 19 drill pads in the area, and create miles of access roads to reach them.
