Lands near Dinosaur National Monument that the Bureau of Land Management has said have wilderness qualities could be impacted by a drilling proposal/SUWA, Scott Braden

In a move similar to one President George W. Bush authorized back in 2008, the Biden administration is said to be backing a proposal to allow oil and gas development within a half-mile of Dinosaur National Monument in Utah.

President Bush, in the weeks leading up to the end of his term in office, extended oil and gas exploration leases close to Arches National Park and Dinosaur, though President Barack Obama canceled those plans. 

On Monday, though, the Biden administration released the Federal Pipeline Unit Wells project, which involves the construction and installation of new well pads, roads, pipelines and the drilling of two wells near Dinosaur; a plan critics said would industrialize the western edge of the monument near Split Mountain.

Dinosaur National Monument is world-renowned for its remarkable density and diversity of prehistoric sites and artifacts and paleontological resources. According to the National Park Service, the monument “is one of the darkest places remaining in the United States. Because there is little light pollution here, you can see the stars of the Milky Way galaxy with startling clarity.”

"Drilling and road blasting about a quarter of a mile from Dinosaur National Monument would damage the views, quiet and dark night skies in a remote part of the park and pollute the park's air and water," said Cory MacNulty, Southwest associate director at the National Parks Conservation Association. "This is a zombie lease from almost two decades ago that should never have been allowed in the first place and an urgent reminder of why our national oil and gas program needs immediate reforms."

The proposed development, if approved by the Bureau of Land Management, would destroy priority habitat for greater sage-grouse and impact agency-identified lands with wilderness characteristics, the groups said.

In 2018 the BLM, in assessing the area's wilderness characteristics, said: "Because of the topography, vegetation, relative remoteness, low frequency of visitation, and proximity to Dinosaur National Monument, it is relatively easy for recreationists to experience outstanding opportunities for solitude in the Split Mountain Benches unit."

“This proposal runs counter to every stated goal and objective of the Biden administration,” said Landon Newell, staff attorney with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. “It threatens some of our wildest, most scenic public lands, including a national monument, priority habitat for greater sage-grouse, and will exacerbate the climate crisis.” 

According to the conservation groups, the drilling and related development would take place on public lands that are subject to a “no surface occupancy” stipulation, which prohibits all surface disturbing activities. When the lessee, Hoodoo Mining & Production Co. LLC, acquired the lease it did so with full knowledge of this restriction, the groups said.

Now, they maintain, the BLM is proposing to waive that stipulation and OK "the industrialization of the area rather than require the company to develop in a less sensitive area."

“Why on God’s green earth is the Bureau even entertaining this drilling project?” said Steve Bloch, legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. “The lessee knew the terms and conditions of its lease and yet now is seeking a special exception to drill right next to Dinosaur National Monument and in priority habitat for greater sage grouse? BLM needs to say 'no thanks' and send the company back to the drawing board.”