Weigh in on National Forest drilling this week

The Shoshone National Forest is hosting a pair of public meetings tonight (Wednesday, Oct. 22) and tomorrow night in Cody and Clark, respectively. Up for discussion is a proposed natural gas well just inside the Forest's boundary near Clark.

Windsor Energy Group is looking to drill the new well just about a mile up the road from the rig that blewout in August of 2006, contaminating soil and groundwater.

The Cody meeting will be held tonight at 6 p.m. at the Big Horn Federal Bank on Stampede Avenue. Tomorrows night's will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Clark Pioneer Recreation Center (That's Thursday, Oct. 23).

The Forest Service hosted a public field trip to the proposed site on Oct. 8 (pictured below).The relationship between some local residents and Windsor has been contentious at times in the blowout's aftermath.

There were a couple moments Oct. 23 that captured the friction.

For example, consider this exchange between Terry Ziehl of Iron Creek Energy (contracted to aid Windsor with the project), Clark Resource Council organizer Deb Thomas, and Clark resident Pam Murrell. Ziehl was explaining the how there are no guarantees that Windsor will find gas at the site.

“There’s only one man who knows that and He’s not here,” Ziehl said.

“He is here,” Thomas countered.

“And He’s not so happy,” finished Murrell.

There's no question that there are strong opinions and multiple stakeholders in the debate over oil production. Learn more and add your two cents at this week's meetings.