Gas wells approved near Lander Peak

Plans for drilling two natural gas wells in the Lander Peak area will be allowed to move forward.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest has signed a final decision notice for True Oil LLC, which proposed two wells in the South Cottonwood drainage. Final approval of drilling operations will be completed by the Bureau of Land Management’s Pinedale field office.

The federal oil and gas leases being explored in the project existed before passage of the 2009 Wyoming Range Legacy Act. They are not subject to the resulting mineral withdrawal.

The plan includes additional resource protection that was not included in the company’s original proposal. It includes secondary containment around hydraulic fracturing tanks and surface and groundwater monitoring that will be carried out by a third party.