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Hydraulic Fracturing Perils: Does your state protects its citizens from fracking?

Waste pit on hydraulic fracturing site

Credit: Photo by TXsharon, Courtesy Photobucket

Worries over the safety of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” as a method to drill for oil and natural gas continue to grow across the United States. The oil and gas industry loves to say that hydraulic fracturing is safe, as long as the fracking process is done correctly. If this is the case, why won’t they disclose which chemicals they are pumping into the ground? We believe the status quo on hydraulic fracturing is inadequate to ensure the safety of communities and wild lands. Americans clearly agree. Read more

Reality Check: The Facts About Protecting America’s Wild Lands

Our western wild lands were dealt a heavy blow recently when Congress passed a bill to fund the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year with a provision that prohibits the use of funds to implement the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Lands policy. Read more

One year after the BP tragedy, Arctic Ocean still at risk to offshore drilling

Twelve short months ago, most Americans knew very little about offshore oil drilling and its dangers. Then, in a tragic accident that was both sudden and drawn out, the Deepwater Horizon unexpectedly exploded killing 11 crew members and beginning the worst oil spill disaster in U.S. history.  Region:  Alaska Read more

Big Oil Wants More Wildlands: But drilling more won’t lower gas prices

With the advent of spring, many Americans are looking forward to reconnecting with our lands. The oil companies, however, are looking forward to drilling on our lands. With summer driving season just a few months off, the oil companies and their allies in Congress have begun to beat the drum about “more drilling.”  They say that it will lower the price at the pump, although that simply isn’t so.  In fact, the United States on an annual basis drills more oil and gas wells than any other country on earth.  Read more

Wyoming Range drilling cancelled! Upper Hoback still needs our help

A sad fate for more than 44,000 acres of unspoiled lands in western Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest has just taken an incredible turn for the better. Our work with local residents, sportsmen, decision makers and partner groups has finally led to the Bridger-Teton National Forest’s cancellation of oil and gas leases on 44,720 acres in this southern part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Region:  Central Rockies Read more

Gas aplenty: But at what cost?

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Wilderness Magazine, our annual publication that features in-depth coverage and features about the day’s most pressing conservation issues. Become a member and receive a free copy! By Susan Q. Stranahan Read more

Why rushing to drill is a bad idea: Help us protect fragile Arctic waters

Chukchi Sea, Alaska. Courtesy USFWS.

Like many students, I often put projects off until the last minute. This was a great source of aggravation to my parents, who would be besieged by requests for rides to the library at 8 pm the night before research papers were due. This lack of foresight on my part led to several sub-par efforts, and many teachers cited a “hurried” feel to the papers or projects in question. Read more

Protecting the Arctic Refuge: See what 50,000 voices have accomplished

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by JGHurst, Flickr.

When one person says something, it can often be overlooked — when 50,000 people say something, well, then everyone listens. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is listening. In late September they announced they will conduct a wilderness review for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This review is the first step to getting a full presidential recommendation to Congress that the Arctic Refuge be permanently protected as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Read more