GREEN RIVER - U.S. Forest Service officials said Friday they intend to make four management areas in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming unavailable for oil and gas leasing.

Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton sent a letter to the Bureau of Land Management on Friday informing them of her decision to not authorize the BLM to issue oil and gas leases in those areas, Bridger-Teton spokesman Jason Anderson said.

The decision will affect approximately 370,000 acres within the four management areas that includes largely roadless, undeveloped areas.

The segments of the forest covered in the decision include management areas 21, 45, 71 and 72, also known as the Hoback Basin, Moccasin Basin, Union Pass and the Upper Green River Basin, respectively.

The areas are located east of the Gros Ventre Wilderness and north of the Bridger Wilderness, extending from Togwotee Pass south to the Green River Lakes.

Hamilton said the decision not to authorize leasing of the areas at this time is based upon the desire to maintain the character of the lands for recreation opportunities prized by local residents and regional and national visitors.

"After carefully considering all of these factors, I have determined that leasing these areas of the Forest for oil and gas development could compromise their nationally-significant character and highly-valued recreation opportunities," Hamilton said in a statement issued late Friday.

She noted the opportunity to "re-evaluate" these management areas for leasing can occur in the future should new information become available, or if conditions change.

Regional conservationists applauded the agency's move and said it showed that forest officials were listening to their constituents.

"We're very excited … the Bridger-Teton deserves credit for making this important decision for wildlife, and we're especially supportive because we believe it's the public interest that's being served here," said Meredith Taylor with the Wyoming Outdoor Council.

She noted that 98 percent of the comments submitted on the draft EIS opposed leasing in those areas.

"We think this decision reflects that public sentiment and we're glad to see the heart of the Greater Yellowstone wildlife corridors and beautiful country being protected by this decision … so kudos to the forest," she said.

Peter Aengst with the Wilderness Society concurred. He said the Forest Service should be "commended for listening to the public, which overwhelmingly supported protecting this valued wildlife area" of the forest.

"By protecting these four areas, the agency is preserving the recreational values, the quiet, the wildlife, and the clean water that is so important to residents of Wyoming," he said from the Society's Bozeman office.

Officials with the Petroleum Association of Wyoming could not be reached for comment.

In 2000, Bridger-Teton officials issued a draft EIS that examined possible petroleum development in the four management areas.

A final EIS and Decision of Record is expected to be issued within the next few weeks. officials said.

Hamilton said with conclusion of the analysis for the management areas, forest personnel will now be available to respond to a backlog of lease requests for portions of the forest where consent to lease has already been given.

"The BTNF will explore options with regional and national specialists on ways to expedite existing lease requests for the development of energy resources on forest lands," she said.

Anderson said presently, 18 percent of the Bridger-Teton National Forest is available for natural gas and petroleum production, with portions of the forest providing helium, carbon dioxide, methane and other minerals.