Some conservationists and sportsmen say plans to drill 2,000 new coal-bed methane and conventional gas wells in the Atlantic Rim will transform one of Wyoming's most sensitive wildlife habitats and reclusive recreation areas into an industrial zone.

Because the development would intersect wildlife migration routes and critical wintering grounds, the impact will radiate far beyond the Atlantic Rim area, according to the groups.

"With the roads, pipelines and re-injection wells, there is no way this can be done without harming the wildlife, wintering grounds or migration routes," said Pat Nealon, a Rawlins sportsman and representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

The Bureau of Land Management issued its record of decision on the Atlantic Rim project last week, opening the door for up to 1,800 new coal-bed methane wells and up to 200 new conventional gas wells. Federal land managers have already approved some 2,700 wells in the south-central area of Wyoming, and more than 10,000 more are under consideration.

As in dozens of other industrial developments throughout the Rockies, the BLM promises to rely on "adaptive management," meaning it will dial activity up or down depending on whether monitoring indicates harm to habitat and wildlife.

"The real work for Atlantic Rim starts now that the (decision) has been issued," Bruce Collins of the BLM Rawlins field office said. "There is no line drawn in the sand saying this is it, this is all we are going to do. Now is when that work (monitoring and mitigation) begins and continues."

But sportsmen question the sincerity of that promise, given that the BLM chose to proceed with a plan that doesn't expressly protect migration corridors and wintering habitat in the Atlantic Rim area - despite recent studies indicating such measures are paramount to maintaining current mule deer, antelope and sage grouse populations.

In regard to mule deer, an April 2007 report by Hall Sawyer of Western Ecosystems Technology Inc. stated; "Sustaining migratory mule deer populations in the (Baggs herd unit) will require that suitable seasonal ranges (i.e., winter, transition, summer) be maintained and migration routes remain functional."

Erik Molvar, wildlife biologist for the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, said he believes the BLM has failed many times over to actually apply "adaptive management" when there is evidence of development hurting wildlife. Case in point is a documented 46 percent decline of mule deer wintering in the Mesa portion of the Pinedale Anticline. Rather than further limit winter activities, the BLM has indicated it may actually waive winter restrictions.

"Just look in the Upper Green River Basin, where the BLM has ample evidence that oil and gas has had severe impacts on mule deer and antelope in the area, yet the agency refuses to take any action," Molvar said. "If they're not taking any actions to correct problems we have today, why should we have any faith that they will protect against impacts in the Atlantic Rim area?"

John Christiansen, spokesman for Anadarko Petroleum - a major developer in the Atlantic Rim area - said a different set of circumstances applies to the Atlantic Rim.

"We were part of a third-party study that indicated most of the mule deer in the area spend their summers outside of the Atlantic Rim, and when they are in the Atlantic Rim area it's during a time of restricted activity," Christiansen said. "We share the concerns when it comes to protecting the environment and wildlife. We believe (development) will not adversely impact big game in the area."

Steve Degenfelder of Double Eagle Petroleum noted that natural gas development will be less dense in the Atlantic Rim than in the Jonah Field and Pinedale Anticline. Spacing between wells in the Atlantic Rim is restricted to one well per 80 acres, whereas spacing in the Jonah and Anticline fields is 20 acres, 10 acres and in some instances five acres.

"The governor has taken a very proactive position on Pinedale and the Atlantic Rim area, and the governor does not oppose (gas development) in this area," Degenfelder said. "And I would think he's relying heavily on Game and Fish and their recommendation."

Nealon said he's not convinced that federal land managers, or others who approve of the Atlantic Rim project, have the best interest in mind for those who enjoy wildlife and recreation in the area.

"Statements are being made from people who are not from here and don't have as great an interest in the state as we have here," Nealon said.

Energy reporter Dustin Bleizeffer can be reached at (307) 577-6069 or dustin.bleizeffer@casperstartribune.net.