Bureau of Land Management

1. Newberry Monument Caldera
   photo by Asante Riverwind Newberry Geothermal Exploration Project - In the fall of 2007, the BLM approved geothermal exploration test drilling across three 5-acre sites just outside the boundaries of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument on Deschutes National Forest lands. Due to the failure of the agency to fully and accurately disclose and address environmental impacts, respond to public opposition, inform and involve affected public communities, and address opposition by the Klamath Tribe, we appealed the agency's decision (see Newberry Geothermal Appeal, November 2007). Months later, our appeal is still pending while we continue to assess legal options to rescind and/or modify the agency's decision and halt ongoing exploration activities.
   
   However, just when it appeared the economics and lack of water in the test wells drilled so far were about to scuttle Davenport's Newberry geothermal dreams, the new administration is stepping in with an $80 million dollar resuscitation plan. See the May 28 Bend Bulletin article "Area geothermal effort may gain with U.S. grant" for the details. This is being done absent there ever having been completed an adequate environmental impacts analysis of whether Newberry, despite whatever geothermal potential may exist, is an acceptable location for a large scale electrical generation plant. Where, and with what environmental impacts, will they import the hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per minute needed to run such an industrial plant in this drier forest and high desert region?
   
   Yellowstone similarly has incredible geothermal energy potential, yet by virtue of its natural qualities and National Monument status, it is considered sacrosanct, protecting it from energy development profit schemes. Why the inconsistency with Newberry?
   
   The Newberry Monument is the largest shield volcano in North America, with a 500 square mile caldera, two interior lakes, hot springs, ancient forests, abundant wildlife and fish, waterfalls, and considerable public recreational popularity. The two drill sites referenced in the Bulletin article are visible from viewpoints and trails within the Monument, and the prevailing wind direction would bring any toxic pollutants from geothermal brine steam directly into the Monument. Similar geothermal toxic emissions elsewhere have resulted in forest and vegetation die off, and debilitated human health and community quality of life. Hot springs have dried up, and swarms of low-Richter scale seismic quakes have resulted from geothermal production, with associated damage. Plants which utilize highly flammable secondary fluids such as isobutane have had mishaps and fires. Is this what the greater region's community, and we as a nation, want to encourage and fund at the very edge of our treasured National Monuments? The Newberry area is geologically active and still tectonically "young". Deep hot spring vents feed its lakes and surface along a lakeshore. Geothermal production can alter subsurface geothermal fluid flows, and research concludes it can induce seismic activity, including "swarms of small earth quakes". This proposal represents a substantial alteration and degradation of the greater area's environment. It also represents a considerable financial expenditure of resources that could not be reasonably recouped without the eventual approval, construction, and decades long operation of a large industrial-scale geothermal electrical energy production plant in this ecologically significant and inappropriate area.
   
   Exploration sites are visible from Monument viewpoints and ridge trails. Newberry Monument is world renowned as a volcanic geologic treasure. The 500 square mile Newberry volcano is one of the largest shield volcanoes in North America. Recreationally popular Paulina and East Lakes are located in the caldera, with an 80 foot waterfall downstream as wild and scenic Paulina Creek drops into a canyon. The area's large deep lakes and beautiful old growth forests provide habitat for nesting bald eagles, osprey, black bears, pine marten, ducks, geese and tundra swans. See the Newberry Caldera article for additional details. Volunteer efforts monitoring ongoing exploration work, and helping with legal research and community outreach are ongoing - please join in. (6-03-09)
2. Badlands Beauty
   photo by Larry Pennington Oregon Badlands Wilderness - This newest Oregon Wilderness is a 30,000 acre area located just 15 miles east of Bend. It contains fascinating lava flows and ancient junipers, and was named for its uplifted lava flows that result in very difficult terrain, especially if you were traveling in a horse drawn wagon. There are also beautiful spring displays of desert wildflowers, torturous dry river canyons, castle-like rock formations, and Native American pictographs. Its designation as the Oregon Badlands Wilderness on March 30, 2009 as part of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act was the culmination of nearly 20 years of effort by many Oregon environmental and community organizations, individuals, and politicians. A special thanks is given to Senator Ron Wyden for his enthusiastic advocacy of this cause. You can get involved, too! Much of the daily oversight and maintenance work such as trash removal, trail sign erection and maintenance, and barbed wire fence removal, is accomplished by volunteers working in close cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management office in Prineville. To join one of these happy bands of Badlands volunteers, go to the Friends of Badlands Oregon Wilderness web site and click on the "Join Us" button. (10-26-09)
3. Owyhee Area Succor Creek Canyon
   photo by Larry Pennington Owyhee Area Coffee Pot Crater and Lava Field
   photo by Larry Pennington Owyhee Three Forks
   photo by Larry Pennington Owyhee River Canyonlands - The Owyhee River runs northward from the rugged hills of southern Idaho and southeastern Oregon into the Snake River just south of Ontario through a canyon cut into a geologic wonderland. Millions of years of volcanism, basin and range stretching, and erosion have created this dramatic and diverse landscape. A broad plateau of sagebrush is continually interrupted by volcanic cinder cones, craters, tubes and spires. It is home to pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, bats, eagles, sage grouse, trout snakes and lizards. Surrounding the canyon are more than 3 million acres of mostly road less area, the largest remaining in the lower 48 states. Fewer than 31,000 people are spread over an area of a little less than 10,000 square miles in Malheur County, making this one of the least populated areas of the state. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees 18 Million acres of this area. About 2.8 Million of these acres are designated as Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) under the 1976 Federal Lands Policy and Management Act, however only 300,000 or these WSA acres have been recommended by the BLM to Congress for designation as permanent Wilderness. The Sierra Club and other conservation organizations believe all 1.3 Million acres should be designated Wilderness. Consequently, the Sierra Club in cooperation with other Oregon conservation organizations is mounting a focused campaign over the next few years to move Owyhee River Canyonlands Wilderness designation forward in the Congress. You can do your part by visiting the Owyhee Canyonlands yourself to see what precious and beautiful resource this area contains, and then working with us to convince our local, state, and federal politicians that action needs to be taken now! For more information on this campaign, visit the Oregon Chapter High Desert Committee web pages, or contact the Juniper Group Conservation Chair, Marilyn Miller. (10-28-09)
4. La Pine HFRA - Another fuels reduction project, this was changed through volunteer efforts, bringing the agency's originally proposed 27,000 acres of logging down to approximately 3,500 acres near residences. The agency agreed to a maximum 16" diameter cutting limit throughout, with trees above 12" diameter cut being mostly lodge pole pine. The agency also imposed three gradated bands of cutting levels, with increased retention farther from residences, and with 30% of unit areas left unthinned for wildlife. Again, volunteers participated in meetings, field trips, and environmental analysis review and comments. Follow-up volunteer involvement is needed to assess project impacts and effectiveness.
5. John Day Resource Management Plan - Joint comments from the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA), Sierra Club, Oregon Wild, and Western Watersheds Project were submitted to BLM in January 2009. These comments requested significant modifications to the plan to bring it into compliance with several laws and the NEPA process. To read the comments, open the link John Day RMP Comments.