Tell the Bushies: No Destructive Drilling in Dixie Natl Park!

from Natural Resources Defense Council

More than half a million people visit Utah's Dixie National Forest every year for its breathtaking beauty, abundant recreational activities and unique wildlife. The forest provides habitat for several threatened and endangered species, including the California condor, Mexican spotted owl and Utah prairie dog, and also hosts tributaries that flow into the Colorado River.

But in its final months in office, the Bush administration wants to open up large tracts of the most sensitive areas of Dixie National Forest to oil and gas drilling. The areas proposed for drilling include more than 500,000 acres in roadless wildlands and along "wild and scenic" rivers. Once large-scale industrial and commercial development begins, there would be no way to restore the landscapes that have been shaped by nature since the beginning of time. A better option would be to prohibit drilling close to sensitive habitat, including breeding and nesting grounds for sage grouse, deer, elk and other native species.

The Bush administration is accepting public comments on its proposed plan through December 16.

Do something: Send a message, before the December 16 comment deadline, telling the Bush administration to protect Dixie National Forest from increased oil and gas drilling.