National Forest Legal News Blog

Wyoming - A proposal to drill a single oil well in the Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming is stirring up opposition amongst environmentalists.  The Forest Service is trying to push the proposal through without a full blown environmental review under a categorical exclusion for projects that don't require new roadbuilding and involves fewer than four drilling sites.  You can read more at the AP and the Casper Star Tribune.  but expect environmentalists to file suit despite the clear legal exception.  

Ok, so why is it that categorical exclusions don't require significant environmental study?  Well, the law requires that the Forest Service study effects from projects that may have a significant effect on the environmental.  Categorical exclusions represent a small project of the kind the Forest Service has studied and approved a hundred times over.  Based on the Forest Service's history and experience there is no need to study each and every small project.  As such, the categorical exclusion is available.