| Show Locoweed proves craze to weH stes more commonly commonly com com- I known as Locoweed is infamous for its toxic effect that drives cows sheep and other domesticated animals crazy however it is now causing governmental employees and big business some consternation if not a little craziness REPORTS FILTERED down to the Express stated the plant grown in abundance in the Red Wash area was preventing site construction work at atone atone atone one of their oil well drilling locations and costing the Chevron Oil Company many dollars every day because of the delay U Upon on checking out the reports we found that yes an well oil well wel drilling site site was being held up due to the plant which had been placed on the Endangered Endangered Endangered En En- Species list by Congress in 1973 and by law action by man cannot t further endanger the existence or growth of plants on the list The Resource Area Botanist hired by Chevron to survey the proposed drill site locations for plants on the endangered species list came across a plant he couldn't identify and called Dr Stanley Welsh expert on the flora of the Uintah Basin and of the Genus from Brigham Young University for assistance Dr Welsh identified the plant as the locoweed listed on the endangered species list and informed Chevron personnel Dr Welsh suggested the drill site be moved feet to the southeast which was deemed impossible impossible impossible im im- im- im possible by Chevron since the move suggested by hy Welsh wouldn't have havethe the two acres pe necessary essary for drilling ALL SEEMS at this point for proponents of new oil exploration but as we were discussing the situation last Friday with J JC C Bullard Production Foreman for Chevron he received a aphone aphone aphone phone call giving verbal clearance by for the go ahead on two more drill location sites Bullard reported Chevrons Chevron's drilling Continued on Page 16 Locoweed Continued from Pa Page e 1 program is not off schedule and that they're in pretty good shape He lie stated the company is prepared to begin work on the two new sites as soon as the p paperwork reaches his office which should be forthcoming In addition to the two sites cleared Chevron has eight more locations staked out for site work reported earlier this week clearance was given for four foor more sites in addition to the two received last week Since the Locoweed that started the whole mess is s still growing in great abundance In that area what is the future of drilling out there Bullard Dullard reported the weed isn't that great a factor in determining drilling because sites tentatively staked out for drilling are away from the area with the greatest plant population TilE THE BUREAU of Land Management is taking steps however to get the stricken from the endangered list as well as the threatened list J Since Larry England Resource Area Botanist and aud Dr Welsh has discovered the plant to be growing in such large proportion in three areas in the Uintah Basin they've recommended recommended mended the plant be taken off the lists Congress tasked the Smithsonian Institute in 1973 to compile a list of plants to be considered on the verge of extinction Since that time the original number of plants have been trimmed to 1700 and listed in the Federal Register Studies by the US U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are currently attempting to identify if the plants listed in the Register warrant their placement on the list BUT nUT UNTIL that time the has taken the position to consider all the plants listed to be endangered However the State Director of the may on a case-by-case case basis allow the drilling if evidence against li listing ting a particular plant species exists Lloyd Ferguson District Manager Vernal recommended the site approval to the State Director based on the opinion of England and Welsh that the is not in danger of extinction or threatened with extinction But as noted earlier Chevrons Chevron's drilling program has not been hampered hampered ham ham- so the decision by the state director to either allow or disapprove the well site is purely academic at this point |
