7791

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7791
• Author: National Parks and Conservation Association.
• Title: Park Waters in Peril, National Parks and Conservation Association.
• USFW Year: 1993.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: YES

GEOTHERMAL DEVELOPMENT
Moreover, the studies needed to assess the potential
effects of nearby drilling on park thermal resources
are costly and time-consuming, and funds to conduct
the studies have been limited.
The 1988 amendments also fail to address the
impacts on thermal resources from other drilling
activities, particularly oil and gas drilling, despite the
significant risk posed to geothermal resources from
these activities. Oil and gas drilling can disrupt the
flow of ground water or release hydrostatic pressure
critical to geyser eruptions. Drilling and pumping of
ground water for any purpose can deplete water table
levels necessary to support surface thermal features.
Finally, the 1988 amendments fail to address
geothermal or other drilling activities on state and
private lands, some of which are in close proximity to
park thermal features.
Temporary moratoria barring geothermal
drilling or development have been imposed by
Congress for several years in the Island Park and
Corwin Springs Known Geothermal Areas, immedi-
ately adjacent to Yellowstone. The moratorium at
Corwin Springs expired in 1992, however, and
efforts to extend that moratorium were defeated in
the 102nd Congress. Moreover, even these tempo-
rary moratoria left dangerous loopholes: 1) The
moratoria have been limited to the Known
Geothermal Areas, even though the subterranean
plumbing that affects Yellowstone's geysers may well
extend beyond these areas; 2) Neither oil and gas
drilling nor other non-geothermal drilling have been
addressed, even though any drilling presents poten-
tially serious threats to geothermal resources; 3) The
ban at Island Park also fails to prohibit geothermal
activity on state or private lands, although some pri-
vate and state lands lie within the Island Park area.
The upshot is that neither the 1988 amendments to
the Geothermal Steam Act, nor the temporary mora-
toria on geothermal development near Yellowstone,
adequately protect the geothermal resources of
Yellowstone and other units of the National Park
System.
NPCA RECOMM~NDA710N5: Congress should ensure protection of geothermal resources in units of the
Natiorta{ Bark System by strengthening the Geothermal Steam Act, and adequately funding scientific
studies needed to assess and monitor geothermal development impacts on park resources.
Carigress Slicruldr
1. Amend`the Geofh~rmal Steam Act~t© prohibit geothermal or other drilling or subsurface activities in
any=area -~"federal, state Qr privaie =where those activities could adversely affect pariz thermal features,
unless tie propt~rient of developriient ~rsf demonstrates, by clear and comnncing evidence, that park
geothermal resources-tee"not l%k~Iy to be affected..
2. Reenact the moratoriutn_an ~eothermal_ develo~pinetit in the Corwin Springs area north of Yellowstone,
and maintain the _merratoi•iu-m in the Island Park" area: Impose a further moratorium to prevent all
geothermal~~asingartd"devekiprnent that could affect Yellowstone's geothermal resources, until the first
recommendation is implemented..-
3."Adequately fund the Park"Service to conduct detailed studies and monitoring on park geothermal fea-
t~res arid~their relationship togeohydrologic conditions beyond park boundaries.
31