Groups want more Red Desert drilling protections

Some conservation groups want more environmental protections before a large drilling project in Wyoming's Red Desert is developed. If approved by the Bureau of Land Management, the 9,000-well Continental Divide-Creston Natural Gas project would the largest in the state. It would cover more than one million acres between Rawlins and Rock Springs. Groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Wyoming Outdoor Council submitted comments to the BLM on the project Tuesday. They're asking that project developers be required to detect and control pollution leaks and to improve plans protecting wildlife, among other requests. About 20 companies are involved in the project. Wednesday is the deadline to submit comments. The BLM will review the comments and then issue a final environmental impact statement.