Reducing Wildlife Impacts

Research has documented that activities associated with gas development can affect wildlife and its habitat during the exploration, development, operations, and abandonment phases (Bromley, 1985). The development of shale 

This ability to reduce surface disturbance is especially important in certain critical habitats for example, cerfain portions of New York (e.g., Catskill Park, Shawangunk Ridge, Hudson Highlands, Poconos) are dominated by hardwood forests, which are important wildlife habitats susceptible to fragmentation (Catskill Mountainkeeper, 2008). In addition, state regulations and, in some cases, local ordinances include operational restrictions to provide added protection for wildlife or sensitive resources. In the city of Flower Mound, Texas, ordinances have been adopted to protect the surface resources and allow for future growth of the community without detracting from the land value or sense of commimity. These ordinances prevent construction in or near streams or rivers, floodplains, and sensitive upland forests to protect wildlife species and their associated habitats. 

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Over 200,000 new oil and gas wells are expected to be drilled in the next decade, which points to the value of the oil and gas sector to the national economy. Currently, there are over 90,000 producible and service holes on federal leased land alone. The BLM, in evaluating lease applications for drilling on pubhc lands, uses best management practices (BMPs) to reduce areas of disturbance and minimize the environmental effects of a well site. BLM says that these BMPs, along with a commitment to sound environmental practices by the oil and gas industry, can significantly reduce the impacts associated with new energy development to wildlife habitat, scenic quality, water quality, and other resources. 

The use of conservation tillage, made possible by triazine and other herbicides, has dramatically reduced soil erosion and its on- and off-site impacts. Significant benefits from the use of herbicides such as the triazines can be realized because conservation tillage reduces erosion, sedimentation, and flooding. By creating a crop field with many features comparable to those in natural areas, conservation tillage also provides other benefits to the environment and to wildlife. 

In China, the results are dramatic an 80% reduction in pesticide use on small farms planted with GE insect-resistant cotton (Huang et al. 2005 see box 5.3). Similarly, the USDA Economic Research Service reports that pesticide use on corn, soybeans, and cotton declined by about 2.5 million pounds in the United States since the introduction of GE crops in 1996 (Fernandez-Cornejo and Caswell 2006). These results support the notion that GE may radically reduce the negative impacts of farming practices on the environment and spare more land for wildlife (figure 8.1). 

There is no doubt that theuse of BFRs has a societalbenefitin reducing the frequency, severity and impact of fires. However, many of the current compounds are persistent, bioaccumulative and (potentially, at the least) toxic to humans and wildlife. Whether the most appropriate BFRs are currently in use or whether other currently available or new compounds would be as effective with fewer environmental disbenefits remains to be established. 

The EPA anticipates using a "clustered approach" to pesticide selection, so that all products with common use patterns would be classified together, hi this way EPA hopes to reduce the unfair economic impact of selective labehng decisions and to avoid case-by-case consultation with the Fish and Wildlife s Office of Endangered Species. 

Because there is minimal vegetation or wildlife, the potential for environmental harm is reduced. While there is some vegetation and wildlife, the DOE maintains strict regulations on what can be released and has filed environmental impact statements (EIS) assessing the consequences of the release of those materials for which the site has currently been approved. 

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