Encana’s Moneta Divide Natural Gas and Oil Development Project outside of Casper is still waiting for an Environmental Impact Statement, but it is slated to receive a record of decision in 2016. The proposed four thousand well development has brought up questions surrounding water management and air quality. But at the legislature’s Joint Mineral, Business, and Economic Development Interim Committee meeting yesterday, Natrona County Commissioner Rob Hendry said he wants the project to go ahead.
“It could be a significant job opportunity for all of central Wyoming, both Fremont and Natrona County, and that’s what we like. The one rig did move, they had a rig out in Moneta Divide for a while, and we lost about 100 jobs in that area. So it’s significant. And if you don’t have those guys making money it affects the whole economy.”
Hendry as well as project manager, Paul Ulrich, expressed frustration with how long the E-I-S takes to produce.