The Western Environmental Law Center serves as chief counsel to the Coalition for the Valle Vidal, an alliance of over 400+ local governments, businesses, conservation organizations, hunting and angling groups, and 1000's of individuals unified in their quest to permanently protect the 100,000 acre Valle Vidal Unit from the threat of unwise coalbed methane development. Simply put, the first rule of responsible energy development is that some places – like the Valle Vidal – shouldn’t be developed.

Working closely with congressional champions, we’re seeking permanent federal protection through a congressional withdrawal of the mineral resources to prevent the destruction of the Valle Vidal’s paramount watershed, wildlife, and recreational values. Concurrently, we’re working with allies, like the State of New Mexico to further ongoing ecological restoration efforts in the Valle Vidal by successfully obtaining, in December 2005, Outstanding National Resource Water designation for the Valle Vidal’s waters – the highest form of protection under the federal Clean Water Act – and watchdogging the Forest Service’s planning process to level the playing field against the oil and gas industry.

Attorney: Erik Schlenker-Goodrich