Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project

Formed in 1989, the WORC Education Project is a 501(c)(3) organization supporting the educational and charitable activities of the Western Organization of Resource Councils. This regional network of community-based organizations builds grassroots leadership through community organizing, to protect clean air, water, and public health; reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses; ensure full reclamation and a fair return to taxpayers; and protect the rights of local residents, who often have little control over development on their land or next door. (Substrategy: Advance Conservation Protections)

The resource councils are a network of rancher and citizen groups who will use the grant to minimize the impacts of oil and gas development on public lands. With Foundation support, the organization would take advantage of new Department of the Interior oil and gas leasing reforms to protect 600,000 acres of sensitive lands in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana from leasing; increase the bonding and mitigation requirements for fossil-energy companies; and build a broader base of support among ranchers for public and private land protection. The councils plan to coordinate closely with the Western Energy Project, a Hewlett Foundation-supported West-wide fossil energy reform effort.