A group of Longview-area ranchers says it wants to work with the oil and gas industry and energy regulators on a long-term plan to protect historic rangeland in the southern Alberta foothills.

The offer comes after the ranchers scored a victory last week, when Calgary-based Vermilion Resources Ltd. unexpectedly withdrew its application to drill a sweet-gas well on ranchland southwest of Longview, about 75 kilometres south of Calgary.

“I think it shows that we had legitimate reasons for objecting to this,” says rancher Mac Blades, chair of the Pekisko Land Owners Association.

The group, comprised of 30 ranch families including legendary cowboy singer Ian Tyson, feared Vermilion’s well would open the door to extensive development that would destroy the area’s native grasslands.

“It’s the biggest area of native grasslands left on the continent,” Blades said. “We’d like to preserve it for future generations.”

Vermilion had been preparing for an Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) hearing scheduled for Jan. 14 in High River.

EUB spokesman Dave Morris said the company sent a “very brief” letter last Friday, withdrawing its well-drilling application.

“They’ve indicated that they’re going to reprioritize their plans,” Morris said.

Last year, about 10 per cent of well-drilling applications to the EUB were either allowed to expire after 12 months or withdrawn for various reasons.

Vermilion is entitled to re-apply in the future to drill the well, “but it would be a bit unusual to do that,” Morris said.

Blades said there are many other companies that still hold oil and gas leases in the area, so “probably the war hasn’t been won yet.”

One of the Pekisko group’s biggest concerns is that resource development would occur on a piecemeal basis, one well at a time.

The group wants a moratorium on development, until industry produces a long-term development plan for the area that ensures native grasslands are protected.

“I hope that they’ll look at what we’ve been saying and maybe try to work with us in finding some way of restoring native grasses,” Blades said.