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La Plata County residents barrage BLM in support of oil and gas study

Master Leasing Plan receives near unanimous favor

Support for the Bureau of Land Management to pursue a more intensive study in anticipation of new gas wells in Southwest Colorado received near unanimous favor Thursday at a public hearing held in Durango.

Out of more than 20 speakers, mostly from La Plata County, there was only one voice of dissension: Farmington resident Charles Creekmore, who works in the oil and gas industry.

La Plata County residents, one after the other, barraged a BLM subgroup committee in support of further regulations and planning of future gas development on federal lands in Southwest Colorado.

“The Resource Management Plan provides too much discretion for the BLM to make decisions, and that’s why we need a Master Leasing Plan for oil and gas,” said Durango resident Ken Francis.

“For the public to be involved in every decision the BLM makes is very difficult. We need to help the public know those priceless landscapes are being protected, and they don’t have to be forever diligent to participate. People’s lives are just too busy.”

Last year, the BLM Tres Rios Field Office released an updated Resource Management Plan, a land-use guide for future use of federal lands. Concerned the plan favored the oil and gas industry, conservationists and recreationists pressured the agency to pursue a Master Leasing Plan in hopes it would strategically map where new wells should go, and give naturally valued resources the same priority as energy operations.

For months, contentious debates have occurred. Environmentalists, recreationists, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Mesa Verde National Park Service and La Plata County commissioners all favor the master plan, saying it protects natural lands and ensures responsible development. Energy companies, along with commissioners from Montezuma County, claim a master plan would put unnecessary restrictions on operations and serve only as a delay tactic for those who wish to see fossil fuels remain in the ground.

La Plata County residents on Thursday made clear where they stand.

Nick Gould, a 20-plus-year Durango resident and Fort Lewis College bike coach, said the area open to new gas wells comes far too close to the popular mountain biking destination, Phil’s World.

“I don’t want to see the mountain trails eroded by trucks that are loud, obnoxious and produce diesel fumes dangerous to mountain bikers,” he said.

Cody Reinheimer, marketing manager for the Durango Farmers Market, said the region’s economy has become diverse, and all contributors should be treated equally.

“It’s wise to protect the entire tax base and adopt an MLP so that oil and gas wells can be done in a responsible way,” Reinheimer said. “It’s very, very important to consider everyone. That’s the democratic process. That’s the American way.”

La Plata County resident Jud Tourney said the Resource Management Plan (RMP) was too shortsighted when the entire region is considered.

“Without a MLP, there is no ability to analyze that total, cumulative impact,” he said. “The analysis with RMP is site-specific. It’s not capable of measuring the impact of an additional 3,000 wells in this area.”

Almost more outrage was directed at the setup of Thursday’s public hearing. Moderator John Reams said federal regulations allow only 30 minutes for public comment, which would limit the 20-plus crowd to 1 minute apiece. As a result, many speakers were cut off.

Reams encouraged the public to submit in writing any additional comments.

“That’s it?” asked Dennis Stiles of the Western Ranchers Association. “I have it in writing, but by the same token, I’m sure people would like to hear it who are here as well. I’m not trying to be a pain in the butt.”

“Well, you’re starting to,” Reams interjected.

After the meeting, Chad Gilbert of Pipeliners Union 798 expressed his disappointment at the format of the hearing.

“Never before have I ever seen a committee cut the public short like they did at this hearing,” Gilbert said. “A lot of people drove a long way to come here to get the opportunity to speak about feelings on the issues, and they weren’t allowed time to speak.”

The subgroup will give its recommendation on the necessity of a MLP to the Southwest Resource Advisory Committee, which will give its recommendation to the BLM.

The BLM ultimately has final say whether it will conduct a Master Leasing Plan.

jromeo@durangoherald.com

Aug 19, 2016
Committee reaches no consensus on master leasing plan
Jun 11, 2016
Committee mostly against MLP on energy development in western La Plata County


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