Should there be more specific planning for local oil and gas development managed by the Bureau of Land Management?
So-called master lease plans target areas needing additional management to mitigate impacts industry may have on recreation, cultural resources, and natural qualities of private and public lands.
The BLM’s Tres Rios office is considering one for federal fluid minerals within western La Plata County and eastern Montezuma County. It would be in addition to the Resource Management Plan already in place for the region.
The first of five public meetings was held recently by a special group of residents formed by the BLM to gather information and local input on the idea of a master lease plan.
The 17-member panel represents industry, recreation, conservation, and local government, and are part of a subgroup of the Southwest Resource Advisory Council that informs the BLM on public concerns.
“Our job is to gather information and come up with a common-sense approach,” said Ernie Williams, a committee member and Dolores County commissioner. “We all need oil-and-gas, but (development) in some areas are questionable. We don’t want drilling in our favorite elk spot.”
Other areas within the proposed MLP area that potentially conflict with oil and gas development are the Phil’s World mountain bike park, the Mesa Verde escarpment, land south of Summit Reservoir, land south of Dolores, land outside the northern and southern boundaries of the Weber and Menefee mountains Wilderness Study Areas, a BLM recreation area west of Mancos, and areas east of Mesa Verde National Park and around Hesperus in La Plata County.
Wilderness study areas ban drilling.
BLM field manager Connie Clementson noted that areas where drilling leases could be made available in the proposed master lease plan area already have been decided in the BLM’s Resource Management Plan.
“The allocation on what is available for lease, and not available for lease has already been decided in the RMP,” Clementson said. “Decisions that can be made through an MLP are what additional stipulations might be needed based on issues.”
Nearly 40 people attended the first meeting in Dolores, and all 12 who gave public testimony either expressed concerns with industry impacts, or spoke in favor of a master lease plan going forward.
“I urge you to consider that an MLP is the right thing to do,” said Montezuma County resident MB McAfee. “The resource management plan (in place) denotes a general look at the area. A master lease plan is more optimum, and is what is needed to make the best decisions about our small area of public lands.”
