I’m writing in response to Josh Joswick’s April 3 letter in the Herald, which is critical of county commissioner candidate Lyle McKnight’s views.
Josh is associated with the radical environmental group Earthworks whose mission is to degrade extractive industries. Earthworks’ founder is County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt, and the tactic the group uses is to spread information to the public, which is often misleading and false. Later, Earthworks files lawsuits against extractive industry companies and governments that issue permits to those companies. Ultimately, it’s the taxpayers who pay for expensive litigation and the deterioration of the local economy.
It’s true that much of the downturn in natural gas drilling is due to low natural gas prices. However, several companies have stated that the complex and lengthy permitting process in La Plata County, plus the overly strict regulations (imposed by the state) were a major factor in their decision to reduce development plans. A classic example is the permit process for the King Coal Mine, which has taken more than fours years and consists of more than 1,000 pages of documents. Part of the problem is the troubling fact that people from Earthworks and other environmental groups have been elected as county commissioners (more on this in a future letter).
Some energy companies have left Durango, as there are other places to develop natural gas that have a more reasonable and transparent permitting process and regulations.
Property taxes from natural gas have been a major source of revenue for La Plata County. Unfortunately, current La Plata County policies will likely prevent much of an increase in natural gas drilling when prices go back up. Lachelt’s and Westendorff’s anti-industry views make business owners reluctant to move into La Plata County.
Sadly, there will be fewer local job opportunities for our children and grandchildren if commissioners Lachelt and Westendorff are reelected.
Dave Peters
Durango
