At a time when directors of public lands agencies are utterly at odds with the conservation ethics they are entrusted to hold, I am dismayed by the Department of the Interior’s latest proposal to permanently repeal the BLM’s Methane and Waste Prevention Rule.
Removing this publicly-supported 2016 legislation not only results in degrading one of Colorado’s most economically valuable resources – it’s clean air and blue skies – but it carelessly wastes energy and maintains unacceptable health risks for Coloradans.
Our members of Congress have shown where they stand. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Denver) has been a strong defender of clean air and healthy communities. Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Cortez) and Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma), on the other hand, have consistently sided with industry polluters and voted to gut methane waste limits.
Public participation in public lands decision-making is an absolute right of every American. We are not deterred by the current systematic disregard for democratic principles.
To participate in the public comment process, go to http://bit.ly/2oZpv7O before April 23. We played a major role in defending the BLM methane rule in 2017. Your voice needs to be heard again.
Clint McKnight
Durango
