By a 2-1 vote, La Plata County commissioners approved a letter of protest to the
Commissioners Gwen Lachelt and Julie Westendorff supported the letter during a special meeting on Tuesday; Commissioner Brad Blake was opposed.
The letter, addressed to BLM State Director Ruth Welch, says the public was not permitted sufficient involvement in the National Environmental Policy Act process conducted for the four BLM parcels in question, which are scheduled for a lease sale in May. The statement further protests that the process doesn’t notify adjacent landowners and local governments about the potential impacts of development.
Tuesday was the final day to submit letters of protest. La Plata and Archuleta counties and local environmental groups appealed to the BLM earlier this month for an extended comment period, which was granted.
“The purpose of this protest is to make sure we do get adequate notification so we work in advance of leasing to make sure we’re considering impacts to county infrastructure,” Lachelt said.
Westendorff reiterated concerns about the overlapping and potentially conflicting jurisdictions of regulatory entities involved in the process, including the county, BLM, Forest Service and Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
Blake said he is satisfied with the process and assured local government will have a voice in later phases of the parcels’ development.
Christi Zeller, executive director of the La Plata County Energy Council, on Tuesday encouraged the commission to withhold the letter, as it is a hindrance to oil and gas development.
“The Energy Council is concerned that whenever pressure is applied, by La Plata County and the San Juan Citizens Alliance, BLM comes down on the side of those who seek to stop responsible leasing and development of public lands that benefit local and state economies and provide good-paying jobs to your county residents,” Zeller read in a prepared statement. “Federal mineral lease sales and royalties are the second largest source of income to the federal government and Federal Mineral Direct Distributions also go to our local schools, cities and even the county.
Environmental groups, including the San Juan Citizens Alliance and Center for Biological Diversity, have submitted similar letters to the BLM.
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