Consideration of mineral leasing on state land north of County Road 228 has been placed on hold while community concerns are addressed.

On Thursday, Christel Koranda, oil and gas leasing manager for the Colorado State Land Board, wrote a letter to La Plata County staff, stating that a parcel on the Florida Mesa Stewardship Trust eligible for oil and gas leasing has been withdrawn for the time being.

“While I believe that our oil and gas leasing process provides the board and our lessees the information and tools to address and minimize the negative impacts of oil and gas development, the withdrawal of this parcel is an opportunity to jointly find ways that this parcel can be developed with minimal impact on the parcel’s natural value and the community,” Koranda wrote.

As a state stewardship trust, the land in question is eligible for various leases including mineral extraction and grazing, but the state’s goal is to maintain “natural values.” Therefore, mineral leasing would be subject to Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and Division of Water Resources standards.

Last month, county commissioners sent a letter to the state with concerns that leasing in this area east of Durango would burden county roads, disrupt wildlife habitat and disturb rural residents whose private roads could be subject to industry traffic.

The state land board was due to vote in November whether to pursue mineral leases for the parcel. It is unclear when the board might take the issue up again.

jpace@durangoherald.com