Montezuma County officials are chapped by a preliminary Bureau of Land Management map that includes the county in a proposed master leasing plan for oil-and-gas development.
During a testy exchange with BLM officials, county commissioners expressed concerns that the additional planning could lead to more regulations and stifle new business.
“You’re making it more cumbersome for companies that are already heavily regulated,” said commissioner Keenan Ertel.
The BLM emphasized that the plan is a work in progress, and it does not necessarily guarantee additional rules.
Connie Clementson, BLM Tres Rios field manager, said it was initiated at the request of the public to determine if potential oil-and-gas lease areas near recreation areas warrant additional mitigation.
The map includes a controversial, now-deferred, lease area in western La Plata County that is within the viewshed of Mesa Verde National Park. In Montezuma County, it includes potential lease areas south of Summit Reservoir, and near the Phil’s World mountain bike park between Cortez and Mancos.
“The map is a starting point. We’re taking a closer look to allow the public to inform us of their concerns,” Clementson said. “Aren’t you concerned with impacts to your mountain bike area? We’ve received a lot of letters on that.”
Commissioners James Lambert and Ertel countered that regulations to manage those impacts are already within the San Juan Resource Management Plan passed this year.
“You missed a step when we were not invited to be at the table when this map was drawn up,” Lambert said. “I want it (redrawn) to stop at our county line. If La Plata wants it, that’s their business.”
Ertel also wants the map redrawn so it excludes Montezuma County.
“We want to be more involved with the conceptual stages when the map lines are defined,” he said.
