I learned of the recent deferral of oil and gas lease sales in western La Plata County. BLM Tres Rios Field Office Director Connie Clementson has deferred these sales until the overall land use plan for the Tres Rios Field Office is in place, which is a step in the right direction. We dry-siders are acutely aware of the fragility of our water supplies as well as the air quality issues we already have due to petroleum industry activities. With the current glut of natural gas, it is only prudent to take time to be certain that all issues are adequately addressed.

While it is true that the gas and oil industry provides some employment in the area, it is also true that our Four Corners landscape and the archaeological, recreational, agricultural and natural resource values it contains offer so much more than cheap fossil fuels. At a time when we should be vigorously pursuing alternative energy sources there is certainly no sense in rushing into yet more questionable industrial-scale gas and oil development, especially on steep, easily eroded land.

Commissioners Gwen Lachelt and Julie Westendorff have served their constituents well in urging BLM to take a harder look at these proposed leases, and to consider the many other public values at stake.

Veronica Egan

Mancos