In February, I attended a community meeting with the BLM meant to gather public input on whether the BLM should complete a Master Leasing Plan, a process to develop regulations for oil and gas leasing in Montezuma and La Plata counties, in areas such as the outskirts of Mesa Verde, Phil’s World bike trail and the backyards and public lands around Hesperus. The BLM is considering bypassing this important step, benefiting the oil and gas industry by quick planning, lax rules, oversight and depriving the public of a say in determining the quality of life in their homes, recreation areas and cultural treasures. The oil and gas representatives who appeared to be running that meeting made it difficult for the public to speak, and even indicated that the MLP was unnecessary because development was inevitable.
I live in La Plata County and have six double gas wells within a half mile of my home. We are surrounded by pipelines, compressor stations, an injection site (which our neighbors protested to no avail) and two processing plants that taint our view of the mountains and wake us at night with lights and flaring and noise. We’ve found it extremely difficult to protect the quality of life in our home when the oil and gas industry is working under regulations that allow their lack of restraint. That’s why we need to tell the BLM to complete the MLP process for the rest of La Plata and Montezuma counties. With this process, we could decide that drilling inside Phil’s World and at the gates of Mesa Verde is inappropriate and put in place stronger air and water quality regulations, and protect homeowners from dust, traffic and noise, while holding the BLM accountable to complete the planning.
Paula Sprenger
Ignacio
