More than 100 La Plata Country residents went to Sen. Cory Gardner’s Durango office to meet with Gardner’s staff recently.
We were met by Durango Police officers and Tom Probst, manager of the Office Depot Center, who told us we could not participate in the conversation with Gardner’s staff.
Only four representatives were allowed to speak to the staff, and the rest of us were told we had to move completely off the center property (including the parking lot).
We were there to understand what Gardner’s position is on the BLM methane rule, and why he takes that position. The group was entirely respectful throughout our hour-long discussion on the roadside.
The BLM methane rule is an important issue for Durango and the Senate is considering its repeal. The San Juan Basin, including Durango, has the highest concentration of methane pollution in the U.S. This pollution is largely the result of methane needlessly leaking from the thousands of gas wells in our area. This gas is wasted, depriving the federal government of $330 million in royalties (nationwide), and gas well operators of income.
Letting it escape to the atmosphere aggravates global warming because methane is a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The BLM Methane Rule would solve a significant problem in the Four Corners, and many Durango constituents are demanding Gardner’s support for the BLM Methane Rule.
We want to know what his position is, but apparently, his staff does not want to meet with the senator’s constituents. Sen. Gardner: we request that you support the BLM Methane Rule, and that you hold a meeting with your La Plata County constituents as soon as possible.
Bob Miller
Durango
