Headline at Glenwood Springs Post Independent:
Roan Plateau protests dismissed, leases issued
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado - The Bureau of Land Management on Monday issued leases for future drilling on the Roan Plateau following a U.S. Department of Interior decision to reject protests filed against the sale of those parcels.
The same day the BLM announced the dismissal of the Roan protests, 10 environmental groups filed a motion in federal court seeking to block the BLM from issuing those disputed Roan leases.
There are some special places on our planet that deserve to be undisturbed by Gas & Oil development. This is one such place in Colorado. Let's hope the federal courts protect this very special place. It's the last resort.If left unprotected, we can say goodbye to this:
Flip it. Flip it good for more photos.
Many groups have fought to prevent drilling in the Roan Plateau Planning Area because it provides important habitat for mule deer, elk and genetically pure native cutthroat trout.
And hello to destruction:
These unyielding Environmental groups have fought these leases for years.
As the BLM was working to announce the rejection of the Roan protests on Monday, the coalition of 10 environmental groups - which include the Colorado Environmental Coalition, the Wilderness Society and the Colorado Mountain Club - filed a court motion seeking a temporary injunction that would block any leases from being issued.
Previous Diaries: The Day The Roan Dies Only Two Days Away
List of all Diaries written at Square State about Roan since 2006.
All photos from Save the Roan. Great organization.
High Country News has this nice video of the Roan Plateau with an overview of the greedy public land grabbers plans. Two of the stars are friends of mine and long time advocates for the environment, wildlife, clean water - Ken Neubecker and Bill Dvorjak.
Unless a last-ditch lawsuit filed by environmental groups is successful, the Bureau of Land Management will lease 55,000 acres of Colorado's most biodiverse lands to the energy industry on August 14. The Roan Plateau, which sits atop one of the largest natural gas reserves in the state, has become an icon in the battle over energy extraction in Colorado. BLM officials say their plan will protect the watersheds and wildlife habitat on the plateau, but a coalition of citizen groups, sportsmen, environmentalists and government officials -- including Gov. Bill Ritter -- are pushing for stricter regulations. The leasing of Roan will mark the end of a seven year battle. - High Country News
Recently, there was an assessment study done by the The Natural Resources Defense Council that finds inadequate data is being collected and measured on the public health effects of air and water quality in the area. Read the article at the Vail Daily online: Toxic Emissions
And questions about pipeline construction has been haulted, albeit temporary, in the area just this week. My sister was approached to have a pipeline go through her property, she said no thanks. The county gave permission when the property owners turned the oil co's down - by design no doubt. It turns out the pipeline is now encroaching on my sisters property afterall. It's a greedy, wreckless disregard for private property that is going on. The county approved that up to a dozen employess are allowed to live at the well site during construction. So not only do property owners have to deal with construction, they could have a 'man-camp' living on their private property too. Crazy is is.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — The Bureau of Land Management on Monday issued a cease and desist order blocking any further building of a controversial 25-mile natural gas pipeline through national forest lands in Gunnison, Mesa and Garfield counties.
There is so much greed driving the gas development in the area that the BLM, local governments and public can't keep up with what is happening. They have moved in so fast that no baseline measurements of water quality, air quality have been done except by some of the smart private property owners who did so to protect themselves. Surface owners property rights are minimal. A state legislator courageously tried to put a surface owners rights bill through the past two session only to have it watered down by the g&o lobbyists so that it meant nothing. I think it was eventually tabled by the author.
There are some serious concerns in our area. It reminds me of gold rush stories we read about or see in the movies. I only hope that Senator Obama, as President, can address these concerns right away. It is absolutely greed-driven disgusting.
Have a great day.