Salazar And Udall Team Up To Delay Drilling Atop The Roan Plateau

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. John Salazar (CO-3) and Mark Udall (CO-2) have asked the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies to include a provision in a 2008 appropriations bill to prevent the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from leasing public lands for oil and gas drilling on top of the Roan Plateau.

In an attached letter sent to the subcommittee on Friday,  Salazar and Udall explain their concerns about the BLM’s rush to sell oil and gas leases in this pristine area, despite rising opposition from community leaders and thousands of  residents in Garfield and Rio Blanco Counties.

Salazar said: “Balancing land use often becomes a contentious issue, but when thousands of citizens from every walk of life plead for government to help protect areas that contain elements so sensitive and pristine, it becomes the duty for those in power to heed those requests.  This is not an argument of national security. It is about securing the future of our lands for generations of Americans who wish to enjoy the bounties and beauty of what this state provides. Many parcels in the area have been made available for resource development, and postponing development to this one area will not endanger our economic or energy future. It is my pledge to move this country forward with careful development of natural resources and renewable sources without diminishing the need for preserving certain landscapes worthy of exception.”

Udall said: “I support responsible oil and gas development, but I am concerned with the speed at which BLM is moving toward issuing leases for drilling on top of the Roan Plateau.  Many local residents of nearby communities think the BLM’s plan goes too far toward allowing rapid exploration and development which would put our water, wildlife, and communities at risk.  BLM should move more slowly on these leases – allowing more time for public opinion to be heard and for a compromise to be reached--and that is what our proposed amendment to the Interior spending bill would do,” said Udall, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Currently, the BLM is waiting for approval of its final plan to open the top of the Roan Plateau to natural gas drilling, which could happen as early as May.  In 2004, the BLM's original draft plan had considerable local support.  But after it was released, the Bush Administration pulled the plan back and made the BLM rewrite it.  Last September, a new plan was released that was considerably different than the original draft.

The BLM did not allow time for public comment on this new plan, despite local governments passing resolutions asking the BLM to reconsider the plan and allow more time for the community to be heard on this important issue.

The subcommittee is expected to review the Salazar-Udall request early next week.