Despite protests from Palisade and Grand Junction the BLM is selling oil and gas leases in their watersheds, according to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. From the article, "Drilling for natural gas can go forward on the north edge of Grand Mesa, the Bureau of Land Management decided Tuesday.
"BLM officials will go ahead with the sale, scheduled for Thursday, because of relationships with local officials already in place, said BLM spokeswoman Theresa Sauer.
"The Grand Junction and Palisade governing boards opposed the leases because of fears they could harm their watersheds on the mesa.
"'We're not going to allow a drill rig that's obviously going to damage the watershed, and we're not going to allow drilling where it might damage the watershed,' Sauer said.
"If adequate arrangements can't be worked out with industry, leases will be withdrawn, she said.
"Bureau officials have committed to both communities that any harm from drilling will be mitigated, and watersheds will be protected, BLM State Director Sally Wisely wrote to U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., who had asked that local officials be consulted by the BLM...
"The Concerned Citizens Alliance will host a community meeting to discuss the threat posed by drilling at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Grand Junction City Hall auditorium."
More coverage from the Denver Post. From the article, "The Colorado BLM Office considered delaying the auction on the Mesa County parcels but instead decided to pull 7,291 disputed acres in San Miguel County."
Category: Colorado Water
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