|
Enviros challenge BLM flip-flop on Colorado leases |
|
|
|
Environmentalists accused the Bureau of Land Management of sacrificing
the wilderness characteristics of thousands of acres in western
Colorado by granting oil and gas leases on South Shale Ridge during an
appearance last week in federal district court in Denver.
The coalition of environmental groups — the Wilderness Society, Sierra
Club, Center for Native Ecosystems, Colorado Environmental Coalition
and Colorado Mountain Club — accuses the federal government of
violating several federal laws including the Endangered Species Act and
National Environmental Policy Act by leasing in the area.
South Shale Ridge, approximately 28,000 acres near Grand
Junction, Colo., features multicolored badlands with unique geological
formations hidden within miles of twisting canyons. The area is home to
the bald eagle and extremely rare plants such as Unita Basin hookless
cactus, DeBeque phacelia and DeBeque milkvetch.
The Piceance Basin, in which South Shale Ridge is located, is
estimated to hold as much as 10 trillion cubic feet of untapped natural
gas. The area already has some existing oil and gas development,
including 13 producing wells.
In 2001, BLM recommended that 27,631 acres in South Shale
Ridge be reconsidered for protection as a wilderness study area and
committed to amending its 1987 management plan to manage for the area's
wilderness characteristics. But BLM leased almost the entire area for
oil and gas development in November 2005.
Erin Robertson of the Center for Native Ecosystems said BLM
only consulted with the Fish and Wildlife Service regarding leasing on
parcels containing the Unita Basin hookless cactus. "Our concern was
that if they only consult on a well-by-well basis, they'll never look
at the cumulative effects," she said.
BLM's decision to lease the area affected some of the last
untouched habitat for the DeBeque phacelia, a slow-growing plant that
only survives in a 17 square mile area near DeBeque, Colo., Robertson
noted.
Nada Culver, senior counsel for the Wilderness Society, said
that the courts have handed down judgments against the agency in
similar cases elsewhere. "The agency can't just decide to ignore the
information they have," she said.
The federal court is expected to issue its decision in about 30 days, according to Earthjustice attorney Ted Zukoski.
BLM officials could not be reached for comment by press time.
The agency has put stipulations in place on 27,049 acres to protect
natural resources in the area, ranging from protection for big game
winter range to scenic and natural values.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
