The Issue
Photo by Greg Watts
Why We Need To "SAVE" The Thompson Divide Area.
The Thompson Divide area covers 221,500 acres of Federal land in Pitkin County (88,100 acres), Gunnison County (51,700 acres), Garfield County (43,500 acres), Mesa County (30,500 acres) and Delta County (7,700 acres). There are currently 81 leases in the area covering appoximately 105,000 acres. Half of the leases are in roadless areas and do not contain surface stipulations.
SG Interests, an oil and gas developer, recently submitted a propoal for a 32,000 acre exploratory unit on Federal land in the White River, Grand Mesa Uncompaghre and Gunnsion National Forests. Their request to extend leases on 32,000 acres of public land would be done prior to the release of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for oil and gas development in the White River National Forest, that is likely to recommend significant changes in leasing designations and lease stipulations. This unit would cut in half the area that has been prioritized for permanent protection. SG Interests intention to develop this unit is not in the best interest of the public as the existing values of this undeveloped landscape are immense. The Thompson Divide Coalition, local Counties and other groups have requested that BLM deny the application.
There is an enormous local constituency that relies upon the existing values of recreation, ranching, hunting, and preservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat. Our local communities rely on clean water and air for sustainabilitiy. The Thompson Divide Coalition has 2,000 supporters and has received County Commissioner support from Garfield, Pitkin and Gunnison Counties. Our local communities such as Carbondale, Basalt, Aspen, Glenwood Springs and Redstone all support preservation of the Thompson Divide by providing grants and continued public support.
The Strategy.
To remove Thompson Divide from future leasing. Thompson Divide Coalition is doing the following:- Working with Representative Tipton, Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Mark Udall, to introduce the "Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act".
- Supporting BLM and Forest Service management decisions that protect the area from future development.
- Informing and educating the public and local communities about current proposals that will impact existing values in Thompson Divide.
What You Can Do.
Representative Scott Tipton, 225 N. 5th St., Suite 702, Grand Junction, CO 81501
Email: brian.meinhart@mail.house.gov
Senator Michael Bennet, 1127 Sherman Street, Suite 150, Denver, CO 80203
Email: Noah_Koerper@bennet.senate.gov
Senator Mark Udall, 400 Rood Ave., Suite 215, Grand Junction, CO 81501
Email: jerry_otero.markudall@senate.gov
- Go to the TAKE ACTION link and send online letters to the BLM and USFS. Contact information is listed here.
- Share this information with friends and family
- Volunteer
- Donate to our cause
- Join TDC on facebook -
BLM Announces Public Meetings on Potential Environmental Impacts of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Development
The Bureau of Land Management announced today that it is hosting public meetings in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming to answer questions about and solicit comments on its oil shale and tar sands Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Draft PEIS). The meetings will be held at 7 p.m. at the locations and dates listed below:
Monday, March 12, 2012
BLM Colorado River Valley Office
2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, Colorado
7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
BLM officials will be on hand to take written comments and assist with the commenting process. The Draft PEIS is being prepared by the BLM to assess a range of management alternatives for future oil-shale and tar-sands activities on public lands. The Notice of Availability of the Draft PEIS was issued in the Federal Register on February 3, 2012. A 90-day public comment period began that day and will close on May 4, 2012.
Written comments on the Draft PEIS should be submitted by May 4 using an online comment form on the Draft PEIS Website at http://ostseis.anl.gov. This is the preferred method for commenting. Comments may also be submitted by regular mail to: Oil Shale and Tar Sands Draft Programmatic EIS, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, EVS 240, Argonne, IL 60439.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
