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The Thompson Divide Coalition will be submitting a bill to Congress soon that provides for the withdrawal and protection of certain Bureau of Land Management and United States Forest Service lands in Garfield, Mesa, Gunnison, Delta and Pitkin Counties, Colorado from oil and gas development.  Thompson Divide is part of 221,500 acre parcel of undeveloped federal land that affects everyone in the Roaring Fork Valley and the Crystal River Valley.  We need your support so that your air, water, wildlife, recreation, hunting and lifestyle values are protected. 

ACT NOW!  ACT NOW!  ACT NOW!  ACT NOW!  

Why now?

The leases in Thompson Divide are largely undeveloped.  Now is the ideal time to protect this area from future development. 

A new administration in Washington, new oil and gas rules at the state level and a temporary economic slump have slowed the natural gas boom. These realities have provided our community time to contemplate the protection of this special landscape.

Of course, this period is unlikely to last long. Rising gas prices, new technology and companies’ desire to extend their lease terms are likely to elevate the pressure to drill in this area in coming months and years.

There are three communities in the United States that have successfully had oil and gas leases withdrawn through legislation.  Those include:

  • The community around Valle Vidal in New Mexico joined forces to secure a withdrawal from leasing for their beloved Valle Vidal.  The legislation was passed in December of 2006.
  • Citizens and conservation groups in Montana, who became the Coalition to Protect the Rocky Mountain Front, began working in 2003 to find a way to save the Front from drilling.  Congress passed legislation on January 13, 2007 withdrawing the area from further leasing and clearing the way to work towards retiring the existing leases.
  • Citizens Protecting the Wyoming Range united to prevent new energy development in the Wyoming Range.  The Wyoming Range Legacy Act, legislation that prevents new leasing of federal mining rights and creates a mechanism for the voluntary retirement of the existing leases that blanket undeveloped parts of the Wyoming Range passed Congress and was signed into law in March 2009.


What you can do to help