Natural gas drilling in the Rocky Mountains
Re: “Gas drillers have foothills in sight; Wells sought near Monument,” May 2 news story.
The recent announcement that natural gas drilling is slated to begin in the Pike National Forest near Monument this fall is shocking, and the people of Colorado cannot allow this to happen. Our national forests, especially the last areas that remain pristine, make some of the last environmental treasures in our country. The state of Colorado also gets more benefits from its forests than most other states do. Nearly the entire state relies on our pristine national forests for clean drinking water, and the state brings in billions of dollars every year from recreation in these areas.
According to The Post’s article, Dyad Petroleum, the Texas-based company proposing the drilling in Pike National Forest, has agreed to relocate its drilling pads to minimize environmental damage. While this should be mandatory for all drilling operations, the location of this experiment is such that 90-foot drilling rigs would be visible to local residents and motorists on Interstate 25. The bottom line here is that drilling should not be allowed in our national forests at all, but especially not when it will impact the people who live in the surrounding area.
I encourage all Coloradans opposed to drilling in our national forests to write or call their state representative and tell them how you feel. Ask them to do everything in their power to not allow Dyad Petroleum to ruin critical forest habitat for the small chance of finding a small amount of natural gas. Our forests are too important.
Cory Nadler, Boulder
Use of public fountains in the arid West
Re: “Get our fountains up and running,” May 5 Susan Barnes-Gelt column.
Susan Barnes-Gelt demonstrates the strange relationship between reservoir depth and intelligence so typical in this region. When Denver Water’s reservoirs reach 75 percent capacity, IQs begin to shrink.
Not that running Denver’s beautiful fountains is necessarily a bad idea, but Barnes-Gelt justifies the use of water in them with the assertion that Denver’s “defining theme” is as “a green oasis … a respite from the arid plains and harsh environment.” She goes on to gush about “lakes, tree canopies and landscape” as symbols of “respect for this place.”
Plainly, one snowy winter in 10 is enough to convince some that the drought is over. Here we see the inverse relationship between intelligence and reservoir depth empirically proved.
We on the Front Range have done a good job of water conservation in the last few years. Efforts to encourage further strides in conservation would better serve the citizens of our region. There is no proof that the drought has ended. Our water resources are in effect 100 percent developed and our population will continue to increase indefinitely.
David M. Carter, Thornton
New rules for state’s roadless forest areas
Since 2001, I have made much of my living as a ski instructor and a wilderness guide. My job has often been to show people, often tourists, the beauty of Colorado’s wild forests. Thursday’s announcement by the Bush administration that protections on 4.4 million acres of Colorado’s roadless forests have been removed concerns me very much.
Colorado is a special place that attracts visitors because of our wilderness. I myself chose to move to this great state because of the opportunities it offers in recreation and tourism. I could have gone back to the East Coast where I grew up, but there are very few opportunities to experience the kind of wilderness that we have out here.
Under Bush’s new system, Gov. Bill Owens has the authority to make recommendations on the future of Colorado’s national forests. I hope the governor realizes that the decisions he makes now will determine the permanent future of Colorado.
I urge Owens to keep all 4.4 million acres of Colorado’s roadless area protected, pristine and preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Jake Schlesinger, Denver
Colorado fiscal crisis
Re: “Have we painted ourselves into a corner?” May 1 guest commentary.
Thanks to Harry Lewis for comprehensively describing the basis of Colorado’s financial problems. Some years ago, I proposed de-Brucing my small mountain town; the ballot issue passed, as it did in many towns.
As Lewis says, it’s popular to blame Amendment 23, the citizen school-funding initiative, for budget problems. State legislators seem intent on revoking it, ignoring the will of the voters. I voted for the school-funding initiative because I am ashamed that our state is among the lowest nationwide in school funding.
It’s essential to give the schools the money they need, and also to fix the other financial problems created by Douglas Bruce’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
There’s no way we can compete worldwide otherwise. Brain power – the power of educated brains to think, reason, invent, engineer, build – that’s where it’s at.
Linda Johnson, Longmont
Veto of emergency contraception bill
Re: “Contraception veto stands; GOP backs Owens to block morning-after pill legislation,” May 3 news story.
The Denver Post got it right when it reported that “Democrats appealed to emotions” in trying to override the governor’s veto of the emergency contraception bill. Abortion is indeed a very emotional and divisive issue.
Rape is a tragic crime. Any woman who is raped, and chooses to abort a child resulting from that rape, has plenty of options in this state to do so. No legislative measure was needed to give those women that right. This was a bill that pitted the rights of the unborn against the rights of women who are raped. It is not a fair fight. The women have many abortion options. The child has only a single life.
Further, by trying to mandate that Catholic hospitals provide emergency contraception information to rape victims, the Democrats actually have attempted to blur the line between religion and state. I thought this principle was one they held sacred. I guess that depends on the issue.
Courtney Zierk, Denver
License plates for Navy members and vets
There are currently 20 license plates available to the military and veterans in Colorado. Of these plates, only two of them are related to the U.S. Navy. To rate one of these, you either have to be in the Navy Reserves or have received the Navy Cross. Some of us do not fall in either category. However, there is hope on the horizon. House Bill 1313 proposes a license plate that recognizes naval service. This bill has passed the House and is now before the Senate.
I would urge all Navy veterans to contact their respective state senators and urge them to vote in favor of this bill.
Gregg Womeldorff, Franktown
TO REACH OPINION EDITORS
Phone: 303-820-1331
Fax: 303-820-1502
E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com (only straight text, not attachments)
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, 80202 or PO Box 1709, Denver, 80201
Letters guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 200 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.
