Debate over the future of Colorado’s Roan Plateau has taken a new urgency with release of an intriguing plan to tap its vast natural gas reserves even while committing to protect its unique environmental and scenic values.
The 9,000-foot plateau lies north of Interstate 70 between Rifle on the east and Parachute on the west.
It sits atop an estimated 4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. But it also shelters 33 species of mammals and 125 species of birds, eight streams that meet the requirements for wild and scenic rivers and 22,000 acres with “wilderness characteristics.”
For Colorado, the Roan is at center stage in the debate over the federal government’s push to increase production of natural gas and oil in the West.
Federal lands on the plateau were transferred to the Bureau of Land Management in 1997 with a congressional directive to issue energy-production leases “as soon as practicable.” In 2004, the BLM issued a draft management plan that proposed various alternatives, ranging from no drilling atop the plateau to widespread development. (Parts of Garfield County around the Roan already have extensive energy development.)
The alternatives drew wide attention – about 75,000 comments were received from the public and interest groups. There was also broad agreement among citizens and local governments in Garfield County; they didn’t want drilling on top of the Roan.
Thursday, the BLM issued its final resource management plan and environmental impact statement, and it contains some interesting new ideas to address the various conflicts.
Drawing heavily on suggestions from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the plan would place significant restrictions on development.
“We got it as good as we could,” said Russ George, executive director of the state agency. The plan “offers strong protection for fish and wildlife habitat, scenic views and ecologically sensitive areas,” said Sally Wisely, state BLM director.
Key features of the plan include:
- Restriction of drilling to 1 percent (350 acres) of the plateau top at any one time.
- Restoration would have to be done in a drilling area before a new area could be worked.
- Keeping about half the public lands atop the plateau free of roads, drilling or pipelines.
- Banning new roads and pipelines on sides of the plateau visible from I-70.
- Requiring that a single operator do the work on the plateau for all lease holders, making supervision by federal officials easier.
These provisions strike a compromise that isn’t sitting well with everyone. Area residents and governments are upset that the plan allows any drilling on the top of the Roan. Some energy developers said the restrictions are tight enough that they might dampen interest in seeking leases.
There’s also legitimate concern that the bureaucratic process triggered by release of the final plan may be too tight for full public examination of its untested ideas. A 30-day “protest” period starts Sept. 15, after which Gov. Bill Owens has 60 days to determine if the plan conflicts with state laws or regulations. After that, presumably sometime early next year, the BLM can issue a final decision and start leasing.
Last spring, as the outline of the plan became public, Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar asked the BLM to delay issuing its final plan to allow for more review and comment. It’s unfortunate that the request wasn’t granted. The BLM and the state are to be commended for coming up with a creative plan, but its workability, and any potential loopholes, need to be carefully examined before drilling is allowed in one of Colorado’s most sensitive areas.
All interested parties need to do as much as they can in the limited time available to make sure the right questions are raised.
