Take fracking off the table
Dear Editor:
In writing this e-mail, we speak for just about everyone we know in Gunnison County, as we all hold the same opinion. We are adamantly against the proposal to lease lands in the North Fork Valley for oil and gas interests, especially as regards the fracking methods. ADAMANTLY against!
We chose to move here for many specific reasons. It is a "given" about the pristine natural beauty of the wilderness which thrills our senses. It is literally indescribable, daily. But high upon our list is that here we can find clean, nutrient-packed food grown locally. We enjoy amazing products from the farms, orchards, ranches, and restaurants, all this that is grown and raised locally. It is our dream come true to be so nourished by this lifestyle.
These valleys are so rich and self-sustaining. They absolutely MUST be protected for this unique agricultural community. The potential for this relatively new fracking industry to contaminate water and food resources and livelihoods is immense. The impact is reprehensible.
The proposal to lease to oil and gas interests opens up an invasion of unwanted industry. Thousands of letters were written to BLM last year of which 99% were AGAINST oil and gas development in North Fork Valley. The devastation that a fracking invasion creates is beyond repair for the land and of the people who live here. There's no way anything that we love and cherish about living here could ever be the same.
Isn't this reason enough to take the entire issue of leasing or sale to oil and gas companies who want to Frack this landscape OFF the TABLE? Isn't the strong vote of 99% of the residents heard loudly enough or is our plea to not frack falling on deaf ears?
This land provides for our community now. Listen to the people. Put an end to the proposal to frack the North Fork Valley once and for all.
Suzanne Pierson
Monica Ariowitsch
Crested Butte