Dear Editor:

On Saturday, Jan. 28, at Hotchkiss High School, more than 500 North Fork residents filled 400 seats and every inch of standing room to voice their overwhelming opposition to BLM's proposed August 2012 leasing of 22 parcels consisting of 30,000 acres for oil and gas development. From 1 to 5 p.m. members of our community, guided by State Senator Gail Schwartz, voiced their opinion of the proposed lease sale.

Their words were clear, deliberate, well researched, and powerful: the citizens of the North Fork Valley do not want to be forced to assume the risks associated with fracking. These risks include:

• Air and water contamination that causes people to become sick or die;

• Destruction of our organic agricultural economy;

• An increase in road density and heavy truck traffic;

• Reduction of deer and elk populations resulting in diminished hunting opportunities;

• Conversion of our rural, agricultural county into an industrial wasteland;

• Loss of scenic viewsheds and dark night skies;

• Reduction of real estate values; and

• Oil and gas-related earthquakes that threaten the structural integrity of irrigation canals and the safety of our family members who work in the coal mines.

The message Saturday was clear — we don't want fracking near our water sources, our schools, or our churches. We don't want it in our backyard or our front yard. The potential damage to our air, water, produce, vineyards, farms, livestock, and our hunting grounds is not worth the risk.

I want to thank the 60 citizens who spoke at the hearing. You inspired us with your passionate expression of love for our beautiful North Fork Valley backed up by well-researched evidence of the harm caused by fracking. You reinforced to the audience that we do indeed live in a special place that needs to be protected from fracking.

I regret that 43 people who wanted to express their concerns didn't get a chance to speak as we ran out of time. In hindsight, we would have needed to schedule the hearing for at least seven hours to provide everyone an opportunity to speak. The large number of people who wanted to speak out against the lease sale was truly a point of civic pride.

Joining Senator Schwartz as our distinguished guests at the hearing were State Representative Roger Wilson (Gunnison County); Jerry Otero representing Senator Udall's Western Slope office; Sheri Cogley representing Senator Bennet's Western Slope office; and BLM's Southwest District Manager Lori Armstrong.

The North Fork community is sending a clear message to BLM. Are they listening?

Robin Smith,

Board of Directors

Citizens for Healthy Community