Dear Editor:

Natural gas prices are at a 10-year low. Massive fields have been discovered in North Dakota, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas and elsewhere.

Oil and gas developers are cutting back on drilling.Leaseholders are already holding thousands of leases that will take decades to develop.

There is no reasonable economic justification for the government to sell more leases, especially in sensitive areas.

I think it is reasonable to assume speculators are buying leases now because prices are low. They are speculating, hoping to sell years later for big profits. With leases being held for years and years, the real estate market may freeze for just as long. People do not invest and maintain their property when they can't sell it. While this seems shortsighted, it happens wherever there is a possibility that looks like a threat to property values. Family owned ranches may be difficult to sell when death occurs and the children do not want to ranch. Blight sets in until the risk is eliminated. With oil and gas development, that may be 30 or more years. It is like a sword over our heads.

The North Fork already has a depressed real estate market. Organic farming and wine production are among the few growing businesses here, but would be negatively affected by industrialization of the land. Retirees bring a lot of money into the area, but will no longer buy here if they know oil and gas development is or may occur.

Oil and gas development is a bad deal for the North Fork Valley. It can only weaken an already bad economy. Please contact the BLM and let them know how serious a threat this is to us.

Gene Goffin

Crawford