North Fork is unsuitable for drilling

Editor’s note: This letter was either edited for length in the print edition, or was not printed due to space restrictions.

Dear Ladies and
Gentlemen of the BLM:
I am writing to briefly comment on the proposed land leasing of 22 parcels in the Valley of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, encompassing the towns of Crawford, Hotchkiss, and Paonia.. My wife, Carol, and I have been residents of the Grandview Mesa near the Crawford Air Park (99V) for 15 years having moved here from Grand Junction.

Although the parcels Nos. 6200, 6201, and 6202 are of closest proximity to our home and the Crawford Airpark which we use regularly for operations of our home-built (“experimental”) aircraft, we are very concerned as well about the possible establishment of  natural gas wells using “fracking” processes anywhere (including any of the proposed 22 parcels) in the North Fork Valley.

Please understand, however, that we are not necessarily unilaterally opposed to the use of or the responsible drilling for oil and gas energy resources since it is obvious that our society and economy currently depend on these vital resources, and likely will for the foreseeable future, until alternatives become more economically viable, the transition itself being a time-consuming endeavor.

However, to attempt to establish a “gas patch” throughout the North Fork Valley with its high concentration of population in both the rural areas and within the three towns, each having their extensive public and private culinary and irrigation water systems would in and of itself seem to make extensive fracking operations within the Valley an unnecessarily  risky endeavor. Fracking for natural gas has its known and unknown negative consequences within the substrata that are not reversible not to mention the above ground environmental impacts that have already been thoroughly discussed.    

Additionally, there is a high concentration of certified organic farms and ranches throughout the valley that depend on pure water and air sources. Simply stated,  it seems that this particular valley cannot be considered to be a reasonable location for such activities as would occur were it to become an energy extraction industrial area. In fact, it would seem a patently irresponsible decision to even consider such a leasing of public lands which has been apparently predicated on a Resource Management Plan (RMP) that is 22 years out of date and thus 2 years OVERDUE for its 20-year re-evaluation.

To summarize, until a current RMP in conjunction with an environmental impact evaluation are completed, and after it has been established that any proposals by gas or oil drillers will comply with the lawful provisions of the Clean Air and Water Acts (from which such drilling operations have somehow been federally exempted — Say what???), we urgently encourage the BLM and the State of Colorado to cease and desist from any further leasing considerations and/or state drilling permits! Surely such an approach at this time could hardly be considered anything less than reasonable. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Charlie Huff
Crawford