BLM opens gates for drilling on Roan Plateau

Gargi Chakrabarty, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 8, 2007 at midnight

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The federal government Friday cleared the way for drilling on top of the gas-rich Roan Plateau as early as next year, overriding opposition from conservationists, anglers, hunters and local governments.

The Bureau of Land Management's decision covers 70 percent of the 73,602 acres of the Roan. The remaining 30 percent, which includes numerous scenic and enviromentally sensitive areas, is going through a public comment period, and a final decision will be made this fall.

Friday's decision allows oil and gas companies to drill on top of the environmentally sensitive plateau, provided they use modern directional drilling techniques that limit surface damage and protect fish and wildlife habitats. It allows companies to disturb only 350 acres at any given time. After drilling is completed, companies would have to fully reclaim the plot before moving on to the next one.

Companies can immediately begin selecting plots on top of the plateau for drilling, and the BLM likely will auction those plots as early as next year.

The Roan sits above one of the largest untapped natural gas field in the lower 48 states — enough to heat 4 million homes for at least the next 20 years. Supporters of energy development on top of the Roan argue Colorado could not only benefit from higher gas supply at a time of soaring energy prices, but also could collect hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue from companies.

"We developed this plan with significant help and time from our cooperating agencies, which include the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, the town of Parachute, and the cities of Glenwood Springs and Rifle," said Glenwood Springs BLM Field Manager Jamie Connell. "The innovative approach we are taking for tightly controlled energy development on top of the plateau comes from a proposal submitted by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources."

Those opposing BLM's decision can appeal to the Interior Board of Appeals, but the BLM won't accept any protest or change its decision at this point, said BLM spokeswoman Jamie Gardner.

Environment groups, conservationists, hunters and local governments have repeatedly asked BLM to protect the top of the plateau from drilling, as did U.S. Reps. Mark Udall and Diana DeGette and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado.

"We are extremely disappointed," said Suzanne Jones of the Wilderness Society. "We don't think BLM's decision reflects what Colorado and a majority of local governments have been asking for, which is to protect the top of the Roan Plateau.

"We are disappointed that the BLM didn't allow Governor Ritter's administration to review the plan before it was issued," Jones added.

Jones said the society would review its options, including appealing BLM's decision.

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