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Ritter proposes Roan drilling solution

Plan would boost protected acres, still allow access

Todd Hartman and Gargi Chakrabarty

Published December 21, 2007 at 12:30 a.m.

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Gov. Bill Ritter delivered a briefing to the media Thursday on his plan for the Roan Plateau in the Governor's conference room in the State Capitol. He announced that Colorado and the Federal government will continue their discussions on the future of drilling in what he describes as "a very special place." Shown with Ritter are: Vince Matthews, left, the state geologist, Harris Sherman, of the Department of Natural Resources and Dave Neslin, the acting director of the Oil and Gas Commission.

Photo by Judy DeHaas © The Rocky

Gov. Bill Ritter delivered a briefing to the media Thursday on his plan for the Roan Plateau in the Governor's conference room in the State Capitol. He announced that Colorado and the Federal government will continue their discussions on the future of drilling in what he describes as "a very special place." Shown with Ritter are: Vince Matthews, left, the state geologist, Harris Sherman, of the Department of Natural Resources and Dave Neslin, the acting director of the Oil and Gas Commission.

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Gov. Bill Ritter wants a dramatic expansion of environmental protections on the Roan Plateau while still allowing the energy industry to extract most of the prized natural gas under the northwestern Colorado landmark.

Ritter on Thursday called for a 72 percent increase in protected federal acres on the Roan, boosting "environmentally critical" areas from 21,000 acres to more than 36,000. Narrow corridors through those lands would be accessible by drillers, officials said.

"I'm confident we're making progress on a uniquely Colorado solution," the governor said.

Judging by the reaction of myriad interests, Ritter's plan appeared to strike a remarkable compromise over how the U.S. Bureau of Land Management should handle gas drilling on the Roan.

In large part, environmentalists, politicians and even Ritter's most strident industry critics appeared mollified, with greens praising the governor for expanding protections and drillers and their allies relieved that he didn't call for an outright ban.

"When you strip away all the politics and all the partisan grandstanding that's been going on in Washington, the governor finally came around to making the right call on the Roan and he deserves credit for it," said Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, in a statement.

Ritter's announcement marked the latest turn in the drama over drilling on the Roan, which sprawls for miles north of Interstate 70. The majestic backdrop to the Western Slope stopovers of Rifle and Parachute is an area treasured by hunters, outdoor enthusiasts and environmentalists for its wildlife, trout streams and stunning topography.

A sportsmen's group, in fact, did criticize Ritter Thursday for a "missed opportunity" to fully protect fish and wildlife habitat on the plateau.

The Roan, however, also includes an area known as the U.S. Naval Oil Shale Reserves, which contain enough natural gas, by some estimates, to power 1.5 million homes for 34 years.

In recent years, as Colorado's natural gas boom has overtaken the region around the Roan, the plateau has become a flashpoint between those who want it placed off-limits to drilling and others who argue the energy-hungry United States can't afford to leave the gas in the ground.

There's no guarantee anything proposed by the Ritter administration will become reality. That's because it's the federal government that controls the Roan's 73,000 acres of public lands.

But Ritter, with help from U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, persuaded the BLM in August to give his staff 120 days to study the agency's Roan plan. Ritter had argued that a new administration should be allowed to take a fresh look at such a controversial topic.

Now, even though the 120-day period is over, Ritter said his administration continues a "series of productive and encouraging conversations" with the BLM and its parent agency, the Department of Interior.

At the center of those talks is how to conduct drilling on as many as 52,000 acres outside of environmental protection zones.

While many particulars of Ritter's plan remain unknown, he did reveal one specific: a proposal that the BLM change the way it leases land on the plateau.

The state-proposed strategy would make smaller chunks of land more immediately accessible and likely would bring more revenue to the state, Department of Natural Resources chief Harris Sherman said. That's because gas companies would pay more for leases knowing they could access gas supplies sooner.

Under the BLM plan, companies could buy leasing rights up front, but wouldn't have access to the sites for a decade or more. That could reduce the amount they'd pay for a lease. So-called bonus payments for leases are split between the state and the federal government.

Federal officials were noncommittal Thursday, but said they welcomed continued conversations with Ritter.

"I believe we can recover the area's natural gas resources in an environmentally sensitive manner," said state BLM chief Sally Wisely, "so as to meet the nation's energy needs and generate revenue for the people of Colorado."

hartmant@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5048

Other key points of Ritter's proposal to manage natural gas drilling on the Roan.

* Allow industry access within protected acreage via existing roads and corridors alongside the roads. Other protected areas could be accessed on a case-by-case basis.

* Lease sites for drillers incrementally, instead of all at once as called for in a federal plan. State officials say the approach would properly pace development and bring more revenue to Colorado.

* Incorporate advanced technology, including directional drilling and drilling many wells from a single site.

* Continue "productive discussions" with BLM officials that may lead to additional proposals for changes to the federal government's approach.

What they said

"(Ritter has) made a bold statement. He's called for something different."

Steve Smith, Wilderness Society

"Overall, we are pleased with Gov. Ritter's announcement and the fact that he recognizes the vast resource potential within the Roan Plateau and the potential for substantial revenue for the state."

Meg Collins, president, Colorado Oil & Gas Association

"Anti-drilling extremists have been lobbying to block virtually any natural gas harvest in the (reserves) on top of the Roan. The governor appears to be rejecting that path."

Greg Schnacke, president and CEO, Americans for American Energy

"I am thankful that Gov. Ritter has taken such a hard look at the issues surrounding the Roan Plateau. I hope that this builds and continues a constructive dialogue between the State of Colorado and the Bureau of Land Management when it comes to the future of the Roan."

U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo.

"Gov. Ritter's recommendations are certainly an improvement over the current drilling proposal, and will serve to better protect the Roan Plateau if it is put at risk by oil and gas drilling . . . That said, we strongly believe it is not in Colorado's best interest to drill the Roan Plateau, and urge our congressional delegation to continue to work to protect this Colorado treasure."

Elise Jones, Colorado Environmental Coalition

"I am pleased that Gov. Ritter is taking a reasonable approach to dealing with the potential development of resources on Roan Plateau. By working cooperatively with the federal government and avoiding an all-or-nothing approach the governor is demonstrating that he recognizes that the protection of our natural resources and our national interests are of equal importance."

U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

Comments

  • December 21, 2007

    9:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    sunshinestate writes:

    Between what "Westerners" have done to themselves in the Pinedale area and now Roan,just as examples, I think I'll stay put in Florida,with her six million acres of public hunt lands and an effective environmental/hunter constituency.I mention Florida as a wake up call to what you have-and don't have in the interior West. Don't assume there is so much of "it" that you can relax conservation efforts. It would further help if "outdoor" interests could seperate themselves from Industrial politics. You put the Bush administration in office-twice. The back lash could be significant.