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TechnoratiUproar Over Federal Drilling Leases Next To Parks
SALT LAKE CITY - The view of Delicate Arch natural bridge - an unspoiled landmark so iconic it's on Utah's license plates - could one day include a drilling platform under a proposal that environmentalists call a Bush administration "fire sale" for the oil and gas industry.
![[The Bureau of Land Management has proposed selling oil and gas leases in wilderness areas of Utah, including this rock outcropping, Hatch Point, out side Canyonlands National Park in the southeastern part of the state. (By Kevin Walker -- Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Via Associated Press)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/landleases1117.jpg "landleases1117.jpg")
Late
on Election Day, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced a Dec. 19
auction of more than 50,000 acres of oil and gas parcels alongside or
within view of Arches National Park and two other redrock national
parks in Utah: Dinosaur and Canyonlands.
The National Park Service's top official in the state calls it "shocking and disturbing" and says his agency wasn't properly notified. Environmentalists call it a "fire sale" for the oil and gas industry by a departing administration.
Officials of the BLM, which oversees millions of acres of public land in the West, say the sale is nothing unusual, and one is "puzzled" that the Park Service is upset.
"We find it shocking and disturbing," said Cordell Roy, the chief Park Service administrator in Utah. "They added 51,000 acres of tracts near Arches, Dinosaur and Canyonlands without telling us about it. That's 40 tracts within four miles of these parks."
Top aides to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne stepped into the fray, ordering the sister agencies to make amends. His press secretary, Shane Wolfe, told The Associated Press that deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett "resolved the dispute within 24 hours" last week.
A compromise ordered by the Interior Department requires the BLM to "take quite seriously" the Park Service's objections, said Wolfe.
However, the BLM didn't promise to pull any parcels from the sale, and in an interview after the supposed truce, BLM state director Selma Sierra was defiant, saying she saw nothing wrong with drilling near national parks.
"I'm puzzled the Park Service has been as upset as they are," said Sierra.
"There are already many parcels leased around the parks. It's not like they've never been leased," she said. "I don't see it as something we are doing to undermine the Park Service."
Roy and conservation groups dispute that, saying never before has the bureau bunched drilling parcels on the fence lines of national parks.
"This is the fire sale, the Bush administration's last great gift to the oil and gas industry," said Stephen Bloch, a staff attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.
"The tracts of land offered here, next to Arches National Park or above Desolation Canyon, these are the crown jewels of America's lands that the BLM is offering to the highest bidder," he said.
An examination of the parcels, superimposing low-resolution government graphics onto Google Earth maps, shows that in one case drilling parcels bordering Arches National Park are just 1.3 miles from Delicate Arch.
"If you're standing at Delicate Arch, like thousands of people do every year, and you're looking through the arch, you could see drill pads on the hillside behind it. That's how ridiculous this proposed lease sale is," said Franklin Seal, a spokesman for the environmental group Wildland CPR.
In all, the BLM is moving to open 359,000 more acres in Utah to drilling.
Other Utah leases that are certain to draw objections from conservation groups include high cliffs along whitewater sections of Desolation Canyon, which is little changed since explorer John Wesley Powell remarked in 1896 on "a region of wildest desolation" while boating down the Green River to the Grand Canyon.
Others extend to plateaus populated by big game atop Nine Mile Canyon, site of thousands of ancient rock art panels, Moab's famous Slick Rock Trail and a campground popular with thousands of mountain bikers.
Sierra, the BLM's director for Utah, said the Park Service was consulted on the broad management plans that made the sale of parcels next to national parks permissible, even if it was not given notice on which specific leases were being offered. She apologized for that omission but said notice wasn't legally required.
She said national parks want to keep oil and gas wells five to 10 miles away "but that policy doesn't exist."
Roy said the standard for an eyesore visible from a national park turns on what a "casual" observer might see.
The hostility carried over into an e-mail exchange between Sierra and Mike Snyder, the Denver-based regional Park Service director, who noted his agency's demand that BLM pull 40 to 45 drill parcels from the auction list. "You stated that you were not willing to do this," Snyder wrote Nov. 6.
Within hours, Sierra responded "These decisions and the lands available for leasing should come to no one's surprise," according to copies of the e-mails obtained from her office.
Sierra said she instructed her district and field managers to educate the park superintendents on why drilling is OK "adjacent to and near the park boundaries."
In the e-mail, Sierra boasted of having "a very good working relationship" with Roy, the federal coordinator in Utah for the Park Service, but in an interview he said he had "no idea this sale was coming down the pike."
Roy said that when he asked Sierra what was going on, she replied: "We added some tracts, sorry we didn't notify you. We can take up these concerns when we issue" drilling permits. He said his response was: "Holy cow."
Sierra didn't dispute this account, but said "I don't think I was in a mood that dismissed his concerns lightly." She said she had promised only to review the objections, parcel by parcel, before the auction is held Dec. 19.
On the Net:- Arches Nat'l Park: http://www.nps.gov/arch/
40 Comments so far
Show AllTo get maps and more information about these leases and to get contacts and instructions on how to protest, access www.redrockforests.org.
I've been to Moab many times and dearly love it. It is one of the most powerful and spectacular places on earth. Summon up the ghost of Edward Abbey to stop this.
This may work better:
Ms. Selma Sierra
State Director
Bureau of Land Management
Utah State Office
P.O. Box 45155
Salt Lake City, UT 84145
Phone: 801-539-4001
Fax: 801-539-4013
Email: Selma_Sierra@blm.gov
I tried to send a message to the Bureau of Land Management at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/res/feedback.3.html . But the submit fails. I guess they are not interested in out comments or opinion.
Well we are all faced with the question of "how in the hell have these small minded, greedy little people been able to take so much control over so much of our lives for such a long time"?
The answer!
Because so many people let them. The "conservative element", believing in that "God of theirs", and that that "God" was watching over them, 'fell asleep on watch' (if they ever were awake), and the "progressive element" you know like the one's who read CommDrms----just let those fools take control---many years ago, and so now, they are being "thrown out with the bath water"-----
The solution?
If you are doing something "wrong", figure out how to do it "right"; if your first approach fails, then figure out an approach that works. Above all else, make these miserable social parasites lives so miserable with the "pending proceedings" ,that they go to bed worried, and after a fitful sleep (if any, without massive dosages) they wake up worried about: "is this the day I go to jail?"-----for the rest of my life.
Start at the top, and work your way down the "chain of command"---start with the one's who have the most to loose after gaining the least --the "small players" who were hoping on a "big break"--from the "big players"---THEY will be the ones to give the evidence against the others----
If needed, build a "new prison" just for them---much like Spandau Prison for the German convicts from WWII---------and take good care of them so that they live long lives, in small cells, with no hope of parole; except death---by natural causes, of old age-----very old age.
This is the only thing that will prevent the same from happening again and again and again. The only reason it hap pended now is that these social parasites believed that they would go free afterwards.
Without swift, and harsh prosecution for the many crimes this administration has committed, the people of the USA might as well give up; admit to being the slaves of these fools, and wait for their own end---oh, and have plenty of children so that they will also be slaves to the children of these people.
Good luck America, you really need it.
"Officials of the BLM, which oversees millions of acres of public land in the West, say the sale is nothing unusual"
So is it a crime to officiate the unprecedented sell off of national park adjacent land under a Bush administration, then resign when Obama comes to town, then accept a sweet consultant job with the employer of your choice- Exxon, Chevron, Arco, BP, etc.?? Racketeering anyone?
I think they should lease the entire state of Utah to NAMBLA. THEN they would see some drilling!
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
challenging though the task might be, there are probably many outdoor enthusiasts, in utah and elsewhere, who would love to drag ms. sierra's block head and dumb ass along slick rock trail, way back there to the overlook, and give her a push in the right direction.
George C. Brown - This horrible Cheney/Bush Administration is doing their best to solidify their reputation as the worst ever in the history of our country with this kind of give-away to the corporatizers and greed-heads. What in the world will they come up with next? A blanket pardon for all Repuglicans and golden parachutists?
The legislators, who will return to the new congress and had been complacent during these environmental sellouts, should be chatisized and denied re-election. Members of the departing administration and congress, who assume lucritive positions with the industries they supported, will be violating the law--and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
This can happen if the populace is sufficiently persistent. Remember the 9/11 inquiries that Bush so vehemently opposed. They would never have happened had it not been for the persistent efforts of the victim's relatives, albeit their success was limited by non-cooperation from the Bush team.
If we have time to complain, we have time to do something about it. What actions can we take to save this most precious land?
Claire - within this article is the name of the witch who is handling this desecration. e-mail her, get your friends to e-mail her, get your town's leaders and state delegates to e-mail her, and finally, call your state senators and representatives, and demand that this be stopped. Make it very clear that these lands belong to the American People and it is our right to say how they are used. Flood the witch's office with calls, letters, telegrams, e-mails, faxes. Swamp her offices with every kind of communication you can, and then do the same to your senators and representatives, and when you contact them, remind them that within two years, some or all will be up for re-election, and if they allow this to go through, they will need new resumes come 2010! President-elect Obama says that it is up to us to make government work correctly, and this is how you start. So, for everyone who posts here, get to work and stop this if you feel strongly about it. Good luck.
Mountain Woman
In the past year, we have taken four groups--children, grandchildren, and good friends--to Utah's Wilderness to show them the great beauty of our country. We live nearly two thousand miles away from there. Now that we are retired, we try to go often. It is truly magnificent. I cannot even imagine anyone short sighted enough to allow it to be spoiled. As I stand looking at and through Delicate Arch, I see the great (often snow capped) mountains of the La Sal Range. Having climbed up the steep mountain to get there and rounding the curve to get to the arch, I am full of life and love for the place. All of Arches, all of Canyonlands, Nine Mile Canyon with the marks of a civilization far before our own--they defy description as among our nation's last unspoiled treasures. PLEASE save these places from drilling and destruction and allow future generations to know wilderness and history and the beauty of these special places.
Perhaps our new president will move to do so.
For those who have not had the opportunity to visit Arches National Park it is one of the most beautiful in a state known for the largest number of incredible National Parks. The hiking is fantastic. The small campsite is on the plateau about 20 miles from the entrance. To think that this solitude and natural beauty would be despoiled by the need to extract the last ounce of continental oil is unbelievable.
It truly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. What action can we take grassroots to save it?
Access redrockforests.org to obtain a list of contacts and instructions on how to file a formal protest against the drilling leases.
I just had the wonderful opportunity of seeing the Arches and Canyonlands parks for the first time last month. Just in time, it appears. This just won't wash. What swine!!!
"...but keep your enemies closer". I'm not convinced that keeping McBush or any Repug closer to Obama are the right moves.
I share your suspicions, but right now we need to focus on being effective and realistic. Which means (unfortunately) working with Republicans. If you can't handle that, switch to Nader, and join the (permanently) losing team. Now is the time for change.
.An unwise choice of words, sir. If voting ones principles is losing then I am proud to lose. If supporting the only candidate for the presidency that mirrored my own views for the direction of this nation is losing then I am a loser, and glad to accept the title. If lining up in support of a candidate free from the shackles of corporate greed and money is losing well then we should all be such losers.
Conversely, if believing the fabrications of a candidate despite all the evidence to the contrary is winning then I forgoe winning. If winning means supporting the same faces who have caused this economic disaster then count me a loser. The only change offered in this race for the Presidency was offered by third party and independant candidates, a pity you do not understand that you have won nothing.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
..."the Bush administration's last great gift to the oil and gas industry," said Stephen Bloch"
When you give something away that you've stolen, is it a gift?
I think a more realistic term for the Bush Administration's actions would be extortion, or racketeering.
The Oil President and the Oil Vice President strike again. And, by the way, considering the price of a barrel of oil today, shouldn't a gallon of gas be about $1.60.
I can not wait to see the "Pardons".....
Oil Prices, Gas Prices, theft of Billions by Wall Street
3 trillion dollar war. Over 4,000 American soldiers dead
over 1.2 million Iraqis dead, torture, rape, murder, illegal spying, and no independent investigation of 9/11.......
Yet, over 40% of the American People wanted a continuation of the same !
The American People have been so mislead by the Mass Media that Bush and Company have been able to do whatever they wanted.....Shame on them.
There is no "Federal" land! However, there are PUBLIC lands held in trust by the federal government. Isn't it just like the republican thieves to scheme their money grubbing way into cheating the public out of their most precious national asset.
DL Alliance for Democracy
Just declare that the Obama administration will use eminent domain to reclaim the giveaway land rights of the later Bush administration.
Tuza
On the off chance that she cares, might Laura B be leaned upon to save the Arches in Utah - and other conserved lands soon to be raped & pillaged? Somebody must be able to get through to her - tho after 8 years of no protests from her about anything, it is doubtful it would make any diff. Stepford wives rarely speak up. But maybe it's worth a try?
Meanwhile, in England, the government plans to do secret GMO crop trials even though the public strongly opposes it.
Dissent will lead to the same laws they use against effective animal rights campaigning.
The only reason the same laws arent used against anti-war protestors or anti-Gitmo people is because their campaigns arent effective.
Oh -I like the use of "big game" in the article. Of course the only hope is to get the hunting idiots upset so they can stop it from happening to protect their own selfish destructive interests.
Humans.
I know there everywhere:-)
We need a revival of Nuremberg. The administration, its puppeteers, and the whole gang of enablers need to be tried for crimes against humanity, crimes against the planet, and the destruction of common sense, empathy, and the golden rule.
Note: "I was just following orders" is still no excuse!
State Director Selma Sierra, with concrete in her head, is just another Bush appointee that reflects the concrete in his head and that of his whole administration.
Selma may be so angry about the uproar because maybe, like other Bushies, she too can walk away from office a hellava' lot richer than she came in. I don't know that, but that seems to be the pattern.
If nothing else, hopefully, Obama will rescind all these deals when he takes office. A lot of them have been made recently in a rush to sell off the nation's assets or grant permits where none were permitted before.
"The love of money is the root of all Evil ..." If I didn't fully believe that before, after eight years of GW & GANG, and the interconnected WALL STREET & FEDERAL RESERVE shenanigans, I BELIEVE IT! I BELIEVE IT! I BELIEVE IT!
Obama's first order of business should be to have Bush arrested from crimes against humanity
And then ship him to The Hague in a sack of dog food. They'll think it's Blackwater trying to smuggle in illegal weapons and dump the sack in the ocean. Skip the trial.
Bush has been voted out. He is now a persona-non-grata. We need to move forward. Now is not the time to divide the country with partisan bickering.
"I think you reserve impeachment for grave, grave breeches, and intentional breeches of the president's authority," Obama said.
"I believe if we began impeachment proceedings we will be engulfed in more of the politics that has made Washington dysfunction," he added. "We would once again, rather than attending to the people's business, be engaged in a tit-for-tat, back-and-forth, nonstop circus."
Thanks for posting Obama's quote one more time. What a visionary Constitutional lawyer Obama is! What a moron you are!!
.Errr , re-read the article Joe. Far from being gone he is now selling wilderness down the pike. When you say move forward I read shut up and bend over.
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
Well, you're right, he's not gone yet. Let's just say I'm talking about January 2009.
Bush is determined to destroy this country entirely before he leaves office, or make it so difficult for his successor to stop the pillaging and raping. He has already done a fine job on the rest of the world.
Bush/Cheney crime family still needs to be hauled up before the World Court for crimes against humanity including theiir environmeental ones which are the destruction of Iraq and Afghanistan's environmeent with the Depleted Uranium they have carelessly used to also poison everyone and everything within hundreds of miles of their bombs. Americans included.
It is astonishing that these articles go ignored by the true believers taking power soon in Washington. Anything to do with Mother Earth rarely registers a burp on their thought meters. The self righteous go about their business of selfishly arranging more gluttonous consumption agendas. And the political elite of the status quo turn a blind eye. Besides the Dems and Republican corporate welfare agenda, what else do these sell outs do with their time?
the mighty xzorloc
We are to become one with ALL THINGS,
BY EATING THEM, AND BURNING THEM AND CONSUMING THEM IN OUR BELLIES.
IN THIS WAY WE BECOME ONE.
How to stop the end days Bush sell-offs and destruction?