MANCOS – On Friday, there was not enough support on a citizen advisory council to recommend that the Bureau of Land Management pursue a master leasing plan for oil and gas development in eastern Montezuma and western La Plata counties.
“I think we are in agreement that an MLP is not warranted,” said Ernie Williams, a member of the Southwest Resource Advisory Council, and a Dolores County commissioner. “There are plenty of controls in the current BLM Resource Management Plan.”
Advisory council member James Dietrich, representing dispersed recreation, agreed that current BLM regulations allow for adequate protection of popular trails that concern the public.
“We want protection for our trails at Phil’s World, but there are ways to achieve that other than an MLP,” he said.
The majority of the advisory board’s 13 members at the meeting concluded an MLP was not necessary after a five-hour discussion at the Mancos Community Center.
However, it was not unanimous among the board – Colorado Parks and Wildlife and other environmental interests leaned toward supporting one.
“Our agency supports an MLP and believe it will benefit wildlife because it offers better protection and is more site-specific,” said advisory council member and wildlife official Renzo DelPiccolo.
The master leasing plan idea was floated by the Tres Rios BLM office early last year, triggering a series of community meetings over many months.
An master lease plan would create an additional layer of management to control oil and gas development on 36,000 acres of federal mineral estate in Montezuma County and 10,000 acres in La Plata County.
It doesn’t have support of the Montezuma County Commission, which has stated the current BLM and county regulations allow for adequate protection of resources valued by the community.
The Montezuma commission is instead advocating the BLM create an amendment to the Resource Management Plan for a “no-surface occupancy” stipulation for oil-and-gas development on the Phil’s World area, located on BLM land east of Cortez.
Public comment, totaling 350 pages, has been overwhelmingly in favor of an MLP, officials report. The common theme is that it is needed to protect popular trails, as well as and cultural and natural resources in the area, especially around Mesa Verde National Park.
During the meeting’s public comment period, Pete Eschallier, co-owner of Kokopelli Bike and Board in Cortez, gave a statement in support of the MLP proposal on behalf of 25 local businesses in Montezuma and La Plata counties.
“The proposed Tres Rios MLP will allow future and existing oil and gas leases to be planned in a responsible and effective way,” he said. “This plan can develop targeted stipulations for new leases and best management practices for drilling permits. Given the numerous resources within this landscape, there is high potential for conflict with leasing and drilling. The MLP process can, with stakeholder input, develop a thoughtful, balanced approach to managing oil and gas leasing and development.”
The advisory council agreed to recommend to the BLM that while a master lease plan is not warranted, special attention should be given to protecting recreation trails, and cultural and natural resources in Montezuma and La Plata counties.
They tabled drafting the resolution to recommend that sentiment to the BLM until a July or August meeting in Gunnison.
The BLM’s state office will have the ultimate say on whether an MLP will move forward. Officials said they expect the decision by this summer.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com