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Congressmen John Salazar and Mark Udall take Action on Roan Plateau
Thank Our Congressmen for Protecting Roan Plateau Congressmen John Salazar and Mark Udall, Colorado members of the U.S. House of Representatives, recently requested a funding limitation that would prohibit the Bureau of Land Management from leasing the Roan Plateau, through September 2008. Please take the time to thank the Congressmen for their leadership in protecting Roan Plateau with the form below.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Thank you, for your decision to support a time-out on leasing the top of Roan Plateau. As constituents we appreciate your commitment to protecting this Colorado treasure through seeking a funding limitation to halt the development of one of our most important places for wildlife. The overwhelming support over the past five years for the Roan Plateau by area governments, thousands of citizens, and wildlife, recreation, and conservation groups have reflected my sentiments all along that we need to protect Roan Plateau for current and future enjoyment. This is the right thing to do and I applaud your courage and vision in finding balanced political solutions in Western Colorado. Your Commitment to our way of life reflects the leadership we need to protect our cherished resources in Western Colorado.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
TIME FOR ROAN PLATEAU IS RUNNING OUT! Act quickly to help save the Roan Plateau!
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Intensive gas development on public and private lands at the base of the Roan Cliffs is already well underway. A similar fate could yet befall the undeveloped top of the plateau. © 2003, Colorado Environmental Coalition |
The Roan Plateau is a magical place of deep canyons, quiet trout streams, and expansive meadows. The Plateau is one of the top four biological hotspots in Western Colorado -- the only one without protections. Extractive industries have targeted the resources under and around the Roan Plateau, and indeed, about half of the Roan Plateau area is already either owned or leased by the oil and gas industry, where development is already underway. In addition, under any plan considered, about half the public lands in the area would be open to drilling. These lands provide an oasis of natural land in a landscape of expanding gas development. Keeping it that way would be a balanced approach that respects environmental and sustainable economic values while still allowing for reasonable resource extraction.
UPDATE:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing to issue a decision on the Plateau's first-ever management plan, which -- once a management plan is enacted -- will govern all uses for 15 years or more. As written the Final Environmental Impact Statement and proposed management plan, released in September 2007, would lease all of the public lands in the planning area for oil and gas development, and would likely lead to the industrialization of most of the landscape. Many organizations involved with the Campaign to Save Roan Plateau filed formal protest of the final EIS with the BLM. Upon resolution of those protests, BLM is expected to issue a Record of Decision.
BLM has been under tremendous pressure from Washington and industry to open up the area to massive drilling. But throughout the planning process, that has been consistently countered by the voice of tens of thousands of citizens, local governments across the county and region, and newspapers across the state, all supporting protection for the top of the Plateau.
TIME FOR ROAN PLATEAU IS RUNNING OUT!
BLM could begin leasing these public lands for oil and gas development this year. But Congress can act to protect this incredible place, just as it recently did with public lands in New Mexico and Montana. The Roan Plateau would much better serve as a place to hunt, fish, hike and enjoy the natural wonders of Colorado's backcountry.
For more information on Roan Plateau, please visit SaveRoanPlateau.org.
