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Ask Senator Allard to Support Roan Plateau
The Bureau of Land Management has issued its final decision on the management plan for the Roan Plateau, which will govern all uses of the land for 15 years or more. This decision will open the public lands in the area to leasing for oil and gas development, leading to industrialization across much of the landscape. But Congress can still act to protect this Colorado landmark. Our Senators can support the John Salazar/Mark Udall amendment to the Energy Bill, which includes a provision protecting the Roan. Writing to Senator Wayne Allard is a vital part of ensuring that the Roan Plateau is protected as a unique Colorado treasure and heritage site for future generations. A balanced approach can still prevail, but your help is needed. Please take a moment to take action below.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I appreciate your commitment to protecting Colorado's special places. I am writing to ask you to safeguard our treasured landscapes from rapidly expanding energy development, and to bring your attention in particular to a place deserving of action: Roan Plateau. Congressman John Salazar and Congressman Mark Udall recently added an amendment to the balanced energy bill that passed overwhelmingly in the US House of Representatives on August 4th. The Salazar/Udall amendment would stop the proliferation of drill rigs on the public lands on top of the Roan Plateau. I urge you to support this bill in the Senate to protect this Colorado Treasure. As you know, we are in the middle of a massive industrialization of our public and private lands, and drilling in Colorado is occurring at unprecedented rates. While I recognize the benefits of resource extraction, it is absolutely essential to the continued livelihood of our communities to protect our most sensitive and important places -- such as the Roan Plateau -- for their traditional uses, for their remarkable backcountry and undeveloped recreational settings, and for the wildlife and healthy watersheds they sustain. BLM is expected to lease the Roan Plateau to energy industries in the coming months, and you should be aware that a majority of Coloradans do not support this action. A recent poll was conducted by Talmey-Drake Research & Strategy, Inc., indicating: 71% of Colorado residents agree that wilderness-quality lands (such as those noted on the Roan Plateau) are more important for recreation, tourism, and wildlife than for energy development. Majority support was found across all geographical regions and party affiliations (85% Democrat support, 76% Independent support, and 52% Republican support). Over 98% of the comments received on the Draft EIS supported protection for the public lands atop Roan Plateau, and local governments from Garfield County and across the Western Slope have all urged that these public lands be managed for the other values and uses they provide. BLM's recent decision to immediately lease Roan Plateau's public lands does not reflect what the communities in Colorado have been asking for since the beginning of the planning process: protection of critical wildlife habitat on the top of the plateau while allowing for responsible development at the base. Please support the energy bill amendment in the Senate to make sure that the wishes of Colorado citizens are recognized, and the Roan Plateau is protected for future generations. Thank you for your service to the great state of Colorado.
Sincerely, |
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| 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 Roan is one of the top four biological hotspots in Western Colorado -- and 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. 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.
The Bureau of Land Management 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.
Last month, BLM issued their official Record of Decision (ROD) on its management plan for Roan Plateau, which will govern all uses for 15 years or more. This decision will lease the public lands in the planning area for oil and gas development, and would lead to drill rigs, well pads, roads, dusty truck traffic, and noisy compressors stations scattered across much of this pristine landscape.
More recently, Congressman John Salazar and Congressman Mark Udall proposed to Congress a funding limitation that would prohibit the Bureau of Land Management from leasing the Roan Plateau through September 2008. Unfortunately, this proposed amendment was never heard, as last minute political pressure kept the debate out of the public arena.
Time for Roan Plateau is running out, but it's not too late to take action!
BLM could begin leasing these public lands for oil and gas development this year, but the Senate can still 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. A balanced approach can still prevail, but your help is needed.
For more information on Roan Plateau, please visit SaveRoanPlateau.org.
