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Tell Congress to Protect Roan Plateau
Support Congressmen John Salazar and Mark Udall's funding limitation to prevent leasing on Roan Plateau The BLM has 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 industrialization across much of the landscape. But Congress can act now to Save Roan Plateau. Follow the instructions in the panel on the right to send the letter below to Congress today! We urge you to add your personal comments, reflections, and experiences to make your letter much more effective!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I appreciate your commitment to protecting Colorado's special places. I am writing today to urge that you support the Salazar/Udall Amendment to protect the Roan Plateau. This amendment is very important to our state, and has the support of a diverse and broad segment of Coloradans. As you know, energy development in Colorado is occurring at unprecedented rates and many communities in Colorado are facing a massive industrialization of area public and private lands. While I recognize the benefits of resource extraction to our state and nation, it is absolutely essential to the well-being of our state 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 their wildlife and healthy watersheds. Congress must also ensure that where and when energy development occurs that it not unduly impact our state's water resources, air quality, wildlife habitat, grazing and recreational lands. The Roan Plateau is a Colorado icon, cherished by local communities which have long favored protection for its backcountry, wildlife habitat, and watersheds, and have opposed drilling the public lands atop the Plateau. A recent poll conducted from May 1st to the 14th, by Talmey-Drake Research & Strategy, Inc., based on 617 random telephone interviews with Colorado residents, indicates that 71% 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). During the public comment period on the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management's draft plan for Roan Plateau, 98% of the comments received were against development on the Plateau. Local governments have passed several sets of resolutions opposing drilling and urging BLM to manage the top of the Plateau for the public uses for which it is already enjoyed. Governor Bill Ritter has also stated his support for the Salazar amendment. Thus, I urge you to support the Salazar/Udall amendment on Roan Plateau to allow the state of Colorado and local communities more time to consider and weigh in on this important decision. 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 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.
