Several coastal states have used the congressionally-imposed federal leasing moratorium for about 30 years to keep oil and gas activity away from their shores. Colorado now seems perfectly willing to use it onshore.
Democrats in the state's congressional delegation inserted a provision into the fiscal 2008 budget reconciliation act in December which suspends federal oil shale leasing for a year. The US Senate voted to extend the delay through fiscal 2009 on March 13 in its latest budget bill.
That same day, Assistant US Interior Secretary C. Stephen Allred told Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. that the US Bureau of Land Management is incorporating concepts Ritter proposed in December into BLM's management plan for the Roan Plateau on the state's Western Slope.
This includes placing 38,470 acres, or more than half the federal acreage on the plateau, off-limits to surface disturbance and scheduling development in phases to assure that no more than 1%, or approximately 350 acres, of the remaining federal land's surface disturbed would be at any one time, Allred said.
State would participate
"BLM will continue to work closely with the State of Colorado on implementing the plan. Also, we continue our offer to fund state employees to be co-located with our employees to provide implementation oversight," he said in a letter to the governor.
Ritter responded that he appreciated the time DOI and BLM took to consider his proposal. "However, I strongly disagree with and am disappointed in the department's decision not to pursue phased leasing and not to expand areas that would be off-limits," he said.
He called his plan "a uniquely Colorado solution" which struck a good balance that would benefit the state's economy, communities and energy industry while minimizing environmental impacts. "Our plan to pursue phased leasing received strong support from a broad spectrum of stakeholders," he said.
Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) said that it was clear BLM would have to reopen its record of decision for the Roan Plateau management plan when he and Rep. John Salazar (D-Colo.) asked the agency to consider Ritter's proposal in December.
'Just a charade'
"BLM's refusal to do so is deeply disappointing because it means a refusal to properly fulfill what the Bush Administration should, but evidently does not, recognize as its obligation to the people of Colorado. The administration's decision leads me to question whether or not granting the additional time for comments was just a charade," he said on March 13.
"I will do all I can to stop the federal government and I will not let them turn Colorado's West Slope into a sacrificial zone for unimpeded oil and gas development. Their 'drill under every rock approach' will degrade the long-term economy and natural wonder of the Western Slope," maintained Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.).
Ritter said that the state would begin discussing possible legislative alternatives with its congressional delegation. Salazar and Udall separately said they are ready to act, raising the possibility of a second onshore leasing moratorium in Colorado.
Contact Nick Snow at [email protected]