- Montezuma County Commissioners reiterate their opposition to a Master Leasing Plan to further regulate oil and gas development on BLM lands, draft letter stating their position.
The Montezuma County commissioners reiterated their opposition Monday to a master leasing plan that would further regulate oil and gas development on some public lands in the county. The board voted 3 to 0 to approve a letter to be sent to the Bureau of Land Management, Congressman Scott Tipton, and others commenting on the idea of the MLP, which has been proposed to protect areas such as the Phil’s World bike trails and the Mesa Verde viewshed. County public lands coordinator James Dietrich reviewed the letter, which said the BLM’s existing management plan already offers high levels of protection. Dietrich said it calls for the agency to adopt “no surface occupancy” stipulations around Phil’s World but not to develop a master leasing plan. The county’s position is that it supports all economic sectors, including oil and gas. Commissioner Larry Don Suckla said there had been a request from the press for a copy of the letter, which was displayed on a large video screen in the meeting room. Attorney John Baxter said the board could do what it wanted regarding the request, and Commissioner Keenan Ertel said it should follow “standard protocol” for such documents. The board’s recently announced policy is that it does not make such documents available until the next week, after the minutes are approved, even if they have been voted on by the board.
