Moab trails at risk from proposed drilling

I'm not sure whether the IMBA are exaggerating the threat here, but it
sounds pretty bad.

http://www.imba.com/news/action_aler...ab_leases.html

[reproduced here in full, see additional note at bottom]

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Famous Moab Trails Put at Risk by Drilling Leases
Action Alert

For Immediate Release
10-12-08
Contact: Mark Eller, IMBA Communications Directort
[email elided so as to avoid contributing to Mr. Eller's spam volume]
303-545-9011

IMBA urges mountain bikers to help preserve some of Moab's most famous
trails. A new Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plan would lease land
parcels for oil and gas extraction near iconic trails such as
Porcupine Rim, Amasa Back, Barlett Wash and Tusher Canyon, turning
sections of trail into heavily used access roads. IMBA respects the
need for domestic energy production, but believes Moab is better
served by protecting its world-class recreational assets.

If these parcels are leased and put into production, the BLM will be
required to provide adequate access in the form of roads capable of
accommodating trucks and other large vehicles. Parts of these roads
would be located on or near some of Moab's most famous mountain biking
trails.

IMBA believes the BLM should balance the need for energy production
with the benefits of recreation and tourism. Please tell BLM officials
to protect mountain biking and Moab's sustainable recreation economy
by withdrawing parcels near Porcupine Rim, Amasa Back, Barlett Wash
and Tusher Canyon. The deadline for comments is Dec. 3.

Use the following official protest letter to file your comments. This
form must be used for correspondence with the BLM regarding this issue
and cannot be emailed. It must be mailed or faxed. The address is
attached and the fax number is 801-539-4237. Due to the high volume of
faxes received by the BLM on protest deadline days, we encourage you
to send you comments well in advance of the deadline.

Remember, too, that IMBA's Legal Advocacy Fund provides vital
resources for protecting mountain bike access.

---
November XX, 2009
[BLM MUST RECEIVE PROTEST BY DEC. 3, 2008]
Bureau of Land Management
Utah State Office
PO Box 45155
Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0155

FAX 801.539.4237

December 19, 2008 Lease Parcels: 180, 181,182, 183, 184, 185, 186,
196, 197 200, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225

Pursuant to 43 C.F.R. 3120.1-3, please accept this letter of protest
regarding the proposed lease sale of the above noted parcels. I
respectfully request that these parcels be withdrawn from the December
19, 2008 sale, for the following reasons:

I am a resident of ____________, ________. I have been to Moab/am
planning to visit Moab, and have specific concerns about BLM's
upcoming oil and gas lease sale in Utah.

Moab's Recreation Economy Part A: I understand that the recently
released Moab Resource Management Plan (RMP) includes specific
reference to the Colorado Riverway Special Recreation Management Area
(SRMA) which includes both the Porcupine Rim Trail and the Amasa Back
Trail. The existence of this SRMA requires that the following parcels
be defered as access to these parcels will violate the Visual Resource
Management Objectives set forth in the RMP. Further, the loss of these
two trails would greatly reduce my desire to visit Moab. Parcel
numbers: 200, 217, 218, 219, 221, and 223

Moab's Recreation Economy Part B: Tusher Canyon and Barlett Wash are
both designated Mountain Bike Areas within the BLM Resource Management
Plan and are closed to motorized travel except on designated
routes. Oil and gas activity in this area will greatly detract from
the desirability of these trails. The RMP does not include a
site-specific analysis that addresses the impacts of oil and gas
development included in these lease sale parcels. The BLM must conduct
site-specific analysis before making these areas available for oil and
gas leasing. Parcel numbers: 180, 181,182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 196,
and 197

Moab Water Quality: I am concerned about the health and safety of both
residents and visitors to Moab if drilling is allowed within the Moab
Aquifer. The RMP specifically states that there will be no exceptions
for oil and gas development within an aquifer. Parcel numbers: 224,
225

Parcels contiguous to Arches National Park: Due to the physical
constraints of Moab's unique topography the only access to these
parcels would be through Arches National Park. Therefore, I request
that these parcels be deferred. Parcel numbers: 217, 218

BLM acknowledges that the potential for oil and gas production is low
in these areas, so why allow permanent scars of access roads and
development to tarnish the landscape that provide a high quality of
life to residents of Grand County and that visitors from around the
world come to enjoy? A large portion of the Moab economy will be at
risk if these parcels are not deferred. The BLM has discretionary
authority to approve or disapprove mineral leasing of public lands. We
request that the above listed parcels be withdrawn from the December
19, 2008, lease sale, and that these parcels not be re-offered in
future lease sales.

Sincerely,

NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER

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Some of the parcels have already been pulled, according to a
Washington Post article on the subject:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/25/AR2008112502347.html

.... but NOT ALL OF THEM. So I'd suggest writing anyway.
--
_+_ From the catapult of |If anyone objects to any statement I make, I am
_|70|___=}- J.D. Baldwin |quite prepared not only to retract it, but also
\ / |to deny under oath that I ever made it.-T. Lehrer
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