The Roan Plateau in Western Colorado is currently threatened by a federal proposal to allow the drilling of thousands of new natural gas wells. Last September, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and proposed management plan. The plan emphasizes oil and gas development over the Roan Plateau's other public and traditional uses, to the degree that other uses, including substantial environmental protection and preservation, will be irrevocably compromised. Rock The Earth, elected state officials, and other organizations submitted formal protest documents in October 2006. These documents specify how the plan does not meet legal and technical standards, or reflect reasonably available approaches for satisfying community stakeholder demands for multiple uses of the land, including environmental protection required to preserve sustainability of these multiple uses. Despite these formal protests, on June 8, 2007, BLM issued its Record of Decision (ROD), unchanged from the proposed plan issued in September 2006, which would immediately open up most of the Roan Plateau's public lands to oil and gas leasing and development.

The flight is not over, and you can help. In May, John Salazar and Mark Udall, Colorado members of the U.S. House of Representatives, publicly called upon BLM to impose a one-year moratorium on oil and gas exploration on top of the Roan Plateau, and to reopen the plan to reconsider alternative land management strategies that will best meet the demands of all stakeholders. They submitted to Congress a request to block funding, effectively prohibiting BLM from leasing the Roan Plateau through September 2008. This funding limitation request must still be passed as part of the Department of Interior's appropriations bill, and -- once enacted -- would only prohibit leasing of Roan Plateau for one fiscal year. Nonetheless, this is a tremendous step toward permanent protection of the Roan Plateau's unmatched open spaces, critical habitat, backcountry, and wilderness-quality lands. Please contact your Representative and Senators to let them know you support wilderness protection for the Roan Plateau and the one-year moratorium proposed by Congressmen Mark Udall and John Salazar. Rock The Earth supports this effort and, in collaboration with Colorado Environmental Coalition and associated organizations, is considering alternatives to address the issue should the congressional measure fail.

What's So Important About the Roan?

Near the city of Rifle, the Roan Plateau towers more than 3,000 feet above the Colorado River valley. Atop the Plateau are quiet trout streams, dramatic box canyons, and the East Fork waterfall, one of Colorado's tallest. Recognized by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program as one of the most biologically diverse areas on the Western Slope, the Roan Plateau provides outstanding habitat for fish, wildlife and rare plant species. This ecologically sensitive area is home to prized deer and elk herds and one of the purest strains of native trout in the world, the Colorado River Cutthroat Trout.

The Roan Plateau also offers world-class recreation opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, fishing and camping. Hunting on the Roan Plateau alone is estimated to generate almost $4 million annually. Preserving the natural beauty of Colorado helps diversify local economies and helps ensure long-term economic vitality.

More Drilling Is Not the Answer

Energy development on the top and cliffs of the Roan Plateau is not necessary. Although significant quantities of natural gas underlie the plateau, the vast majority is accessible from public lands already open to drilling. In fact, half of the land in the planning area is already leased or owned by the energy industry, and current well density at the base of the plateau is the highest in the nation. If the BLM forced lessees to use currently available industry-standard directional drilling technology, no disturbance of the top and cliffs of the plateau, nor the ecologically sensitive areas at the base of the cliffs, would be necessary to economically assess and produce gas reserves lying underneath theses areas.

The BLM has been under tremendous pressure from the Bush administration and industry to open additional land in the Roan Plateau area to massive energy drilling. Despite the fact that more than 98% of roughly 75,000 comments submitted on the draft EIS supported greater protection for the Roan Plateau, the BLM's proposed management plan would lease nearly all of the public lands in the planning area for oil and gas development, including the top and cliffs of the plateau and the important ecologically sensitive areas at the base of the plateau.

Oil and gas development is being facilitated at the expense of the area's important natural resources and potential for wilderness designation. The EIS admits that outfitters and big game will be displaced and that some areas of high-quality wildlife habitat would be irretrievably lost or permanently altered. The EIS also admits that future oil and gas development will eliminate wilderness characteristics in areas that were previously found to be suitable for wilderness designation. Many organizations involved with the Campaign to Save Roan Plateau, including Rock the Earth, filed formal protests of the proposed management plan and urged the BLM to protect key natural areas on the top and cliffs. Citizens have also proposed roughly 40,000 acres of the plateau for wilderness protection. In May, U.S. Congressmen Mark Udall and John Salazar publicly called upon BLM to impose a one-year moratorium on oil and gas exploration on top of the Roan Plateau.

You Can Make a Difference

Your help is needed to safeguard this special place for generations to come and ensure that any development is compatible with local communities and the environment. You can learn more by checking out the Campaign's website at www.SaveRoanPlateau.org. If you live in the state of Colorado, please contact your Representative and Senators to let them know you support wilderness protection for the Roan Plateau and the one-year moratorium proposed by Congressmen Mark Udall and John Salazar.

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