[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Protecting Paonia’s water supply and wildlife” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
Protecting Paonia’s Water Supply and Wildlife<\/h1>\n
In addition to the above victory, we’re challenging\u00a0another reckless plan in this area, a 146-well Bureau of Land Management master development plan 30 miles northeast of Paonia in Colorado’s Bull Mountain Unit.\u00a0The plan\u00a0allows for the construction of up to 33 new well pads, 146 new natural gas wells, and four new wastewater disposal wells on 19,670 acres of federal and private subsurface minerals.<\/p>\n
This project is in the middle of three critical watersheds, which provide drinking and irrigation water down valley to residents and farmers who supply the Western Slope and the Front Range with\u00a0high-quality food.\u00a0The industrialization of this landscape would also have significant and long-lasting negative impacts on elk and mule deer, ecosystem\u00a0health and hunting.<\/p>\n
The BLM failed to include a reasonable range of alternatives and\/or take a hard look at the proposal\u2019s cumulative impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act. We aim to force the agency to consider all<\/strong><\/em> the impacts of oil and gas drilling in this area — not just the ones they pick and choose.<\/p>\n In November 2018, the BLM deferred all new leasing in the North Fork Valley until the Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan is completed, thanks in part to our protests, advocacy from Gov. Hickenlooper and Sen. Bennet, and the state of Colorado, Town of Paonia, and Gunnison County.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#f1f3f2″ allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”30px||30px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding_tablet=”30px||40px|”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Partners” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related Documents” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Staff” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n Kyle Tisdel: Bio<\/a> | Docket<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding_tablet=”30px||40px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Project Updates” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog admin_label=”Latest 5 Posts” fullwidth=”on” posts_number=”5″ show_thumbnail=”off” show_content=”off” show_more=”off” show_author=”off” show_date=”off” show_categories=”off” show_comments=”off” show_pagination=”on” offset_number=”0″ use_overlay=”off” background_layout=”light” use_dropshadow=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” include_categories=”103″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]<\/p>\n 2017.02.24-KSNM Intervene OR Mtn and Memo.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n 2017.02.24-KSNM Intervene Memo.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n President Clinton designated the Klamath-Siskiyou National Monument in 2000. It is the first and only national monument specifically established to Soon after, a timber company and the Association of O&C Counties, keen on logging, filed separate lawsuits suggesting an obscure law requires the area be logged and supersedes the Antiquities Act, used to designate and expand the monument. They’re wrong, and we’re representing the Soda Mountain Wilderness Council, Klamath-Siskiyou Wild, Oregon Wild, and the Wilderness Society, defending the monument from this industry attack.<\/p>\n (WELC project #484)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]<\/p>\n ltr re EOI policy.5.17.13.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n CHC Letter to BLM Re 2-13 Lease Sale 01.25.13 FINAL.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n FS_letter_withdrawing_CE__8-7-14.PDF<\/a><\/p>\n Feb. 2013 Lease Sale Protest FINAL.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n Comments To BLM on North Fork Valley Lease Sale 2.8.2012.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Located on the western slope of Colorado, surrounded by tall peaks and bordered by the Black Canyon National Park,\u00a0the fertile North Fork Valley is famous for its organic agriculture and vineyards. The Valley’s namesake, the North Fork of the Gunnison River, a tributary to the Colorado River, <\/span>allows for this abundance. These waters also attract fly fishers, boaters, and wildlife enthusiasts. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On December 9, 2011, the Bureau of Land Management (<\/span>BLM) announced plans to lease 22 parcels (nearly 30,000 acres) of public land encircling this valley to oil & gas developers. The parcels encompass\u00a0springs that provide the community’s drinking and agricultural water supply, and entire mountains used for recreation. The parcels are directly adjacent to organic farms, ranches and schools. (Note: 77% of Colorado’s apples and 71% of it’s peaches come from family farms in the North Fork Valley.)<\/p>\n Aware that the proposed oil & gas development would destroy North Fork’s unique landscape and threaten their livelihood, the community fought back with public hearings, rallies, concerts \u2013 anything to raise awareness and get folks engaged.<\/p>\n Victory! Working hand-in-hand with the local grassroots all volunteer group\u00a0Citizens for a Healthy Community, WELC\u00a0created an administrative record so impressive that on May 2, 2012, BLM announced<\/a> it would defer the lease of all 22 parcels!<\/p>\n However, the fight to protect this valley is not over. The leases were not cancelled, just deferred, and the vicinity remains open to natural gas exploitation. As such, we will remain vigilant in our efforts to protecting this valley and our public lands from irresponsible oil and gas development.<\/p>\n Update November 2012 – We are back in high gear. The Bureau of Land Management announced plans to move forward with controversial plans to lease more than 20,000 acres of land in western Colorado’s North Fork Valley for oil and gas development.\u00a0<\/span>The leases on 20 parcels will be offered in a February oil and gas lease sale, <\/span><\/a>the BLM said in a release announcing the lease sale of 198 parcels totaling 15,000 acres across the state.<\/span>\u00a0(This is down from 30,000 acres orginally proposed but the effect on the community would still be devastating.)<\/p>\n Update December 2012 – To protect the communities\u2019 drinking and agricultural water supply, clean air, and thriving rural economy, we\u00a0submitted a formal protest<\/span><\/a>\u00a0with the BLM Colorado State Office seeking removal of all public lands in the North Fork Valley scheduled to be sold in the February 2013 oil and gas lease sale. The BLM has 60 days to rule on our petition. If denied, we will go to court to stop this irresponsible gas fracking project.<\/p>\n Update February 2013 Victory! – BLM\u00a0announced the deferral<\/span><\/a> of all 20 parcels in the North Fork Valley from the February 2013 oil and gas lease sale. In a release, the agency announced that the parcels would be addressed through ongoing planning efforts at the local BLM Uncompahgre Field Office.<\/p>\n Update February 6, 2013 Victory! – BLM withdrew the oil & gas drilling project in the rural communities of Colorado’s North Fork Valley! Now, we will focus our attention on permanently protecting these communities’ critical resources.<\/p>\n 6\/14\/13: \u00a0Victory! U.S. Forest Service Withdraws Drilling Approval in Gunnison National Forest. In response to our legal advocacy, the U.S. Forest Service has announced that it is withdrawing its decision to approve an oil and gas drilling permit in Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest near the headwaters of the Gunnison River. This is an important win in our efforts to protect Colorado’s North Fork Valley.<\/p>\n 1\/31\/14: BLM is again attempting to drill in the Gunnison National Forest without the proper environmental analysis. We filed suit in District Court to protect the headwaters of the North Fork of the Gunnison River and the downstream farming communities that depend on clean water for their farms, ranches, and families.<\/p>\n 1\/20\/15: Victory! The U.S. Forest Service withdraws oil and gas drilling approval in the Gunnison National Forest, headwaters of the North Fork Valley. We filed the lawsuit because the Forest Service had approved oil and gas development in the region in a piecemeal, project-by-project fashion without conducting a cumulative impacts analysis of all the approved drilling projects on the region\u2019s water and air quality, wildlife, and down-river communities. We celebrate this victory as we have settled the lawsuit after the government agrees to conduct a comprehensive environmental analysis of the drilling project. The settlement requires the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land (WELC project #631, 656, 657, 659, and 688)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Protecting Colorado’s North Fork Valley from Reckless Fracking Located on the western slope of Colorado, surrounded by tall peaks and bordered by the Black Canyon National Park,\u00a0the fertile North Fork Valley, named for the branch of the Gunnison River, is famous for its organic agriculture and vineyards. But for many years the Bureau of Land […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":5597,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" ltr re EOI policy.5.17.13.pdf<\/a><\/p> CHC Letter to BLM Re 2-13 Lease Sale 01.25.13 FINAL.pdf<\/a><\/p> FS_letter_withdrawing_CE__8-7-14.PDF<\/a><\/p> Feb. 2013 Lease Sale Protest FINAL.pdf<\/a><\/p> Comments To BLM on North Fork Valley Lease Sale 2.8.2012.pdf<\/a><\/p><\/div> Located on the western slope of Colorado, surrounded by tall peaks and bordered by the Black Canyon National Park,\u00a0the fertile North Fork Valley is famous for its organic agriculture and vineyards. The Valley's namesake, the North Fork of the Gunnison River, a tributary to the Colorado River, <\/span>allows for this abundance. These waters also attract fly fishers, boaters, and wildlife enthusiasts. \u00a0<\/span><\/p> On December 9, 2011, the Bureau of Land Management (<\/span>BLM) announced plans to lease 22 parcels (nearly 30,000 acres) of public land encircling this valley to oil & gas developers. The parcels encompass\u00a0springs that provide the community's drinking and agricultural water supply, and entire mountains used for recreation. The parcels are directly adjacent to organic farms, ranches and schools. (Note: 77% of Colorado's apples and 71% of it's peaches come from family farms in the North Fork Valley.)<\/p> Aware that the proposed oil & gas development would destroy North Fork's unique landscape and threaten their livelihood, the community fought back with public hearings, rallies, concerts \u2013 anything to raise awareness and get folks engaged.<\/p> Victory! Working hand-in-hand with the local grassroots all volunteer group\u00a0Citizens for a Healthy Community, WELC\u00a0created an administrative record so impressive that on May 2, 2012, BLM announced<\/a> it would defer the lease of all 22 parcels!<\/p> However, the fight to protect this valley is not over. The leases were not cancelled, just deferred, and the vicinity remains open to natural gas exploitation. As such, we will remain vigilant in our efforts to protecting this valley and our public lands from irresponsible oil and gas development.\u00a0<\/p> Update November 2012 - We are back in high gear. The Bureau of Land Management announced plans to move forward with controversial plans to lease more than 20,000 acres of land in western Colorado's North Fork Valley for oil and gas development.\u00a0<\/span>The leases on 20 parcels will be offered in a February oil and gas lease sale, <\/span><\/a>the BLM said in a release announcing the lease sale of 198 parcels totaling 15,000 acres across the state.<\/span>\u00a0(This is down from 30,000 acres orginally proposed but the effect on the community would still be devastating.)\u00a0<\/p> Update December 2012 - To protect the communities\u2019 drinking and agricultural water supply, clean air, and thriving rural economy, we\u00a0submitted a formal protest<\/span><\/a>\u00a0with the BLM Colorado State Office seeking removal of all public lands in the North Fork Valley scheduled to be sold in the February 2013 oil and gas lease sale. The BLM has 60 days to rule on our petition. If denied, we will go to court to stop this irresponsible gas fracking project.<\/p>Partners<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\nRelated Documents<\/h2>\n
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Staff<\/h3>\n
Project Updates<\/h2>\n
\nprotect biological diversity. But ecologists agreed after the designation that many of the most important parts of the region were excluded from the monument’s boundaries. In 2015, 85 scientists concerned about increasing
\nthreats to the area signed a letter urging monument expansion in to better
\nprotect and connect important habitats for the monument\u2019s spectacular variety
\nof plants and animals \u201cwhose survival in the region,\u201d according the monument\u2019s
\noriginal proclamation, \u201cdepends upon its continued ecological integrity.\u201d In January 2017, President Obama expanded the monument to include these ecologically important areas.<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/KSNM-thumb.jpg\")
<\/div>\n
\nManagement to conduct a joint environmental analysis of the drilling
\nproject and to make that analysis available to the public for review and
\ninput.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n