{"id":48812,"date":"2021-02-04T12:20:44","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T19:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/bidens-oil-and-gas-pause-halts-lease-sales-around-hd-mountains\/"},"modified":"2021-02-04T19:20:44","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T19:20:44","slug":"bidens-oil-and-gas-pause-halts-lease-sales-around-hd-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/bidens-oil-and-gas-pause-halts-lease-sales-around-hd-mountains\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden\u2019s oil and gas pause halts lease sales around HD Mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"David
David Honea, left, and Patrick Delaney, residents near the HD Mountains east of Bayfield, discuss in October the effects of proposed natural gas drilling in the area. President Joe Biden\u2019s recent executive order to pause oil and gas lease sales has halted the sale of 10 parcels totaling more than 1,500 acres around the HD Mountains.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

President Joe Biden\u2019s temporary freeze on new oil and gas leases on public lands has halted the sale of 10 parcels totaling more than 1,500 acres around the HD Mountains, east of Bayfield.<\/p>\n

The Biden administration announced last week a range of executive orders aimed at addressing climate change and starting the process of phasing out fossil fuels, a promise he made on the campaign trail.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a narrow moment to pursue action at home and abroad in order to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of (the climate crisis),\u201d the executive order reads. \u201cWe must listen to science to meet the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the orders, all new oil and gas leasing on public lands is indefinitely paused to allow time for a \u201ccomprehensive review and reconsideration of oil and gas permitting and leasing practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

The review will also consider adjusting royalty fees for oil and gas, which are about $2 an acre and haven\u2019t been updated for decades. The order does not apply to tribal lands.<\/p>\n

For Southwest Colorado, Biden\u2019s temporary freeze puts off the contested sale of 10 parcels, which cover 1,561 acres, in the HD Mountains.<\/p>\n

The parcels are on national forest lands, but because the Bureau of Land Management administers federal minerals, the sale of these leases is headed by the BLM.<\/p>\n

Multiple requests for comment in the past two weeks have not been returned by the BLM.<\/p>\n

\"The
The HD Mountains east of Bayfield provide critical winter habitat for deer and elk, and are home to an array of Native American cultural sites. The 35,000-acre mountain range also sits on top of a vast reserve of coal-bed methane, a form of natural gas.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"David
David Honea, left, and Patrick Delaney, residents near the HD Mountains east of Bayfield, discuss in October the effects of proposed natural gas drilling in the area. President Joe Biden\u2019s recent executive order to pause oil and gas lease sales has halted the sale of 10 parcels totaling more than 1,500 acres around the HD Mountains.<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The HD Mountains are a remote, hard-to-access landscape that serves as critical winter habitat for deer and elk, and is home to an array of Native American cultural sites, with Chimney Rock National Monument to the east.<\/p>\n

But the 35,000-acre mountain range also sits on top of a vast reserve of coal-bed methane, a form of natural gas, which for years has attracted the attention of oil and gas companies looking to extract the resource.<\/p>\n

In the 1990s, during the boom years of the oil and gas industry in La Plata County, residents rallied and waged a significant grassroots effort to push back on development in the HD Mountains.<\/p>\n

As the industry waned, a result of falling natural gas prices and companies finding cheaper places to drill, pressure to drill in the HD Mountains also abated. Because of those grassroots efforts and falling prices, there are only about 30 wells in the area.<\/p>\n

But in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the HD Mountains\u2019 reserves, which has also resulted in a resurgence of those grassroots efforts pushing back.<\/p>\n

For residents concerned about the environmental impacts of new drilling in the HD Mountains, Biden\u2019s announcement was welcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was nothing short of joy,\u201d said Patrick Delaney, a resident of the region since 1993. \u201cIt\u2019s a great win for us if it\u2019s going to amount to someone taking a look at the cumulative impact of what\u2019s going on out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

For many residents in the area, the concern extends beyond a single well being drilled. Instead, it\u2019s the associated infrastructure, such as roads and pipelines, that could compromise the entire landscape.<\/p>\n

Jimbo Buickerood with the conservation group San Juan Citizens Alliance pointed out many of the proposed parcels in the HD Mountains are near Chimney Rock National Monument, sacred grounds for Native Americans.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, we can slow down the process and take a look from the big picture,\u201d he said. \u201cAre we going to allow the industrialization of that area around Chimney Rock or are there other choices?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The
The twin spires at Chimney Rock National Monument. Some say drilling near the monument could be disruptive to visitors and night sky programs as well as disrespectful to ancient Pueblo people and their descendants.<\/span>Durango Herald file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Lynnis Steinert, treasurer for the Chimney Rock Interpretive Association but speaking on her own behalf, said previously that drilling close to the monument would be very disruptive.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do night sky programs because the area has been designated as dark sky,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have visitors from around the world who enjoy the peaceful landscape. I also think it is very disrespectful to the ancient Pueblo people and their descendants.\u201d<\/p>\n

While heralded by conservation and environmental groups, Biden\u2019s executive orders met backlash from the oil and gas industry, which says the move will hamstring the industry, result in job losses and disrupt the supply chain.<\/p>\n

Christi Zeller, who heads the Energy Council, a Southwest Colorado oil and gas advocacy group, said the second largest source of federal government income comes from bonus checks for leases and royalty checks on federal mineral development by the oil and gas industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe suspension of leasing decreases income for the government and job loss for thousands of contract employees or employees in the energy industry,\u201d she said. \u201cThankfully, the order does not restrict energy activities on private or state lands, or lands that the United States holds in trust or restricted status for tribes or individual (Native Americans).\u201d<\/p>\n

Zeller said the cost of Biden\u2019s ban will be staggering in his first term. She estimated the gross domestic product across eight western states would decline $33.5 billion, 58,676 jobs would be cut annually, wages would drop $15 billion, and state tax revenue would plummet $8.3 billion, with Wyoming and New Mexico hit the hardest.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresidents don\u2019t have authority to ban leasing on public lands,\u201d she said. \u201cAll Americans own the oil and natural gas beneath public lands, and Congress has directed the agencies to responsibly develop America\u2019s resources on their behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"President
President Joe Biden&#x2019;s temporary freeze puts off the sale of 10 parcels, which cover 1,561 acres, in the HD Mountains. Lynn Granger, executive director of the American Petroleum Institute-Colorado, said in a statement Biden&#x2019;s orders will have a damaging effect on the energy supply chain and result in the U.S. importing more fossil fuels.<\/span>Jonathan Romeo\/Durango Herald file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Proponents of Biden\u2019s executive orders, however, are quick to point out several key factors they say invalidate the oil and gas industry\u2019s claims.<\/p>\n

For one, the executive order does not affect existing leases or parcels previously leased but yet to be developed.<\/p>\n

BLM\u2019s records show about 26 million acres of federal land were under lease to oil and gas developers at the end of 2018. Of that, about 12.8 million acres are producing oil and gas, meaning 50% is still ripe for development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have a stash that\u2019s good for years,\u201d Buickerood said. \u201c(The oil and gas industry\u2019s claims) are so overblown right now. They have a tremendous amount of leased acreage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen Lachelt, a former La Plata County commissioner who now leads Western Leaders Network, a conservation group, said any time new reforms or regulations are proposed on oil and gas, the industry cries foul and threatens a total collapse.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery single time, without fail, the industry\u2019s response is the sky is falling,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s just so hollow. Their response has been completely predictable in my 30-plus years in working for reforms and better regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
A compressor station sits among rural homes east of Bayfield. President Joe Biden&#x2019;s executive order to temporarily pause new sales of oil and gas leases does not affect existing leases or parcels previously leased but yet to be developed.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Indeed, Lachelt and other supporters believe the order is the first meaningful step to reform fossil fuel extraction, whether that\u2019s adjusting royalty fees, changing the review process for new leases or drafting a transition plan to renewable energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bust has been here now for a long time,\u201d Lachelt said. \u201cThe pause helps states and fossil-fuel dependent communities figure out a transition plan. For our region, we need to create whole new industries.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there still may be a long way to go for any meaningful improvements to the environment, for residents around the HD Mountains, the temporary reprieve from any imminent drilling on the landscape they love is a moment to revel in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re absolutely delighted,\u201d said Terri Fitzgerald, a 50-year resident of the HD Mountains. \u201cWe thought the leasing around here is the most ridiculous thing in the world, and we\u2019ve been fighting the destruction of the HDs for years now.\u201d<\/p>\n

jromeo@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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