May 15, 2007 7:13 pm US/Mountain
Salazar, Udall Want To Suspend Roan Development
Prepared for cbs4denver.com by Matthew J. Buettner, Web Producer.
DENVER (AP) ―
-
-
Congressman John Salazar (File)
CBS4
-
-
Congressman Mark Udall (File)
Democratic Colorado Reps. Mark Udall and John Salazar are calling for a one-year time-out for oil and gas exploration on top of the Roan Plateau, saying the federal government needs more time to gather public comment and study alternatives.
The two men are asking Congress to delay funding for the Bureau of Land Management for a year to prevent new development projects in the meantime.
Udall says he's not trying to stop development, but rather delay it long enough to make sure alternatives are reviewed.
Environmental groups sought the delay, claiming that more exploration would cause serious damage to wildlife habitat.
A spokesman for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association has not returned a phone call seeking comment.
The plateau is about 200 miles west of Denver and is home to some of Colorado's largest elk and deer herds, mountain lions, bears, peregrine falcons and genetically important native cutthroat trout.
State wildlife officials say the area generates an estimated $5 million a year for the local economy from hunting, fishing and wildlife watching.
And the Colorado Oil and Gas Association says it holds enough natural gas for 4 million homes for the next 20 years.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
