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Most comments at BLM meetings support of canceling Thompson Divide leases

Colorado Trout Unlimited

The Bureau of Land Management is deciding what to do with dozens of oil and gas leases, including some on the Thompson Divide. The agency finished a series of public meetings this week to find out what residents want.

  The agency is looking at a range of options for how to manage dozens of leases, which are all on Forest Service land. The BLM’s preferred option at this time would cancel all or part of twenty five leases on the Thompson Divide. Public comments were taken this week in Glenwood Springs, DeBeque and Carbondale. Agency spokesman David Boyd said there was a noticeable trend. “More than 350 people, everyone that spoke, was in favor of canceling at least some leases,” he said after Wednesday’s gathering at Roaring Fork High School.

Boyd says representatives of the oil and gas industry were a no-show at the meeting in DeBeque, which is a more drilling-friendly community. Boyd is expecting lots of written comments from the industry instead. The BLM agency is getting feedback through early January, with a final decision by next fall.

 

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