Sign UFORMP-Polis Consistency Review - Citizens for a Healthy Community

Please check the box below if you agree to the following comments. A check in the box is required in order to submit the form to Governor Polis. *

Dear Governor Polis,

Re: BLM Uncompahgre Field Office Final Resource Management Plan/ FEIS Inconsistent with North Fork Valley and Colorado Vision for the Future

I am writing to you today because the North Fork Valley is a leader in renewable energy, small scale, resilient, organic and sustainable agriculture, and outdoor recreation. It is a thriving rural economy in transition away from a 100-year history in coal extraction and has become a model for other communities. It is also extremely susceptible to climate change, and we are ground zero for drought contingency planning in an aridifying west.

As such, the North Fork Valley is also leading the way in consistency with and achieving state policies and goals:
• HB 1261, which sets 5, 10, and 20 year targets to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sources;
• SB 181 which prioritizes the protection of public health, safety, welfare, the environment and wildlife, over oil and gas development;
• Colorado’s Water Plan which ensures continued viability of irrigated agriculture; and
• Colorado’s interest in maintaining a diverse, sustainable, and resilient economy.

Unfortunately, the Bureau of Land Management has a different view of the North Fork Valley. It sees the North Fork Valley as resources to extract; not as resources and values worth protecting. The BLM’s Final Proposed Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan (RMP) opens 95% of the federal mineral estate to oil and gas leasing, while eliminating stipulations intended to mitigate impacts and protect other valuable resources. The RMP is antithetical to State policies designed to ensure Colorado remains the great, beautiful state that it is, and a magnet for attracting extraordinary talent.

With a thorough review of the RMP, I believe that you will find that this RMP proposes unsafe and environmentally unsound oil and gas activity in the 2nd most geologically unstable corridor in the state. You will also find that this RMP is not only inconsistent with Colorado laws and regulations, but that it will derail Colorado policies at a critical time. The BLM has ignored over 42,000 public comments, and recommendations by state and local governments and the environmental community intended to protect the irreplaceable ecosystem present in the North Fork Valley. I respectfully request that you ask the BLM to revise this RMP to be consistent with our laws and policies, as well as our vision for the future.

In addition, I would like to add that the BLM submitted an entirely new Alternative E, that was not the subject of public comment as its preferred alternative and final proposed RMP. This is in violation of federal environmental law.

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DEAR GOVERNOR POLIS

The Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan is inconsistent with Colorado’s new statutory changes to put people, the environment and climate FIRST.

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DEAR GOVERNOR POLIS

The Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan is inconsistent with Colorado’s new statutory changes to put people, the environment and climate FIRST.

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