Disclosure of companies raises more concerns about transparency and drilling on public lands The Center for Western Priorities today denounced the lack of disclosure of the companies trying to drill in Colorado’s North Fork Valley. Two of the three companies the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was forced to reveal yesterday—Contex Energy and Baseline Minerals—are middle-men with no intention of developing the oil and gas resources underlying the North Fork. “The BLM pulled back the curtain, only to reveal two shadow businesses speculating on our public lands. Western communities deserve to know which companies will actually drill for oil on nearby land, because the health and safety records of those companies are of tremendous importance,” said Greg Zimmerman, Policy Director with the Center for Western Priorities. “The unveiling of these bidders violates the spirit of the court’s decision, which stressed the importance of true public disclosure in the federal oil and gas leasing process. In February, U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch ruled that the public has the right to know the names of companies looking to drill for oil and gas on federal lands. In his ruling, Judge Matsch explained that the identity of companies informs the public “about the stewardship records of [potential drillers], a factor relevant to the environmental impact of the proposed sale.” “The continued lack of disclosure in this case is further proof that our leasing system favors oil and gas speculation over carefully planned and responsible leasing and development,” said Zimmerman. ### |
Shadow Bidders Undermine Transparency in North Fork Oil and Gas Controversy
Issue: Oil & Gas
Subject: Colorado