BLM Director Again Attempts to Drill Near Mesa Verde After Previous Denial DENVER—The Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Trevor Kincaid after learning that Colorado’s Bureau of Land Management Director Helen Hankins is attempting to reopen more than 10,000 acres near Mesa Verde National Park for industrial drilling operations. The area was previously removed from consideration after a cadre of park rangers wrote to Secretary Ken Salazar, whose Interior Department found the lease did not meet new reforms that were implemented in 2010. Hankins and Colorado BLM office have a record of pursing their own agenda and ignoring the need for balance in public lands decisions. It remains to be seen if her tactics will be permitted under Secretary Jewell’s leadership. “Helen Hankins is testing her boundaries with Secretary Jewell after being prohibited from opening pristine Mesa Verde wilderness to industrial drilling. We know that Hankins will pursue a ‘drill, baby, drill’ agenda unless checked, but we don’t know if Secretary Jewell will step in to impose a more responsible, equal ground approach that protects our land, water, and people, while allowing reasonable energy development where appropriate.” ### |
Jewell Must Rein in Colorado’s Rogue BLM Office
Issue: Oil & Gas
Subject: BLM, Colorado