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In 2008, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a request to lease for oil and gas development thousands of acres of federal mineral rights within the Perins Peak State Wildlife Area, the BLM’s Perins Peak wildlife management area, and other lands surrounding Lightner Creek and Dry Fork. We collectively refer to this area as “Perins Peak wildlife area.” BLM also includes Animas Mountain within the defined Perins Peak wildlife management area, although Animas Mountain was not requested for leasing.
BLM declined to lease the lands in February, 2009, but anticipated the parcels will be leased at a future date once additional environmental reviews are completed.
The BLM’s pending San Juan Resource Management Plan indicates proposed stipulations that might be applied to these leases. These stipulations range from “standard” (no specific protective requirements) to “timing limitations” (avoiding drilling during winter big game season) to “no surface occupancy” (drilling beneath steep slopes from adjacent valleys). None of the lands would be placed administratively off-limits to mineral leasing. BLM’s position generally is that it must make available for lease any lands identified as such in its management plan, and cannot decline to lease unless leasing is specifically prohibited by law.
Residents of Durango and La Plata County have a specific interest in oil and gas development of Perins Peak because of the abundant recreation opportunities on Durango’s doorstep, wildlife habitat, and because the City has made significant public investments in purchasing open space properties – including Durango Mountain Park and Dalla Mountain Park – adjacent to BLM lands subject to mineral leasing.
In addition, Lightner Creek suffers from sediment loading that potentially impacts the Animas River fishery. The city and county are engaged in efforts to identify and mitigate the sources of this sediment loading, which would only be exacerbated by upstream disturbance associated with oil and gas exploration and development.
Fortunately, there is legislation currently under discussion that provides a template for permanent protection for Perins Peak. Rep. John Salazar’s proposed “San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act of 2009” includes a provision to similarly withdraw Naturita Canyon (the Town of Norwood’s water supply) from mineral development. This is a two-sentence provision that precludes mineral leasing, mineral patenting, or mineral activities within the specified area.
At the urging of San Juan Citizens Alliance, both Durango and La Plata County recently passed resolutions calling for similar protection of Perins Peak from potential oil and gas development. Specifically, both requested our congressional delegation take action to safeguard Perins Peak by passing legislation to prohibit the BLM from selling oil and gas leases under Perins Peak.
We are now working with the offices of Rep. John Salazar, Senator Mark Udall, and Senator Michael Bennett to move forward with permanent protection for Perins Peak.
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