Utahns speak out over oil leases
VERNAL — Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes stepped into the crosshairs Tuesday night of the fight over his boss' decision to cancel 77 oil and gas leases in Utah. He did it in the heart of the state's energy region.
"We know that the withdrawal of these leases has been an unsettling event," Hayes told an audience of nearly 800 people at the Western Park Convention Center in Vernal.
Hayes was in the Uintah Basin for a "listening session" with local leaders and the community. The trip was part of an agreement between Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, to review the secretary's cancellation of 77 oil and gas leases auctioned off by the Bureau of Land Management in December. The leases are the subject of several pending lawsuits in federal court.
"We don't really understand why these (leases) got pulled and we're asking you to take a critical review of a number of these leases," said Brad Boyce, executive vice president of Cirque Resources.
Boyce said the Denver-based energy firm successfully bid on three of the leases that were later canceled. He said the parcels were adjacent to other properties Cirque holds the mineral rights to and are not located near any national parks, which was one of the reason cited for Salazar's decision.
"When one reviews the facts of these leases it becomes apparent that these properties have been scrubbed by the BLM and were not part of any last ditch leasing effort by the Bush administration," Boyce said.
Bill Ryan, a founding member of Uintah County's Public Lands Committee and the owner of an energy consulting firm, said the primary concern for the industry extends beyond the 77 disputed leases. He said energy companies who bid on leases are required to pay bonuses on the parcels they win, money which is returned to the state and county of origin.
"When you, through an administrative decision, go ahead and pull these, it makes operators less willing to pay high bonus fees because they don't know for sure that they're going to actually enjoy the right that they thought they had won in a legal sale," Ryan said.
"You're creating an environment that is not friendly to some of the operators," he said. "It's a very dangerous thing that you guys have done."
Other speakers focused on the personal impact that the slow economy and Salazar's decision has had on their lives.
Cheryl Hemphill said she is battling breast cancer and her husband has been laid off from his oil-field job. The couple is facing mounting medical bills and may soon be forced to move in with one of their adult children.
"Obama got his presidency by saying, 'Change,' " Hemphill said, "but I'm lucky if I have any change left."
Recent comments
Mr. Hayes...........I am a resident of Vernal Utah and was at the...
gr8cologm | June 11, 2009 at 7:43 p.m.
Boo hoo: Mr. Hayes received one of those shirts as a gift last night...
basinboy56 | May 27, 2009 at 1:47 p.m.
Why do I hear tiny violin music? Obviously they need to look at all...
Boo Hoo | May 27, 2009 at 12:39 p.m.
- Utes turn attention to rivalry 7:53 p.m.
- Marine praised at memorial 7:50 p.m.
- Palin tour rekindles 2008 rancor 7:50 p.m.
- Machine explores Big Bang 7:48 p.m.
- McCain: PC played role in shootings 7:46 p.m.
- Fort Hood suspect to remain 7:45 p.m.
- Clock runs out on LSU 7:44 p.m.
- Williams lifts No. 16 Hokies 7:42 p.m.
- The Galaxy's pit bull 7:38 p.m.
- What others say about BYU vs. AFA 7:37 p.m.
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- Can BYU throw vs. Air Force?
- Cougars cruise to victory in Hawaii
- Huntsman blasts media over trip
- Christian leaders not backing down
- Murder-suicide in West Jordan
- TCU still has a chance
- Orem man acquitted in tot's death
- Religion cited in deportation fight
- Hall breaks BYU record with win
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
191 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
171 - BYU, Utah struck gold in coaches
124 - Lies shatter Utah family
123 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
122 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93 - Huntsman pleased with Obama
86
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
Bronco is the most predictable coach in football right now. I fear that Utah...
When you add up the number of citizens that receive either a Social Security...
Some of our fans were very unsportsman-like tonight. There was a lot of...
I've determined that Beck is controlled opposition. He's just aligning the...
Do we get "The Mountain" here on the planet Kolob. My wives are super excited...
Welcome to...7:08 The conclusion of the disintegration was November 4, 2008....
I am concerned about the lack of variety in the play calling. I am...
Vegas Bowl is on ESPN, and when you are snubbed from the BCS for your joke of...
Stuck in Provo | 7:10 p.m. Nov. 21, 2009 wrote: "It was a real treat...
Who would of thought that living close to a mine where they found uranium...


