Reader comments
GAO launches probe into oil, gas drilling

With all of the problems facing our economy, you are woried that a chemical might ruin something, please go and find something better to do with your time and allow the people of Utah grow the economy and make the state a better place to live.

The Environmental Protection Agency is only a subversionary guise and an intricate financial regulating tool for the symbionic related Industrial Military Complex and the Big Oil companies. It enables them to eliminate competition while allowing them to control our Nations resources at will on any federal lands. They have the ability to use the power of the EPA to creat crisis and to manipulate supply and demand at will. We the public have been greatly duped by smoke screening us into thinking that the NEPA Act of 1969 was to protect the environment. Trillions of dollars were made by large Corporations who had Federal and Defense contracts just because of cost overruns alone when they were ordered to halt construction and do "so called" mandatory Environmental Impact assessments. They didn't have to pay for them. You and I paid Billions of Dollars for them. The EPA is a boon doggle...an absolute money maker to these people especially Big Oil and the guys who get these no bid Government Defense Contracts.....WAKE UP PEOPLE

Really, they are worried about stirring up dust when the citizens are worried about feeding their families!
I agree with South Utah County, this is a big scam. Simple cost/benefit analysis seems to show that although dust on some drawings may be unfortunate, the benefits of having oil drilling in Utah are much greater. I'm glad these BLM posts have some sort of ability to look at issues with some common sense rather than being totally bound by the disconnected Washington agencies.

Not to diminish the "value" of the paintings, but if you think about it, there is modern "grafiti" everywhere in big cities, on rocks, in caves, etc. which if it were found 10,000 years from now, people might want to preserve it as some valuable archeological find... when in fact it was just grafiti.
Sure, the paintings bring tourists in to view them, but takes some photos to document them, put up a shelter or casing to protect a select few, and then move forward with "life in the real world" to meet today's energy needs.
Who knows, perhaps some piece of equipment will be left behind after the wells run dry and in 10,000yrs the people were revere the site as historic and tourists will flock to see the "scrap iron" left behind.

What if they discovered oil under the Mormon Tabernacle? Drill baby drill?

National treasures must be preserved for your great grandchildren to appreciate, and their great grandchildren.

This is just about greed. A corporation making $millions profiting from our collective natural resources, but unwilling to do it in a way that is socially responsible because it may slightly reduce their profit margins.

You've got to remember that when Obama is elected he is great buddies with environmentalists which will probably bring ANY type of exploration to a standstill!
We never know also, if he will appropriate millions of acres of Utah for or a "national monument" like Wild Bill Clinton did.
And people wonder why Utah votes so heavily Republican!

Those of us who oppose Bill Barrett Corp's proposal are not necessarily saying they shouldn't be allowed to drill; they have valid gas leases on BLM land and the agency's mandate requires them to allow BBC to exercise it's rights to develop them. We are asking BBC and BLM to take a hard look at alternative routes to access the leases to avoid damaging the rock art in 9 Mile Canyon. Their draft EIS did not adequately look at alternative access routes which is required by law. We all drive cars and need energy; we only want to make sure that while we seek to develop energy that we protect the places we love and that will continue to generate tourist dollars long after the gas wells have gone dry.

You people don't seem to understand what 800 gas wells will look like. Each well (assuming that drilling is verticle and not directitonal) usually requires a 300 x 250 foot well pad. That will be 60000000 square feet (1 377.4 acres) of well pad area disturbance. That is not including new roads into their well pads. The company may be able to reduce their disturbance by directional drilling multiple wells from one pad but oil and gas companies rarely directional drill unless they are required to do so by federal regulations. Most wells have a lifespan of 30 years. When the thirty years are over most companies don't clean up their wells unless required to do so by law. Even when there are laws requiring cleanup, there are usually loopholes that allow companies to leave the wells for "future use." What eventually happens is that the wells degrade and pollute the ground water (where most people in rural Utah get their water). If you think that its bad when we have no gas for our cars, just wait until you have no pure water available!

Wouldn't it be the best use of our resources and money to just use these environmental whacko groups for fuel. As much hot air as they have we would solve two problems at once, reduce their emmisions into the atmosphere, and provide a renewable source of fuel to be burned for mankind.

Well, Kevin...what you fail to recognize is that the drill pads are temporary and are reduced to a very small area once the well is completed. With respect to reclamation (cleaning up) the law does require it and specific criteria that must be met are in place. The industry does not pollute ground water, there are specific requirements for protection established by the State and EPA. Your post is typically misleading and uninformed, nothing unusual for your type.

The fact remains, is that the energy industry is providing a service that even YOU must have. They do it in a responsible way and clean up wen they're done. They contribute to the communities where they work and pay billions of dollars annually in taxes both to the state and federal governments. I haven't seen the environmental groups do anything to help communities or contribute revenue to offset their demands for more lock ups of land.

Kevin, would you be so kind as to please send us a link to the peer-reviewed study that shows that development contaminates drinking water...oh what's that? The study doesnt exist? Before you claim that ALL development should cease, because that is what you want even though you wont say so, please provide documentation to prove your claims.

Tierrapappa, how in the world is your comment condusive to any contribution to this topic? Everyone prior (either for, or against) at least had a well thought out opinion concerning drilling and the preservation of a cultural treasue in 9 mi canyon. Maybe I'm missing something, do you have hard data on the energy output and emission of this "Hot Air" technology you speak of? ....geeze!!

Let's be thankful for the intervention of "two congressman who know nothing about oil and gas" exploration. The sarcastic comments submitted by readers are sometimes funny and nearly always display an ignorance and disregard for the environment and the law. This is just one example, albeit, it includes some 800 gas wells, of the arrogance of the Bush Adminstration and their contempt for the American people. It is also another example of the attitude of many large corporations and other businesses who belief it is their right to exploit and damage the environment in the interest of their bottom line. The attitude of BLM line staff is also disappointing but understandable. It began when Ronald Reagan declared the government the enemy and waged war against it everyday of his administration. George W. Bush has done the same thing exponentially while systematically eviscerating the Federal regulatory process. President Bush and those who still support his policies, seem to believe that the federal government is their personal lap dog and exists only to serve their needs which are invaribly based on greed and flagrantly self-serving

Concerning johnnylingo's waiting 10,000 years.It won't take that long before someone wants to preserve it as a valuable archeological find. The federal government says it only takes 50 years. So a fire pit my dad built as a kid when he was camping is considered an archeological site and is off limits to future development. An example of environmentalists gone amok.

Yes, let's be thankful to Congressmen who know nothing about energy development. Also, let's be thankful to people like Patrick Johnson who would rather ignore the safeguards in place to justify his weak views. The energy industry is the most highly regulated industry on the face of the planet. Federal regulations have not been eviscerated, despite public belief. In fact, due to increased regulations designed to make companies seek reserves outside the US, we as a people of this nation will suffer even more than we do now. I remember back in the 70's when there was an oil embargo, there was a fear that we would all "freeze in the dark." That scenario is not that far-fetched as people will be unable to afford clean fuels to heat their homes and provide them electricity if we keep going down the current path of no development. It doesn't just come from a switch on the wall, folks.

Just remember that those federal lands out there along with all of their natural resources belong to US..... the people of the United States. They don't belong to the Government of the United States. We expect the Government to manage them responsibly upon our behalf. Unfortunately they don't. I worked as a Range Conservationis for the Vernal District of the BLM for several years.....enough to put together enough information to know that shell games were being played by the bigger Oil companies with approval and backing by Government employees of the BLM and the legislatures of both the State and the U.S. My father worked as a wildcater with several smaller oil companies in the late 40's 50's and 60's. Most of that was in the Altamont area. If you haven't read my posting from 8:20 this morning please go back and read it so that maybe what I am trying to tell you will make sense. Those oil companies that were locally owned no longer exist. They were either forced out, or taken over because of the NEPA Act of 1969. Big Oil paid millions for that legislation. Not only here but also Alaska and elsewhere......Think about it !!!

The one thing, that I do not understand about Sarah Palin is that, she has not figured out "WHY" she was singled out and offered this carrot. .... THINK ABOUT IT PEOPLE........She single handedly kicked Big Oil's butt in Alaska....she forced them to clean up their act and made them toe the line. She cost them enormous amounts of money ...... I don't want to imply that she isn't intelligent but, even I don't have to be a big hammer in a bag full of rocks to see the potential of a manuever of this nature.

Vice President of the United States is nice on a resume.... but, if you really want to get someone out of your way....someone who has cost you fortunes.... but, still keep them under your thumb and in an environment where you can control them.... then the perfect spot is the Vice President's job.

Only Dick Cheney has been able to take the Vice President's job well beyond the Constitutional intent of it's creators...without the assasination of a seated President. A lot of lies and disceit. I'll say this..... Dick Cheney had more to do with Sarah Palin's selection than John McCain or the GOP.

A conspiracy behind every door?

REF: South Utah County
Well, you can either go back to bed and cuddle up with Tinkerbell and think that things are just fine and put your blinders back on. Or you can spend years actually working with people robbing you and especially your Children and Grandchildren blind, and refuse to believe that your Government and the people you elected aren't cutting shady deals.... which is basically what is going on.... or you can stick your head in the sand right now during a crisis that has been brought on by manipulation and make stupid muffled remarks.......apparently you wish to do all of the above.