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Utah BLM director defends oil, gas lease sale
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Enter nameArtemisia Tridentata | 10:03 a.m. Dec. 18, 2008
Does she think we have forgotten good old Bill Barrett and his boast that
"We paid a lot of money for this president, and we intend to get our
money's worth." This is a Saturday Night land grab. If it were
legitimate, appropriate and thoughtful it would have happened much earler. The
BLM was politicized early on by the Bush administration. They have no
credability left.
Angry American!!!!!!! | 10:31 a.m. Dec. 18, 2008
If it were possible to see all the steps it took to get here, I am sure you
would have Bush's neck in a noose on corruption charges. Bastard.
Comments continue below
Robert | 10:47 a.m. Dec. 18, 2008
Let's all be rational. Just because drilling will occur near protected
sites does not mean those sites will be destroyed or harmed. The leases
won't destroy anything. Drillers and producers, should they actually decide
to work the leases, will still have to comply with all regulations pertaining to
environmental protections. Groups that call themselves environmentalists would
do more for the environment working with the lessees and government regulators
rather than against them.
Voice of Reason | 11:05 a.m. Dec. 18, 2008
If Mr. Redford and these uneducated environmentalists actually read the law for
half a minute, they'd quickly learn that exercising these leases is so
wrapped up in crazy-strict environmental regulations that harming the
environment is the last of our worries. If the lease-holders follow the law,
there will be no significantly measurable environmental harm done. Period.
The only, repeat ONLY, marginally legitimate complaint the enviros have made is that the view from a few points on the inside edge of a couple of national parks will have an oil well in sight. HORRORS!
Geez . . . let's be reasonable, people.
The only, repeat ONLY, marginally legitimate complaint the enviros have made is that the view from a few points on the inside edge of a couple of national parks will have an oil well in sight. HORRORS!
Geez . . . let's be reasonable, people.
Hypocrisy | 11:12 a.m. Dec. 18, 2008
The most important issue is that this does nothing to lessen our dependence upon
oil.
We should be developing alternative energy sources. Instead, we're just prolonging the the problem.
We should be developing alternative energy sources. Instead, we're just prolonging the the problem.
Bush the destroyer | 12:22 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
Many of us are angry and fed up with the bush rules that have been used to
approve these lands to be auctioned off.
Why do these decisions have to be made at the last minute before the lights go out on Bush the destroyer's legacy?
Sierra continues to spout the trash and burn party line. She should be protecting our national resources.
Why do these decisions have to be made at the last minute before the lights go out on Bush the destroyer's legacy?
Sierra continues to spout the trash and burn party line. She should be protecting our national resources.
Hey Redford and his buddies | 12:37 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
Thanks a bunch for wasting more taxpayers' dollars by filing a freaking
federal lawsuit over nothing. When are you people going to grow a brain? There
are already regulations galore to protect vast amounts of land so nobody can
touch it. Idiots.
basinboy | 12:41 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
Read the article, Bush the Destroyer, the BLM is required by law to have a
quarterly lease sale. This is not a last-minute decision by the Bush
administration, just a scheduled sale.
Re "Bush the destroyer | 12:22" | 2:20 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
Bush the destroyer | 12:22,
Don't go off the deep end. This is not a Bush conspiracy. Educate yourself on what's going on first and then respond. Maybe your posting won't sound like such an uneducated kneejerk reaction.
Don't go off the deep end. This is not a Bush conspiracy. Educate yourself on what's going on first and then respond. Maybe your posting won't sound like such an uneducated kneejerk reaction.
Malthus | 3:14 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
basinboy & Re;
The quarterly sales are a part of the BLM's job; however, the list of WHICH parcels are offered is always different. The reason so many people got bent out of shape about this particular sale was because the choices were so bad; anyone that had a prior glimpse could have predicted this brouhaha. And it does, indeed, sound like a Bush conspiracy, when you place it in the context of all the last-minute rule changing he's doing (guns in parks, weakening the Endangered Species Act, etc, etc.)
The quarterly sales are a part of the BLM's job; however, the list of WHICH parcels are offered is always different. The reason so many people got bent out of shape about this particular sale was because the choices were so bad; anyone that had a prior glimpse could have predicted this brouhaha. And it does, indeed, sound like a Bush conspiracy, when you place it in the context of all the last-minute rule changing he's doing (guns in parks, weakening the Endangered Species Act, etc, etc.)
boblog | 5:04 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
Boy, the sirens and emails must have flew over these BLM sales. Probably the
most fun had by the pro enviros in years. And to top it all of, you may even
get a victory.
Bring back the high-priced gasoline. The only pain y'all really understand is when you, personally, have to fork $$ over and try to explain to others that you feel 'hey, this is a good thing'.
Bring back the high-priced gasoline. The only pain y'all really understand is when you, personally, have to fork $$ over and try to explain to others that you feel 'hey, this is a good thing'.
Cincinatus | 9:27 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
How loud would the moonbat howl if gas was back to $3.50, $4.00 a gallon, one
wonders?
Ah! the lightworker's mere elevation has ended the petrol problem, they say!
Some forgot to tell OPEC who is cutting production, the wise one points out!
Ah! the lightworker's mere elevation has ended the petrol problem, they say!
Some forgot to tell OPEC who is cutting production, the wise one points out!
Why would | 10:15 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
anyone but a TRAITOR let the Arabs control our economy by cutting production?
Voter | 10:29 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
Rabid environmentalists should be ignored.
Drill, baby, drill!
If you don't like oil wells or exploration, than get your power cut off and never stop at a gas station again. Stop trying to roll back 21 centuries of civilization.
Drill, baby, drill!
If you don't like oil wells or exploration, than get your power cut off and never stop at a gas station again. Stop trying to roll back 21 centuries of civilization.
REDWILLOW | 2:18 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Thank God for the envirolomentists and Rober Redford!!
Most of the comments are coming from people that don't live "out here in the "Uintah Basin.."
I don't want to see the Nine Mile Indian sites
ruined... or Dinasour National Park.
The heck with oil...the Uintah basin survived just
fine before the oil and gas companys came in...
The only ones to profit from this is the oil companys themselves, and other cooporations.
We weren't paying 4.00 a gallon a year ago... i like
the 1.78 a gallon now...
Lets protect our Sacred Sites for our Children,
just as someone saved it for us to see.
Once gone it can never be replaced...
Most of the comments are coming from people that don't live "out here in the "Uintah Basin.."
I don't want to see the Nine Mile Indian sites
ruined... or Dinasour National Park.
The heck with oil...the Uintah basin survived just
fine before the oil and gas companys came in...
The only ones to profit from this is the oil companys themselves, and other cooporations.
We weren't paying 4.00 a gallon a year ago... i like
the 1.78 a gallon now...
Lets protect our Sacred Sites for our Children,
just as someone saved it for us to see.
Once gone it can never be replaced...
We can choose the good life | 4:12 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Its right to drill now, but once these fields are depleted, they will be
gone.
We have to think beyond oil.
Wind power though sparatic will streatch what resources we have left. We are foolish not to fully develop all the geothermal potential that we have. It would be to our benefit to more fully develop nuclear, with use of breeder reactors and reprocessing. This way we don't waste 99.9% of the nuclear fuel available to us. Without breeder reactors we can only make use of U235 (not the more common) U238, and U235 is only about 1/1000th of the Uranium available to us, if reprocessing were used, we would have much less waste than we have now. France which has extensive nuclear power uses reprocessing, the technology is well developed.
I just came across an interesting book, Alcohol Can be a Gas, by David Plume, according to the many interesting ideas in this book, the United States could be energy self sufficient, with alcohol alone.
In short we have sufficient energy resources in our own country to be self sufficient for thousands of years or even more, but we need to be open to change
We have to think beyond oil.
Wind power though sparatic will streatch what resources we have left. We are foolish not to fully develop all the geothermal potential that we have. It would be to our benefit to more fully develop nuclear, with use of breeder reactors and reprocessing. This way we don't waste 99.9% of the nuclear fuel available to us. Without breeder reactors we can only make use of U235 (not the more common) U238, and U235 is only about 1/1000th of the Uranium available to us, if reprocessing were used, we would have much less waste than we have now. France which has extensive nuclear power uses reprocessing, the technology is well developed.
I just came across an interesting book, Alcohol Can be a Gas, by David Plume, according to the many interesting ideas in this book, the United States could be energy self sufficient, with alcohol alone.
In short we have sufficient energy resources in our own country to be self sufficient for thousands of years or even more, but we need to be open to change
These comments make me ill. | 6:45 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Oh yes I'm sure higher gas prices are the WORST possible thing that could
EVER happen to us! Heaven forbid we have some incentive to develop and improve
renewable energy resources.
Is the idea that we might have to cut back to..to...CONSERVE too much for you people? Are you so indulgent and selfish that you can't see beyond your noses? It is kind of nauseating what people are willing to throw away so they can sit comfortably and not have to work any harder than absolutely necessary.
I've got news for you: the economy is in a recession and if you are going to survive you will have to WORK harder. You may not be able to drive your 10 MPG vehicle or shop like there's no tomorrow. It'll be unbearable I'm sure. The point is you can't trample everything of value to US ALL just to make things easier for YOU.
Besides, drilling here is not going to benefit us at the pump. What is going to help is to figure out a way to get AWAY from the pump. Abusing these lands, by the way, is not going to do the job.
Is the idea that we might have to cut back to..to...CONSERVE too much for you people? Are you so indulgent and selfish that you can't see beyond your noses? It is kind of nauseating what people are willing to throw away so they can sit comfortably and not have to work any harder than absolutely necessary.
I've got news for you: the economy is in a recession and if you are going to survive you will have to WORK harder. You may not be able to drive your 10 MPG vehicle or shop like there's no tomorrow. It'll be unbearable I'm sure. The point is you can't trample everything of value to US ALL just to make things easier for YOU.
Besides, drilling here is not going to benefit us at the pump. What is going to help is to figure out a way to get AWAY from the pump. Abusing these lands, by the way, is not going to do the job.
Paul | 7:29 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
The only jobs tied to this sale should be Sierra's - she really needs to
look for a new position. If the BLM had just stuck with known parcels, there
wouldn't be an issue. As it is, the new parcels need to be looked at more
closely.
Yeah, drill more, even here in the Basin. But let us drill where it makes sense to drill. There are so few places in the Basin where they haven't, so it would be nice to save a few that are worth keeping.
Yeah, drill more, even here in the Basin. But let us drill where it makes sense to drill. There are so few places in the Basin where they haven't, so it would be nice to save a few that are worth keeping.
We have to? | 7:58 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Why don't YOU develop alternative enery to the level we depend on oil and
gas for just about everything. Alternative energy will never be a viable
alternative source until it can be mass produced and make a profit. Wind power
ain't going to cut it, and as far as I know you wacko's are also
against clean coal, nuculear as well. I'm so sick of hearing you enviro
lunatics telling the rest of us that live in the real world how to live our
lives. Cut off your power and sell your cars, you can ride your bikes or walk
and feeze in the winter.
Drill here, drill now.
Drill here, drill now.
Gichin Marsden | 8:18 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
To add a little to the alternate fuel argument. Their is challenge establishing
a new industry overnight. The infrastructure for the oil industry has taken
decades to establish. It would take the same time or longer to establish and
alternate fuel infrastructure. I agree that alternate fuels are an important
road, but when OPEC limits barrels of oil by 2.2 million barrels, its time
establish a stronger oil base in the United States. Also, what better way to
improve Utah's failing economy.
Chad | 8:33 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Actually Malthus's comment is correct. For those familiar with this issue
from the inside, it IS a conspiracy within the BLM and DOI (Bush probably
isn't paying attention). Parcels adjacent to national parks normally go
through a discussion between both agencies, a scenic value analysis, and
mitigations are drawn up that reduce environmental impact. These were skirted-
what this really is is opaque government and ignoring of public opinion for the
sake of political expediency.
On the flip side, we shouldn't be so quick to use our own oil (the glass is far less than half full folks). Can you imagine how our feet will be held over the barrel 20 years from now when we don't have enough oil to even supply our military?
On the flip side, we shouldn't be so quick to use our own oil (the glass is far less than half full folks). Can you imagine how our feet will be held over the barrel 20 years from now when we don't have enough oil to even supply our military?
Yes, we have to | 8:36 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
I love listening to anti-environmentalists with their "drill baby
drill" mentality. You love to tell those who care about the environment to
sell their cars and ride bikes. The sad reality for you is that most of us have
already given up our cars for public transportation, or we are driving
alternative fuel vehicles or hybrids. Meanwhile, the drill baby drill crowd
continues to drive their gas guzzling SUV's and complain about the price of
gas. The world has no use for a person who would sacrifice the most beautiful
places to satisfy their lust for oil.
Amazed | 8:44 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
What part of the simple word energy don't you extreme enviros understand.
Most Americans are environmentally minded. WE All want as much energy from
renewable resources as possible but shutting down devolopment of clean sources
like natural gas is just plain unrealistic. It will be years before renewable
energy sources can produce substantial amounts of energy. I think all of you in
the Robert Redford mold should give your elctricity to all the old generation
and families who will soon be freezing because of your shortsidedness. What are
you going to do when you shut down gas energy, coal energy etc. Saying I'm
sorry won't do much good when millions are freezing because of your lack of
common sense. Do some research before you ride the celebrity bandwagon off a
cliff.
To: Yes we have to | 9:07 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Most people have given up cars for public transportation and already on
bikes?
I guess we can shut down the freeways and highways now for all those bikes trying to get in and out of downtown. My Lust for oil is matched only by your lust for ignorance.
Drill here drill now.
I guess we can shut down the freeways and highways now for all those bikes trying to get in and out of downtown. My Lust for oil is matched only by your lust for ignorance.
Drill here drill now.
Anonymous | 9:12 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
I want to know why someone (or group) who is not elected, does not live in Utah,
does not own the land, or have any other interest in Utah--has any say
whatsoever in these oil and gas leases? Something is very wrong, when some group
out of Washington, or San Francisco, can dictate what happens in Utah. This
needs to change...and change now. This is very, very wrong. It's like
Albania going to court to dictate what happens in Utah, or the US, or some other
country.
To Amazed | 9:17 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Please don't use logic and common sense with these people, it only cofuses
them and sends them into a knee jerk anti- american rant disguised as an
anti-Bush tirade.
Drill here drill now.
Drill here drill now.
Matthew | 10:29 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
I was the geophysicist for a well drilled in Central Utah in the 1980's.
They had "tight" reclaimation rules, that many of my coworkers
lamented, then too. In 2000 I took my sons to the well site and it still stands
out like a sore thumb. For another well over a small prospect they found a way
to use a much smaller drill pad because the site was constrained by topography
(cliffs). But up on the mesa top they still insisted that they needed a huge
drill pad. I could tell more stories. I agree that we need sane policies and
proceedures. But the oil companies need to be requiered to truly reclaim drill
sites, minimize the disruption they cause in the first place, and develop oil
and gas fields in a truly environmentally sensitive way. Normal practice is
extremely distructive simply because it is expedient. More details of the
withdrawn lease sites (i.e. good map(s)) would have been very helpful additions
to the story. It would have helped me judge for myself the scenic nature of
these sites.
boblog | 11:14 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
So answer me this, you folks that think we should save our crude oil and use
other counties instead.
Why do we produce and use our own natural gas ? Noone seems to complain about that.
In the last few years, we have found oil, good-sized deposits in many cases, in our country. It is time to develop it. The jobs pay well, we can use the energy, and it will help us out of this danged recession.
Why do we produce and use our own natural gas ? Noone seems to complain about that.
In the last few years, we have found oil, good-sized deposits in many cases, in our country. It is time to develop it. The jobs pay well, we can use the energy, and it will help us out of this danged recession.
Paul | 11:30 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
If you're going to drill for oil, just make sure there is a market for it.
I thought the Salt Lake refineries were at capacity for Basin oil, due to the
high wax content. If the refineries can't take more Basin oil, and
presuming the wells in the Basin are still producing at the same rate, then new
wells would just seem to be preparing for the future, since they would just be
capped for now.
Brian | 11:55 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008
One thing that annoys me is how the protest groups post beautiful scenic
pictures of the prominate places near the leasing sites as a way to leverage the
unconcerned Majority to their cause.
I've been through a lot of Southern Utah and quite enjoy its recreational aspect and wild nature so I understand that they are concerned by view obstructed by oil wells, but it seems to me that their main goals here are to use these famous scenic places as propaganda.
Show me those same pictures five or ten years from now, taken from the same locations, in contrast to the originals. Who wants to bet that there will be no evidence of development what so ever?
?
I've been through a lot of Southern Utah and quite enjoy its recreational aspect and wild nature so I understand that they are concerned by view obstructed by oil wells, but it seems to me that their main goals here are to use these famous scenic places as propaganda.
Show me those same pictures five or ten years from now, taken from the same locations, in contrast to the originals. Who wants to bet that there will be no evidence of development what so ever?
?
Brian'sHead | 2:02 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Hey, if you're talking about drilling in the desert shrub-covered hills
next to Dinosaur National Monument, I'll take that bet; roads and other
disturbances go away here about as quickly as Patton's tank tread marks in
the Mojave, where he trained prior to the invasion of Normandy.
tk | 7:40 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Redford and his ilk do not speak for me - don't pretend to.
Real clean techlogies | 8:03 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Robert | 10:47 a.m Did Limbaugh report the pipeline spill by BP in Alaska. The
spill of some 267,000 gallons (1m litres) discovered at Prudhoe Bay field, is
the largest ever on Alaska's North Slope region. From 1977 to 1994 there
were 30 to 40 spills a year on average on the Alaskan Pipeline. The worst years
in terms of number of incidents were 1991 to 1994, when there were 164
spills.
"Beleaguered oil giant BP has admitted to yet another misdeed: a leak of 1,000 barrels of refined petro-product from an underground pipeline at the port of Long Beach"
"Beleaguered oil giant BP has admitted to yet another misdeed: a leak of 1,000 barrels of refined petro-product from an underground pipeline at the port of Long Beach"
Drill and smile | 9:27 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008
Drill, make America richer and terrorists weaker. Why do wackos hate the
obvious?
tim | 9:31 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008
There is no statement more ridiculous than saying we will be off fossil fuels
within 10 years - so everything you say afterward falls on deaf ears. It is
absolutely impossible. At the present time, there is no plan for total
alternative that is rational or achievable. So, Al, Robert, environmental
people, please offer something that is reasonable rather than anti
this-and-that. And, by the way, I don't like spills, either, but will there
ever be a guarantee against them? And the extra you paid for you hybrid would
have been better spent at the homeless shelter.
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Conservation is irrelevant as is the need to leave any resources for future generations. Drill here, drill now and use every drop before we die. This is the Bush legacy.