Kiss Arches National Park Goodbye
Submitted by Chuck Adams on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 15:27.
Or, at least, kiss goodbye the pristine land surrounding the National Park, including the famous Moab Slickrock Trail. Here is why:
The National Park Service is fighting to delay the sale of these parcels of BLM land. "At least lets everybody hold their hats until we have a new president in office," the NPS seems to be saying. The BLM seems to say in return: "But Bush's energy buddies need to drill, baby, drill before they're kicked out of the White House!" Let's hope for the delay ... Utah is being pillaged for oil and gas like no other state. This is just insult to injury.
Thanks for the tip, Travel Hum.
I'm not seeing any outrage, any indignant comments about this. Our government is going to destroy more natural places? Yawn. The arches are already falling down, and we don't know if the drilling will increase the loss of these natural wonders. Boring.
I'm all for defending someone or something you care about, loudly and vocally, so I really wish some more energy would get thrown the way of saving natural wonders.
Sigh.
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Submitted by Camilla Mortensen on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 10:36.I just emailed my brother, who lives in Moab, to see if there's been any protests or local action. I think it's wise that the tourism businesses get on board because, at the bottom end of things, this is economic suicide for Moab, an outdoor adventure outpost, and the National Park System.
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Submitted by Chuck Adams on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 11:21.Old news on the western front, this drilling thing that is. I guess the park service didn't get their customary phone call for this quarterly sale (like they did for the last 17 years) but hey whatchya gonna do? I guess they asked the BLM to remove these leases until the next quarter, but got a stonewall answer of No! Whatchya gonna do with these good ol' boys? There's certainly outrage, I've read some business owners grievances on aesthetics and all. We're all waiting for the first executive order from Obama--word is the leases won't be official till a bit after the transfer.
They've been drilling for oil next to parks for a while now, I'll send you a photo of one of these well pads right next to Dead Horse Point state park and within 2 miles of Canyonlands. I wouldn't worry about your parks, worry about all the land surrounding these arbitrary park boundaries. Roads are the key here in the desert, because roads don't go away, especially with RS 2477. Have any of you heard of the rebirth of this archaic road law?
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Submitted by Chuck's Brother (not verified) on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 20:59.Taken just outside of Dead Horse Point state park and the Island District of Canyonlands Nat'l Park with a big ol' oil platform, a burning waste pond and a two-story pile of earth.
And I think that's the U.S. Geological Survey studying ancient, "living" soil in the foreground.
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Submitted by Chuck Adams on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 10:36.HECK YEAH! This is why we elected Barack Obama.
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Submitted by Chuck Adams on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 15:29.Post new comment