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Garfield County commissioners say they welcome Moffat County's input on the Roan Plateau management plan, but haven't called for that county to support multiple uses on the plateau.
Environmentalists expressed concerns this week after reports in Craig newspapers suggested two Garfield commissioners were advocating a position on the plateau in another county. Commissioners previously have said they have yet to adopt a position.
"It's kind of surprising to hear that some of the county commissioners seem to have taken a stand but not really released that publicly at all," said Clare Bastable, of Carbondale, Western Slope coordinator for the Colorado Mountain Club.
Said Pete Kolbenschlag, of the Colorado Environmental Coalition, "Obviously elected officials are allowed to have positions and opinions on things. We would just hope that they would honor the public process."
But Garfield commissioners say they haven't lobbied Moffat County to take a certain stance on the issue.
Commissioner John Martin said he only encouraged the county to weigh in if it wanted its views about the plateau to be considered. Martin said he made that recommendation when Moffat commissioner Darryl Steele approached him on the matter.
"I said absolutely you need to comment because otherwise your concerns won't be addressed," Martin said.
The Bureau of Land Management is taking public comment on its draft management plan for the Roan Plateau. Its preferred plan would allow drilling on top, which environmentalists and some area communities oppose.
The Craig Daily Press quoted Moffat commissioner Tom Gray this week as saying a Garfield commissioner contacted Moffat County, seeking the county's comments in support of multiple use. The Morning News in Craig reported that Gray had said two of Garfield's three commissioners have requested Moffat County's backing on the issue, but the paper didn't elaborate on what was meant by backing.
Gray told the Post Independent that Garfield commissioners didn't ask Moffat to take any specific position on the matter.
Garfield Commissioner Larry McCown said he discussed the matter with Steele, but only because Steele was hesitant, not wanting Moffat County to take a position if it would be interpreted as stepping on others' toes. The Roan Plateau is in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, but not Moffat County.
McCown said Garfield County isn't offended by Moffat, Pitkin or other counties taking an interest in the issue.
Gray said Moffat County officials have indicated to Garfield County that if Moffat submits comments on the Roan Plateau, it would be in support of multiple use of the plateau. That position is consistent with Moffat's general philosophy toward public land management, he said.
Garfield commissioners responded that they welcome Moffat's comments, but not because they would be pro-multiple-use, Gray said.
"There was nothing said like, as long as that is what your position is we would welcome it," Gray said.
Fellow Moffat commissioner Saed Tayyara agreed.
"They didn't stress one way or the other. They felt it was up to us to say what we wanted to say," Tayyara said.
"There was no pressure from anybody."
Bastable questioned Moffat's taking a position on the Roan Plateau when it has no direct interest in it.
According to the Morning News, Moffat's natural resources director, Jeff Comstock, said Moffat faces similar issues in the Vermillion Basin, and decisions on the Roan could set a precedent for drilling in sensitive areas.
Bastable said, "I don't think that one land area necessarily translates to another. ... I think there are different issues in each of those areas."
Contact Dennis Webb: 945-8515, ext. 516
dwebb@postindependent.com
Environmentalists expressed concerns this week after reports in Craig newspapers suggested two Garfield commissioners were advocating a position on the plateau in another county. Commissioners previously have said they have yet to adopt a position.
"It's kind of surprising to hear that some of the county commissioners seem to have taken a stand but not really released that publicly at all," said Clare Bastable, of Carbondale, Western Slope coordinator for the Colorado Mountain Club.
Said Pete Kolbenschlag, of the Colorado Environmental Coalition, "Obviously elected officials are allowed to have positions and opinions on things. We would just hope that they would honor the public process."
But Garfield commissioners say they haven't lobbied Moffat County to take a certain stance on the issue.
Commissioner John Martin said he only encouraged the county to weigh in if it wanted its views about the plateau to be considered. Martin said he made that recommendation when Moffat commissioner Darryl Steele approached him on the matter.
"I said absolutely you need to comment because otherwise your concerns won't be addressed," Martin said.
The Bureau of Land Management is taking public comment on its draft management plan for the Roan Plateau. Its preferred plan would allow drilling on top, which environmentalists and some area communities oppose.
The Craig Daily Press quoted Moffat commissioner Tom Gray this week as saying a Garfield commissioner contacted Moffat County, seeking the county's comments in support of multiple use. The Morning News in Craig reported that Gray had said two of Garfield's three commissioners have requested Moffat County's backing on the issue, but the paper didn't elaborate on what was meant by backing.
Gray told the Post Independent that Garfield commissioners didn't ask Moffat to take any specific position on the matter.
Garfield Commissioner Larry McCown said he discussed the matter with Steele, but only because Steele was hesitant, not wanting Moffat County to take a position if it would be interpreted as stepping on others' toes. The Roan Plateau is in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, but not Moffat County.
McCown said Garfield County isn't offended by Moffat, Pitkin or other counties taking an interest in the issue.
Gray said Moffat County officials have indicated to Garfield County that if Moffat submits comments on the Roan Plateau, it would be in support of multiple use of the plateau. That position is consistent with Moffat's general philosophy toward public land management, he said.
Garfield commissioners responded that they welcome Moffat's comments, but not because they would be pro-multiple-use, Gray said.
"There was nothing said like, as long as that is what your position is we would welcome it," Gray said.
Fellow Moffat commissioner Saed Tayyara agreed.
"They didn't stress one way or the other. They felt it was up to us to say what we wanted to say," Tayyara said.
"There was no pressure from anybody."
Bastable questioned Moffat's taking a position on the Roan Plateau when it has no direct interest in it.
According to the Morning News, Moffat's natural resources director, Jeff Comstock, said Moffat faces similar issues in the Vermillion Basin, and decisions on the Roan could set a precedent for drilling in sensitive areas.
Bastable said, "I don't think that one land area necessarily translates to another. ... I think there are different issues in each of those areas."
Contact Dennis Webb: 945-8515, ext. 516
dwebb@postindependent.com
