The crowd attending the meeting spilled out into the hallway. The vast majority of people who spoke made sure the council understood they came to object to what they saw as the council meddling with the business of mineral extraction in Grand County.
The authors of an originally proposed, strongly worded, letter, council members Jim Lewis, Audrey Graham, and Bob Greenberg, voted in favor of sending a mild substitute letter in place of a protest. Council member Joette Langianese, who wrote the substitute, joined Jerry McNeely, Gene Ciarus, and Pat Holyoak in voting against it, following a heated discussion among council members and a few mostly negative comments from the floor.
The basis for rejecting a protest letter of any kind asking the BLM to withdraw 11 parcels from its oil and gas lease sale scheduled for Dec. 19, was that Grand County was an active participant in preparation of the recently adopted resource management plan. The county council unanimously endorsed that plan during the review process.
People in the audience, invited to speak by Council Chairman Ciarus, defended the RMP and advised the council to let the BLM use it to protect natural values while allowing new drilling. Moab resident Kelly Shumway said a protest letter would indicate the council is not confident the BLM can manage its RMP. She called oil and gas exploration the “backbone” of the community, and said the industry has a smaller footprint than tourism.
“The county has not proven any negative impact,” Shumway said.
Langianese and councilman Jerry McNeely objected to a “protest” letter. Both said that the council should not attempt to manage public lands. Langianese called the protest “adversarial,” and said it was “a slap in the face” to the BLM and McNeely, who worked hard as partners in the RMP process.
Greenberg said the original letter was labeled a “protest” because that is the BLM’s requirement for it to be considered during its protest process. Lewis said the letter does not protest the entire sale or the RMP, just specific areas that should not be drilled for gas and oil.
“The intent was to emphasize support for the RMP and go through the process they have asked us to,” Lewis said.
McNeely said he talked to staff of the state’s senators and Rep. Jim Matheson and that they accused Grand County of protesting everything they are working for.
“They thought we’re nuts,” McNeely said. “We shouldn’t be jeopardizing anything we have worked up with BLM.... There’s no… way I’d sign that.”
Ciarus said he thinks the BLM is too restrictive. He recalled the 1970s when local residents fought hard for access to public lands, and called the notion that mining, oil, and gas development would hurt tourism “nonsense.” He said he was disheartened that mountain bikers oppose the industry that built the roads they ride on, and that visitors will come to the area to see drill rigs.
Councilman-elect Chris Conrad joined the fray, saying the letter is inappropriate because residents have individually submitted their comments to the BLM. For the council to also submit a letter, he said, would be divisive.