BLM Proposes Oil & Gas Drilling Under Moab's Slickrock
Photos: Gravity Candy
The Bureau of Land Management has announced it has opened up two parcels of land underneath the Slickrock trail in Moab, Utah for leasing for oil and gas extraction.
The 10.5 mile Slickrock trail is one of the most iconic in mountain biking as riders head out over petrified sand dunes for a physical and technical test in the desert. The BLM is opening seven parcels of land in total in Grand County, Utah, two of which are in the Salt Flats where Slick Rock is located. One of these is said to cover two-thirds of the trail. The land was nominated for consideration in November 2019 by an anonymous company however, its name will be revealed during a public consultation period.
The BLM says that not all leased land gets developed and the current parcels would not allow any surface work to be completed, however directional drilling from adjacent parcels could still be used to extract the fossil fuels from under the trails.
Emily Niehaus, Moab Mayor, told the Salt Lake Tribune: "My concern is always that we maintain a balance in our valley and county and surrounding public lands. We know oil and gas are part of the makeup of our economy. We have done a good job of saying where recreation goes and where extraction goes. My question is: Are the recreation areas going to be negatively impacted?"
The proposed land will now undergo a period of public consultation that begins on February 20 and lasts for 30 days. They will then become available for lease in June. The operators will then have to submit a proposal and an environmental analysis will be conducted. Reports indicate that the bids will not pass the public consultation as the potential for energy production is low and the land should generate more revenue through tourism than drilling.
A public fightback is already happening with some mountain bikers proposing to start a crowdfund to outbid the oil companies and industry veteran, Ashely Korenblat, encouraging local businesses to co-sign her letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt opposing the plans. She told Bicycle Retailer and Industry News: "We have a good chance of winning, but not if we do nothing: funny how that works." Her letter can be read in full and signed here.
The leases come as part of Trump's Energy Dominance plan that saw him pull out of the Paris Climate agreement, open up new land for leasing and cut the red tape that prevented the construction of energy infrastructure such as pipelines. Last year, the USA held 28 onshore oil and gas lease sales that generated $1.1 billion USD.
Read more about the BLM proposals, here.
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FUN FACT - Arby's employs more people than the entire coal industry.
Not McDonald, or Burger King or Wendy's...fooking Arby's
Unless you drive an electric vehicle and don't use natural gas to heat your home or water, don't mountain bike (mountain biking equipment uses lots of fossil fuels to make) then can't really say much. It is ironic to me, that the other article about Dark Fest on PB shows tons of plowing dirt to build big jumps just for a contest, but not a word about the environment.
www.wired.co.uk/article/lithium-batteries-environment-impact
Here is another eye opener about our ability to screw something up. I'll shut up after this.
www.bbc.com/future/article/20191108-why-the-world-is-running-out-of-sand
We all use oil, and its important to modern life. We all (except @Protour, peace be upon him) love mountain biking. If we really say that certain recreational areas are more important than oil, then lets put our money where our mouth is.
I'll be watching this closely, and if its needed, I'll donate to the crowdfunding buyout.
Also, how many people are choosing to drive electric cars versus gas cars/trucks?
www.environmentalintegrity.org/trump-watch-epa/whos-running-trumps-epa
Oh shit who was prez in 2008?
Don't like this shit? Vote local first.
Under the guidelines set in 2008
The government took our money, paid companies to put them up, gave them insane contracts for guaranteed $$ per kw/h, more than 5 times what is paid for normal energy production, and within 25 years they all need to be taken back down.
Don't get me started on windmills.
leasing blm land isnt anything new. they lease it for cattle, geothermal, solar, wind, farming, etc. the mtbs can thank their stars people hike in moab, so all the tree huggers will back them even if it means the OHV groups still get access. in the deserts, the OHVers get locked out all the time.
To me, people shouldn't point the finger unless they themselves have greatly changed their lifestyle to cut out the use fossil fuels. Actions are greater than words.
energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Historical-Mean-LCOE-Values.jpg
www.moabsunnews.com/opinion/article_56769410-3e19-11ea-b9c9-0bea16633605.html
www.windontario.ca
In a subsidized environment the limited production and unreliability also means that since it can't be trusted we still have to build just as many power plants as without wind. So you just end up paying for expensive power for no real benefit.
How many regions in the USA are there where unsubsidized wind power is profitable at 45$?
I see people talking about wind now. Read this and tell me how great wind is when the materials being used are so strong they can’t even really be reclaimed and repurposed effectively yet.
www.npr.org/2019/09/10/759376113/unfurling-the-waste-problem-caused-by-wind-energy
One should understand that water from said farms and other areas go to tributaries of our waterways. The Clean Water Act was developed to protect ditches, streams, and navigable waterways. As an engineering consultant that works with clients everyday to assure EPA compliance with the Clean Water Act on large construction projects, it’s clear that the impact will be real with the recent deregulation. We need clean drinking water, and our many ecosystems certainly appreciate it.
If we were concerned about taking care of ourselves and not needing to lean on the middle east, we'd leave some of what we have in the ground until it's needed.
But that's not what's happening. This isn't about energy independence. This is just greed.
www.greenpeace.org/usa/global-warming/exxon-and-the-oil-industry-knew-about-climate-change/exxons-climate-denial-history-a-timeline
The requirements of the energy grid are for constantly varying degrees of output. So nuclear is incredibly efficient but not flexible to increasing/decreasing demand. Nat gas/coal are way less efficient but output can be changed incredibly quickly to match demand. Hydro is the best for efficiency and varying output but only available in some places.
Green energy is neither. It doesn't deliver consistent output, nor can it vary to meet demand. So if you build a ton of green energy but still end up with the exact same number of power plants, with green energy only replacing a marginal amount of output, is it really worth billions of dollars in subsidies?
Imagine if Al Gore had been elected president instead and started the transformation to a green economy with all that money instead of lying us into disaster. Considering the consequences of climate change, cost should have never even been part of the conversation, it's just another weak excuse that the deniers use to maintain the status quo and keep us on oil.
www.zmescience.com/science/scotland-to-reach-this-year-100-renewable-energy-goal
Per the above article, which also sites the "182% wind number" it seems that Scotland is on course for "100% renewable energy balance" this year. Good for them. Very few countries have the right location & geography to balance tidal, geothermal, hydro, solar, and wind in order to balance varying sources into a portfolio where supply = demand. I still bet a lot of that power has non-renewable backup. Is it cost effective??? paylesspower.com/blog/european-cost-of-electricity-per-kwh-by-country
The UK has one of the higher electricity rates in Europe and per the above article the rate is nearly 50% more than what America pays for electricity. To each there own.
The only thing that can stop the transition is regulation, and unfortunately the industries that will be disrupted are some of the richest ...and they have deep pockets
Excellent point Lex. What the hell will be do with millions upon millions of LI batteries? We have all the well intentioned people who really want to save this planet! They react to headlines all while driving "solo" to work in a giant SUV, enjoying a supersized coffee in a throw away cup, enjoying the latest Iphone all while the old one will end up being buried, and eating 1/2 hamburgers and disposing of all the waste the 7-11. Get home at night to home #1 (3000 sq ft) nicely heated or air conditioned year round, only to head up to Tahoe for home #2, 2000 sq ft most empty attempt to satisfy the need to feel important. Oh, they cleared 1/4 and acre to have this home. Get out the jet skis on the weekend have you, and get the full container of trash ready for the Tahoe landfill as it was a great party weekend, and don't forget to set the hot tub back to 68'! Fill that SUV (With you Bernie Sticker on back) with 30 gallons of premium fuel cause Audi recommends it, and smile when you get home to see the Tesla parked next to your new Yeti and Ibis Ripmo carbon bikes that will soon be buried for the latest iteration of the Specialized Enduro cause it's just that much better than the last one. How dare they drill for my SUV oil. I have a TESLA!
1st- This was a designated sight since OBAMA was in office!
2nd- As someone that works in the powerplant industry I understand the facts, and the facts are this. Energy independence is vital to our economy, our infrastructure etc. Renewable energy will NEVER, let me repeat that, NEVER replace oil and Gas it's just not going to happen. The only hope of supplying the amount of power needed would be through Nuclear energy, which we have pretty much made it impossible for new sights using nuclear energy. So, please stop touting renewable energy as our saviour. Do you know all the horrible environmental impacts of the battery made for your electric vehicle? Or the training and PPE required to work on it? And then when we have millions of electric cars with millions of Failed batteries, where do you think those will end up? Sheesh, please people, do some research from someone that is actually on the ground as these politicians and media have a nice way of spinning these things, but we live in reality.
Quote: "The leases come as part of Trump's Energy Dominance plan that saw him pull out of the Paris Climate agreement, open up new land for leasing and cut the red tape that prevented the construction of energy infrastructure such as pipelines."
Not to mention the destruction of wildlife and nature.
F..k them Windturbines.
Ask WAKIDESIGNS how the view is when driving down south in his Country.
And now we have a government that signs away our waterfalls to foreign companies based in the EU.
Eff ACER, NORTH CONNECT, EU, EEC and especially all the bureacrays in Brussels.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
But I remember a lot of Protests against then Statoil going into Oil sand refinement. Both domestic and foreign.
Not all "green" power is truly green.
ourworldindata.org/working-hours
I'm not saying its utopia out there, but I think some optimism is warranted.
In truth though, for most things since the mid 80's (which is the year the Canadian consumer price index is tied to) the rate of inflation is below the average increase in wages. The one exception to this is the cost to purchase a house which has doubled. We know why this is too, in BC alone there is 5-10 billion dollars of illegal money being laundered annually into real estate, and this has affected rent prices as well. If you live anywhere on the west coast or for that matter in just about any state that has a metropolis you are affected by this. For most people below the average national income, rent makes up more than half of their monthly income. This means it doesn't really matter if other goods are more or less expensive since you are what they call house poor.
This is without taking into account the growing wage gap which there is little relevant information on as most statistics are computed based on average income.
Housing is one of the "notable exceptions" I alluded to in my original comment. The rise in housing costs is partially explained by a dramatic rise in housing quality- if you instead measure by square footage per person, housing costs remain pretty flat. Other things that affect housing costs is the modern urbanization of society. We are in the mist of the greatest migration in human history, starting around 1900, of people moving out of rural areas and into cities. Rural areas are seeing massive depopulation. Real Estate can only grow upwards in cities, so with a fixed supply and increased demand of course you'll see a rise in price.
What 'wage gap' are you referring to?
That article is also full of so much garbage bias. Such as this gem "Research shows that economic freedom fosters innovation and progress". It's that same progress that increases gdp, through automation and technology, but forces more middle class workers into low income jobs. Just like falling unemployment doesn't mean anything if everyone is having to take minimum wage jobs.
The majority of the population around the world are in dense big metropolitan areas. Where are those areas going to put enough windmills and solar panels to provide enough power? Think New York, LA, Tokyo, Shanghai, etc. Also, some areas just don't logistically have enough sun or wind to fuel those power sources. Currently, nuclear power is the only viable energy resource to provide the needs, unless a better renewable energy is invented.
Luckily, as more countries embraced capitalism, the world as of about 10 years ago entered the "single camel hump" income distribution, and now the gulf or valley of income distribution has ended, as the world gets richer and global poverty is projected to end completely in a decade or so
ourworldindata.org/uploads/2019/10/Global-inequality-in-1800-1975-and-2015.png
We need individual actions, but we need systemic change as well.
www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=709&t=6
But, Orange Man Bad. >:-(
But also this: www.sbs.com.au/news/four-photos-of-australia-from-space-before-and-after-the-bushfires
As for the Green's policy supposedly stopping hazard reduction burns - please tell me how a minority party who has never been in goverment can effect this policy? This conspiracy was largely started by Barnaby Joyce, a little research on him and you will find out all you need to know.
Here's the hot tip - don't believe every headline you read. A little critical thinking goes a long way
Give you a hint, not the Farmers, Shooters Party.
Then they have the big 2 chasing down Green Votes and subscribing to the Carbon Tax everything they can mantra. Being one of the land and seeing that folk can't do basic common sense clean up of their properties to minimise the risk of fire - yeah - that's a problem. That and not taking on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Victorian Black Saturday Fires which were devastating on those communities and loss of life.
The country has developed under the practice of Fire Stick Farming for nigh on 40 thousand years - not minimising fire risk with some pro active forest and property management if Bone Headed in the extreme but, but think of da evil Carbon.......
arstechnica.com/science/2020/01/as-sea-levels-rise-little-of-the-united-states-will-be-unaffected
Florida will be mostly safe!
One more thing to (probably not) consider: Being wrong isn't as bad as continuing to be wrong.
The argument that anyone who's ever used a drop of gasoline can't want a better world is BS. While we point fingers and call each other hypocrites, the people getting rich off of climate inaction laugh all the way to the bank.
Edit: The point is that the site is in close proximity to our aquifer, and the water is stored in fractured, porous sedimentary rocks. Thus there is a potential for contamination of ground water if drilling occurs.
Its easy to find a cause for the problem. What isn’t easy is facing the blatant truth. We’re all part of the problem. What does our job do for our community? Why did we chose to do this? The financial security and making others happy? Have our visions of a satisfied life been warped by consumerism? Am i ready to trade personal gain for a family of 8 billion people?
Capitalism, in it’s greediest forms, promotes short term gain. Go in, profit, get out and let the rest clean up. Ahem. Renewables also signify a menace to a business model that depends on a constant stream of cash; not on self-sufficiency in it’s various forms.
As mountain bikers, we’re nAtUraLly put in a situation where we look like hypocrites...but we know how genuine our connection to nature is, it helps us find a high. (actually loam) We have front row seats to this spectacle of might I say: The thrill of life VS. Sustainability
Sustainability isn’t the most exciting thing and I understand people who think life isn’t the time to worry about things beyond our control. (Aka humans being specs of nothingness in the universe) But showing a sign of respect to the planet also shows that you respect yourself. And that my friends is something to be proud of. Even after you die.
Feel free to stop reading; but these are my personal goals, aka real-life actions. I live in Flavortown, so maybe things are different for you, but there’s always some nice gestures to be had if we make the effort.
-have only one Mtb
-sell my car/ carshare
-higher quality parts to encourage long lasting, repairable products & possibly local mfg
-buy second hand if possible
-reduce meat/ dairy consumption
We need to put more focus on the real definition of Value. What gives something value? The money you get when you sell it? The lessons it can teach you?Personal success and monetary gain are very individual things. Collectivity over ego. We have the technology to work together. (Uhhh...is that technology there because of capitalism?..in a big part yes, but our good ol’ American dream has backfired)
The only way to win the race is to pass the baton, not finish 1st.
Second hand for a lot of things is awesome! I just moved and needed some furniture, found a great table and bookshelf that were older (so made with quality materials not IKEA sawdust) for dirt cheap.
Humans are intrinsically selfish thanks to our evolution and survival instincts. Appealing to our "higher nature" and getting enough people to think beyond their own wants is an uphill battle. I am very pessimistic about it but hope I am wrong.
Reading this leads me to believe that the PUBLIC can stop this process during the CONSULTATION period. So... Go Public! BLM just needs a proposal to charge a fee based on average tourist visits that will be greater than energy yield/profit from oil. Want GREEN, spend GREEN. I'll pay to play.
www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cortez-masto-introduces-legislation-to-prohibit-oil-and-gas-speculation-on-low-potential-lands
www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2019/6/4/more-on-the-sketchy-leasing-off-of-public-lands?rq=oil
www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2019/7/15/standing-up-for-recreation-and-public-process-in-oil-amp-gas-leasing?rq=oil
"The BLM says that not all leased land gets developed and the current parcels would NOT allow any surface work to be completed, however directional drilling from adjacent parcels could still be used to extract the fossil fuels from under the trails."
1. Drinking water.
2. "Development" of nearby land. When oil moves in, they tend to turn the area into a bit of a wasteland and having that even near such a place is the concern (I believe)
In the end there seems to be plenty of outrage against the fact that land so many enjoy can be auctioned off like this
In case you want to know more about the technology that allows you to live life the way you do:
corporate.exxonmobil.com/Energy-and-environment/Tools-and-processes/Hydraulic-fracturing
They could directional bore this and none of you would have any idea unless you saw the machine they used during the short period of time it took to bore it. The article even states "the current parcels would not allow any surface work to be completed" so the trail will literally won't be affected in any way.
And if you can't actually pay for the bid, you get the book thrown at you and put in prison as what happened to Tim DeChristopher www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2018/12/15/years-after-he-monkey
The definition of FAKE NEWS. He did not make this decision, and this could and would happen under any president.
eye and earsore of the nearby pumps,
the added dirt and pollution haze that will obstruct the view,
the additional truck traffic,
new access roads that will increase erosion...
not to mention these types of sketchy drilling have been linked to friggin' earthquakes www.scientificamerican.com/article/drilling-for-earthquakes
800 S 423 W
Ste A 105
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801-467-9294
utah.chapter@sierraclub.org
I was reading this, kinda not surprised that: "Reports indicate that the bids will not pass the public consultation as the potential for energy production is low and the land should generate more revenue through tourism than drilling." That statement says it all. There are so many people that love this area, and it is not worth any amount of money... The views, vibes, and ultra-unique riding make it a one-of-a kind place.
This implies that recreation would not be affected. It seems silly of these reports to cite the fact that tourism generates more revenue when in fact both tourism and drilling can go on concurrently, presumably with ZERO effect on the tourism/recreation.
I feel as though the real issue here is drinking water contamination, and while I do not know what exactly is going on here, I assume that this is unlikely.
I really can't see the logic here.
Trump 2020!!!!
RUBBER IS MADE WITH OIL.
“The leases come as part of Trump's Energy Dominance plan that saw him pull out of the Paris Climate agreement, open up new land for leasing and cut the red tape that prevented the construction of energy infrastructure such as pipelines. Last year, the USA held 28 onshore oil and gas lease sales that generated $1.1 billion USD.“