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October 29, 2012--Western communities boiling over water quality (Denver Post)

Communities across the West are demanding limits on oil shale drilling along the Colorado River over concerns the thirst for oil could lead to polluted water supplies for millions of people. The worries have prompted proposals to limit acreage available for leasing. Officials in Nevada and Arizona sent letters to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar expressing concerns about the need to protect Colorado River water quality and quantity. Others back a Bureau of Land Management proposal to sharply reduce acreage available for possible leasing in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Chris Treese, spokesman for the Colorado River Water Conservation District, said the concerns are overblown. "They're not going to see any change in their water quality—none," said Treese, whose group is in western Colorado. The BLM said some of the potential impacts will be analyzed as part of the individual leasing authorization process. Regulators believe the water supply can be protected and any pollution will be diluted by the time it reaches Las Vegas, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported Monday. Yet those reassurances have not placated elected officials.  

To view the full article, visit the Denver Post. For a copy of the original article contact the WIP at (970) 247-1302 or stop by the office at 841 East Second Avenue in Durango, Colorado.


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