Former park rangers launch group to protect America’s national parks from irresponsible oil & gas drilling

Former park rangers have launched a new group, Park Rangers for Our Lands, to provide solutions to irresponsible plans to drill near America’s national parks.

The former park rangers are advocating for a balance between energy development and conservation, just at a time when Colorado Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Helen Hankins has tried to push forward widely-criticized plans to drill next to Dinosaur National Monument and near Mesa Verde National Park. These are two areas of primary concern for the group.

According to Richard Ellis, who spearheaded the formation of Park Rangers for Our Lands:

“Our parks are under siege. Oil and gas drilling is encroaching our public lands from all sides…We need the BLM to work with its neighbors at the National Park Service and come up with common sense ways to protect the parks, the air quality in the region, and keep the West a beautiful place to visit.”

Director Hankins has come under fire, numerous times, for her oil and gas leasing plans next to Dinosaur Monument’s visitor center, near Mesa Verde National Park, perilously close to Denver’s drinking water supplies, and in the agricultural heart of North Fork Valley.

Unfortunately, this hasn’t stopped Dir. Hankins from continuing to push to open these areas for oil and gas drilling (see graphic) – despite the risks to our water, public health, farms and economies. It’s time for Director Hankins to adopt a common sense approach to oil and gas leasing that includes up to date analysis, implementing national BLM reforms – to cut down on Colorado’s highest in the region lease protests- and taking into effect the concerns of local businesses, landowners and the National Parks Service.

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Despite mayor's plea, Denver parks board nixes open-space land swap

Font ResizeLocal NewsBy Karen Augé
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/13/2012 09:40:18 PM MSTDecember 14, 2012 6:46 AM GMTUpdated: 12/13/2012 11:46:00 PM MST

After hearing Denver Mayor Michael Hancock's appeal on behalf of a land exchange that could lead to a domestic-violence center, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Thursday refused to approve the deal between Denver Public Schools and the city.

The board was asked to remove an open-space designation from part of an 11.5-acre parcel abutting Paul H. Hentzell Park in east Denver's Hampden Heights.

The school district hopes to build an elementary school and possibly an early-learning center for kindergarten- and preschool-age children on the site.

In exchange, the city would get a building on Fox Street that currently houses DPS administrative offices. The mayor wants to convert that building to a domestic-violence resource center.

But by a vote of 11-6, the board decided not to recommend removing the open-space designation that currently exists on 9 of the 11.5 acres. One board member, a DPS employee, abstained.

Their recommendation is nonbinding.

The parks and recreation department manager will make a recommendation to the Denver City Council, which will make the final decision on the open-space designation.

The advisory board's vote came after two long meetings in which dozens of residents addressed both sides of the issue.

Hancock told the board Thursday he was committed to adding more open space to the city.

But he said going ahead with the land swap would be "a good transaction for the city of Denver, a good transaction for Denver Public Schools," and for all residents.

That didn't sway the more than 20 residents who spoke against the proposal, most emphasizing that open space is priceless and that removing an open-space designation would set a dangerous precedent.

Several board members said they were unhappy at being asked to choose between open space and much-needed schools and aid for victims of domestic violence.

But the majority concluded their function was to protect parks and open space and therefore voted no.

Karen Augé: 303-954-1733, kauge

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