The Bureau of Land Management announced its upcoming December oil and gas lease sale on August 20, 2020, without including approximately 30,000 acres in San Juan County originally nominated for auction by industry.
The deferred parcels lie in a culturally rich and unprotected swath of land between Bears Ears and Canyons of the Ancients National Monuments. In fact, some of the parcels directly bordered the original boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument.
This marks a surprising but refreshing turnaround for the administration, which has so far operated on an ‘energy-dominance’ agenda, leasing more than 100,000 acres of archaeologically dense lands in southeastern San Juan County since March 2018.
“We applaud this thoughtful and considerate decision,” said Josh Ewing, Friends of Cedar Mesa Executive Director. “Especially during the pandemic, meaningful engagement with the public and Tribes would have been virtually impossible. There is no doubt, the cultural resources in these lease parcels deserve robust protections and smart planning prior to leasing. As a grassroots organization, we’re thankful we do not need to challenge this sale, diverting resources from the positive work we accomplish working with land management agencies on proactive preservation projects.”
Parcels nominated for the December lease sale by industry in the Expression of Interest (EOI) process
Parcels nominated for the December lease sale by industry in the Expression of Interest (EOI) process“The Lands Between” Bears Ears and Canyons of the Ancients National Monuments is undoubtedly the most archaeologically dense landscape open to oil and gas leasing in the United States. While lesser known and less photogenic than Bears Ears, this region is home to archaeological sites much larger in size than the biggest site in Bears Ears and is part of a broader cultural landscape stretching from Bears Ears to Chaco.
Despite deferring the nominated leases in our area this time around, this at-risk region remains threatened by potentially damaging leasing initiated under the Trump Administration. Friends of Cedar Mesa continues to challenge four previous lease sales that have occurred in “The Lands Between” since 2018.
“While these leases are off the table for the time being, there is always a chance they could resurface on a future lease sale,” Ewing said. “That’s why it’s imperative we all continue to engage in protection of this remarkable cultural landscape.”
While Friends of Cedar Mesa supports responsible and targeted energy development and recognizes the long-standing economic impact in the county, the organization favors smart, landscape-level planning, such as the development of a Master Leasing Plan initiated under President Obama, which has since been abandoned.
The San Juan County Commission notes the delicate balance of oil and gas development in the region as well. A letter, written by the county to the BLM, regarding the deferred leases was recently presented to the county commission for consideration and expressed deep concern, stating:
“San Juan County is known for its abundance of cultural and historic sites which contribute to the cultural fabric and lifestyle of the county. Cultural sites have a special significance to Native Americans both residents and non-residents of the County with ancestral ties to these sites and areas. These sites are also an important part of the recreation and tourism that are important contributors to the county’s economy. The proposed lease parcels are within areas of known or potential high concentrations of cultural sites. It is county policy that valued sites be appropriately protected from adverse effects from management actions so as to ensure their continued value to Native Americans, the general public and to scientific interests.”
This is the second lease sale deferred or altered by the BLM in as many months. The Bureau of Land Management recently pulled thousands of acres of parcels in Grand and San Juan County off the table prior to the September 2020 lease sale citing concerns for recreation and resources. These leases bordered some of southeast Utah’s most iconic National Parks, as well as the original boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument.
“Understanding the nature of the proposed parcels, as well as gathering input from local communities, partners and the public are a priority for me as the new state director for BLM Utah,” Greg Sheehan told the Salt Lake Tribune in announcing the removal of parcels from September’s lease sale earlier this month.
While no official explanation has been given for the removal of parcels from December’s lease sale, Friends of Cedar Mesa hopes it signals a willingness by the administration to consider more robust protections for the cultural landscape of southeastern Utah.