The current debate over heavy use of the Nine-Mile Canyon road by trucks servicing natural gas and oil wells in the area begs for a compromise. There is an obvious need to protect the priceless rock art and a need for energy resources. (Today's story the BLM proposal to list Nine-Mile Canyon on the National Register of Historic Places).
Why not look at mitigating for the damages like was done with the Central Utah Project? The Bureau of Land Management could charge energy companies a fee and match it. Seeing the public relations campaign the oil company has developed on television shows it has some money to spend.
Money collected could then be used for several purposes. Either a new road could be built away from Nine-Mile Canyon to access the oil and natural gas wells or the current road could be paved, eliminating the dust problem. And interpretive kiosks and ways to protect the rock art could also be built.
Recognizing that natural resources such as oil and gas are necessary in modern society, why can’t reasonable people find a solution to mitigate the damages and still protect the rock art?
— Tom