Thank goodness the Bureau of Land Management in Utah finally came to its senses and, listening to an outcry from Moab residents, environmental organizations, Congress, the incoming Obama Administration and the National Park Service, will not issue drilling leases in a Moab residential area, on the road to Dinosaur National Monument and on lands visible from the Delicate Arch and Canyonlands National Park.
What's more, according to a story by The Tribune's Patty Henetz, the BLM's Utah office may further trim the list of oil- and gas-leases beyond the national parks. Let's hope that includes the corridor near Desolation Canyon, one of the most scenic stretches of river running territory in the lower 48 states.
Environmental groups are still not happy with some of the leases that are being issued so the battle is not over. But it is an important small victory that the BLM backed down, a nice pre-Thanksgiving Day surprise.
– Tom Wharton