The Slow Food USA Blog

UPDATE: BLM defers all North Fork Valley oil & gas parcels in August 2012 lease sale

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Back in March, we told you about the efforts of the Slow Food Western Slope & Rocky Mountain region chapters to defend the North Fork Valley, an agricultural gem that embodies Slow Food’s principles of envisioning a world in which all people can eat food that is good for them, good for the planet, and good for those who produce it. The Valley, they said, was “under attack” due to an announcement that 22 parcels of land (over 30,000 acres) would be up for oil and gas sales. They went on to explain how this would directly affect over 70 winemakers, farmers, orchardists, ranchers and agricultural businesses in North Fork Valley who depend on good and clean water, air and soil for their businesses.

We are happy to report that the agency overseeing the sale, the Bureau of Land Management, thanks, in part, to the of comments submitted by Slow Food members across the Rocky Mountain region, has decided to defer all sales in the region. This is a major win for Slow Food Western Slope and the region at large, but this story is certainly not over. To learn more, see the BLM Press release below:

Press release from the Bureau of Land Management:

MONTROSE, Colo. – Today, the Bureau of Land Management announced the deferral all parcels associated with the August 2012 oil and gas lease sale in the North Fork Valley. 

The environmental assessment evaluated 22 proposed oil and gas parcels near Paonia, Hotchkiss and Somerset, Colo. for the Aug. 9, 2012, quarterly oil and gas lease sale.  BLM has opted to conduct additional analysis of the proposed lease parcels based on public input.

To learn more about oil and gas leasing on federal lands, go to http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/oilandgas.html