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. P% <br />Page 2 of 2 <br />at least incomplete, if not erroneous. <br />Vance said although his house was built in the 1890s, the maps apparently "show our group of ranches as undeveloped <br />land" and list "only a fraction of the wells" and springs that exist in the area. <br />Echoing Vance's assertions, "It's just a scary proposition," added McCracken. "It's almost criminal." <br />Acknowledging such sentiments, "We're not in a position, today, to pass a resolution," said Mamie Lynch, board <br />chairman. <br />However, Lynch indicated the board will consider taking an official stance after a meeting next week with La Plata <br />County staff in which the coal -bed methane issue will be discussed. <br />The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 2 -5 p.m. in the La Plata County courthouse. <br />USFS /BLM meeting <br />Other issues relating to the potential development of additional gas wells in the HDs surfaced during an informal <br />meeting conducted Tuesday night in the county Extension building. <br />The session was attended by roughly a dozen members of the public and afforded project proponents, opponents, <br />representatives from the Forest Service, BLM and BLM Southwest Regional Advisory Council to trade comments and <br />questions in an open forum. <br />Information and ideas presented during the meeting were recorded in writing and are expected to be available for review <br />on the Internet by the end of the week at www.fs.fed.us /r2 /sanjuan or www.co.blm.gov /sjra /index.html. <br />The following is a breakdown of a few of the topics addressed during Tuesday's meeting: <br />- the apparent need for updated information for the portion of the analysis area extending into Archuleta County; <br />- concerns about state and federal setbacks regarding drilling near the outcrop boundary; <br />- discussion concerning potential methane contamination of domestic water wells and ground water depletion; <br />- effects development could have on area vegetation and wildlife /ecosystems; <br />- discussion of federal and private responsibilities related to mitigation and reclamation. <br />On a related note, the comment period for the draft EIS has been extended. Written public comments must be <br />postmarked no later than Nov. 30, 2004, and mailed to Northern San Juan Basin CBM EIS, USDA FS Content Analysis <br />Team, P.O. Box 221150, Salt Lake City, UT 84122. Comments may also be submitted by e -mail to: nbasin -cbm- <br />eis@fs.fed.us. <br />Compact -disc copies of the draft EIS are available at the San Juan Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, 247- <br />4874, or the Columbine Public Lands Office, 367 Pearl Street, Bayfield, 884 -2512. Because the draft EIS is very large, <br />limited copies are available. <br />The document is also available on the Web at www.fs.fed.us /r2 /sanjuan or www.nsjb- eis.org. <br />8/23/2004 <br />