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Land Letter <br />Page 2 of 2 <br />Town Board voted unanimously against drilling in the roadless portion of the HD Mountains and <br />supported an earlier request to extend the comment period on the draft EIS, currently scheduled to <br />end on Sept. 13. A decision on that request is expected by the end of this week. <br />Bayfield Mayor James Harrmann said that while he does not oppose all drilling in the HD Mountains, <br />the draft EIS has given short shrift to concerns about the effects of roads and well pads on wildlife <br />and water quality. Harrmann also criticized the Forest Service for failing to consider less invasive <br />drilling methods, such as horizontal or directional drilling, to avoid the ponderosa pines. <br />"The oil and gas companies I think would rather take an easier route as always," Harrmann said. <br />"They seem like they want to get in there as quickly as possible and do what damage they want." <br />Also of concern to activists is drilling activity at the Fruitland Formation outcrop. Although the draft <br />EIS said the aquifer under the formation is geologically protected from gas development and <br />mitigation measures would protect other water sources, environmentalists fear CBM development <br />could contaminate wells used by residents and livestock operations. Tapping coalbed methane gas <br />trapped in coal seams typically involves pumping out large quantities of groundwater, which holds <br />the gas in the coal. <br />"They don't analyze an alternative in the draft EIS that would disallow drilling in the roadless area <br />and along the Fruitland Formation," said Amber Clark of the San Juan Citizen's Alliance. <br />But the Forest Service and industry officials said drilling could not be done in a less invasive manner <br />than proposed in the draft EIS, given the area's unique geology. <br />"We have very soft coal and very wet coal [in the HDs]," said Christi Zeller, executive director of the <br />La Plata County Energy Council, an industry group. "The companies that are involved in drilling in <br />the HD Mountains are quite excited to try these horizontal wells, but they don't want it mandated." <br />ENVIRONMENT DAILY <br />PUBLISHING, LLC <br />122 C. St. NW, Ste. 722 Washington, Q.C. 20001 <br />E -mail: pubs@eenews.net * Phone: 202 - 628 -6500 <br />All contents @ 2004 E &E Publishing, LLC. <br />http: / /www.eenews. net/ LandletterBackissues /081204/08120404.htm 8/12/2004 <br />