Grand County opposes federal oil and gas plan

Grand County has voiced concerns about a federal proposal to lease over 27,000 acres of land for oil and gas development near Rocky Mountain National Park.

Colorado Public Radio reports (http://bit.ly/2camwAS ) the county board of commissioners said in a Tuesday letter to the Bureau of Land Management that the plan would put a strain on the area’s natural resources.

The board says several tributaries of the Colorado River run through the proposed lease parcels, and commissioners are concerned about water resources and water quality. They say the waterways are critical to ranching and recreation in Grand County.

The board also questioned why BLM would move forward with the plan in an area found to have “low or no potential for oil and gas development.”

The agency didn’t respond to requests for comment.