Drilling Threatens National Parks
If W. has his way, this view might never be the same.
Photo: en.wikipedia.org
Looks like George W. Bush has tried to pull another fast one. Late in the day on November 4, when we were all busy figuring out who'd take Bushie's spot in the White House, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) quietly announced that it would auction off more than 50,000 acres of Utah land to the oil and gas industry. The catch? Several of these parcels are right on the borders of the Arches, Dinosaur, and Canyonlands National Parks. If the sales go through, future visitors to Arches will look through famous Delicate Arch and see a drilling platform in the near distance, just over a mile away.
The chief park service administrator in Utah calls the plan "shocking and disturbing," according to MSNBC. Nevertheless, the sale seems to be going through, with a land auction scheduled for December 19. You can voice your disapproval via the BLM's Web site. I know I will: I spent a day in Arches this past spring while on assignment for Condé Nast Traveler (writing the Iconic Itinerary to the American Southwest), and found it one of the most breathtaking examples of our country's natural wonders.
Further reading:
* National Park Service: Arches
* Responsible Traveler: Making a difference
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There is nothing more beautiful than my childhood home, the Texas Panhandle with its rolling grasslands, mesas and canyons. The oil wells there do not disturb, but blend in with the view. They only help us to be energy independent!!!!
Posted by: George37 | November 19, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I've never been, but I'm sure the Texas Panhandle is beautiful. However, I find nothing beautiful about a drilling platform, nor did I find anything beautiful about the smog that obscured my view of the Grand Canyon a few months ago--the work of several power plants nearby.
Posted by: BrookWilkinson | November 19, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Oil wells do not create smog. The drilling platforms are there for just a relatively short time and then all you see is the pump.
Posted by: George37 | November 19, 2008 at 05:30 PM