Local group urges Paonia to push back on proposed BLM leasing rule changes

Natasha, executive director of Citizens for a Healthy Community, asked the Paonia Board of Trustees to authorize the interim administrator to submit a comment letter opposing rule changes proposed by the Bureau of Land Management that would shorten public-comment opportunities and reduce financial assurance requirements for oil-and-gas leases.

Natasha told trustees the proposed rule would eliminate earlier, longer comment windows and leave only a 10-day comment period after lease decisions, which she said would limit local governments’ ability to review and respond. She also said the proposal would cut per-lease bonding from roughly $150,000 to $10,000 (and reduce statewide bonding amounts) and would repeal notice requirements for private surface owners. "The rule will reduce the overall comment period from 90 days to 10 days," Natasha said, urging the town to preserve local government’s ability to comment; she asked the board to have the interim administrator sign a letter before the August 24 deadline.

Board members said the town has historically submitted similar comments and that staff signature would be preferable because of the short timeline; a number of trustees voiced support for submitting a letter that mirrors the town’s prior positions. Staff and trustees asked for clarifications about the proposed statewide bonding numbers and the anticipated fiscal and community impacts.