What the frack? Flaming peaches?

First let me say I like being warm in my house when it is -20 degrees in Crested Butte. That climate is not unusual in January so I appreciate the fact natural gas keeps me warm. I understand it has to come from somewhere and I am not opposed to having gas wells in this county.
But I also carry a few NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) traits and am not ashamed of it. Everyone should be watching his or her backyard. And that’s what I want the Gunnison County commissioners to do when it comes to reviewing gas well applications. Watch out for our backyard. It doesn’t mean don’t allow things to change but it does mean you do what you need to do in order to protect the valuable things we already have.
It doesn’t seem out of line to have some local control over an industry that could have a huge impact on our area. It could impact our tourism, our lifestyle, our food. I don’t need an apple from the orchards on the other side of Kebler Pass tasting like gas instead of a crisp October day.
Now, local officials shouldn’t draw out the process and shouldn’t storm off in a huff when things aren’t going their way, but putting a set of local eyes on what is obviously a high-impact industry seems reasonable.
The state isn’t going to set the same standards or have the same concerns as people living here when it comes to extractive industries. The lower half of the Colorado state shield has two miner’s tools, the pick and sledge hammer, crossed on a golden ground. Just sayin’.
Frankly, it seems logical that the industry should not be afraid of the scrutiny and might even embrace it to give them some basis in continuing to claim natural gas is a clean energy alternative. They should insist on baseline studies of local water and continuous monitoring to prove their drilling and fracking won’t have a negative impact on the lifeblood of the local valleys.
Look Paula, Hap and Phil, we are just asking that you do what any responsible homeowner would do and keep a good close eye on the backyard. Insist on those baseline studies so you’ll know if things are deteriorating as a result of fracking or drilling or whatever. Make sure the companies can pay for any damage and make sure the drilling will stop if things begin to take a turn for the worse.
It isn’t that difficult: If things aren’t right, stop it. If things are going well, cash the checks.
The bottom line: Keep the orchards safe, our water clean and our scenery attractive. We all depend on these things and it’s why we live here.
In the end, I want a fresh peach dripping with natural juices when I buy some fruit over in Paonia and not a peach you can set on fire because it might be contaminated with methane. Not that it wouldn’t be a tourist draw, but it’s not something we should encourage.
    
The Gunnison County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, June 14 to discuss whether or not to further regulate natural gas wells in the county. Let them know what you think.