Moratorium should remain

On May 2, Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard and New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenini introduced a bill that would repeal a one-year moratorium on approval of final regulations for commercial oil-shale leases on federal land. The senators see this as an immediate answer to high fuel prices, yet the BLM doesn’t expect commercial oil-shale development to begin for at least 10 years.
There is no need to repeal the moratorium on the federal oil shale leasing program. The moratorium went into effect due to a lack of proven technology, and it remains the case today. Energy companies just want to tie-up thousands of publicly owned acres as oil prices continue to escalate.
Little does the public know, but energy companies already own over 2 million acres of oil-shale lands across the West. This raises a very serious question concerning appropriation of public assets for private gain.
We the public, must demand that our government maintain the funding moratorium until all costs and benefits associated with oil shale production are known. Only after diligent analysis and discussion, should we begin to think about leasing public oil shale lands. Until then, let us keep our public assets in the lock box.
DALE REED
Montrose

Amendment will stop commercial leases for now
I completely agree that “there is no need to accelerate leasing of federal land for oil shale production,” as The Daily Sentinel’s May 5 editorial, “Congress is pushing another shale sham” rightly noted.
That’s why I’ve been trying to change the 2005 energy act’s mandate that the BLM go ahead with a commercial-scale program without waiting to learn the results of the research and development program.
Unfortunately, the Senate did not go along with the part of last year’s House-passed energy bill that included my provisions making that change.
However, the House also voted to adopt my amendment adding to the Interior Department’s funding bill a moratorium on final commercial leasing regulations and leases — and, as the Sentinel noted, that did win enactment thanks to support from Sen. Ken Salazar.
I share the Sentinel’s view that the moratorium — now set to expire at the end of September — should be extended, and I will be working to achieve that result.
REP. MARK UDALL
2nd Congressional District
Washington, D.C.

Issuing regulations makes sense for oil shale
The Daily Sentinel’s May 5 editorial, “Congress is pushing another shale sham,” insinuated that either I don’t understand or don’t care about the issue of oil shale development in western Colorado. This is unfair and incorrect.
Beneath the lands of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming lay roughly 1.5 trillion barrels of potentially recoverable oil — more than the oil reserves in Saudi Arabia. New technologies are emerging that will allow us to responsibly extract this oil in order to help meet our nation’s demands. The long-term benefits to Colorado, and to the American economy, could be tremendous.
I vividly remember “Black Sunday” in May, 1982, and the hardship it brought to western Colorado. During my tenure as a U.S. senator, I have advocated a “go-slow” approach on oil-shale development, and that approach has been saluted in previous editorials by the Sentinel.
My position has not changed. Crafting regulations does not authorize commercial leasing or the development of any project. Years from now, when leases are sold in Colorado and projects are actually proposed, each project will be required to go through the full NEPA process and will be subject to public comment.
The Sentinel editorial contradicts the widely held sentiments I’ve heard for years from citizens and elected officials in numerous meetings throughout western Colorado. It also contradicts the requests I have received from Western Slope representatives in the Colorado Legislature, who believe as I do, that Western Slope communities have much to gain from responsible oil shale development.
Allowing the Interior Department to issue the regulations necessary to establish the “rules of the road” simply makes good sense. Ignoring the need to develop these rules would be ignoring the citizens and elected officials of Western Colorado.
SEN. WAYNE ALLARD
Washington, D.C.

Grand Valley Transit is not meant to be a taxi service

Public transportation is not meant to be a door-to-door service as is taxi service. There’s a great difference in cost between these services and in the time it takes to get from point one to point two.

Riding on our Grand Valley Transit buses can be enjoyable if the alternative is walking a long distance or not getting out at all.
My family did not own a car, so riding a bus was the way for us to get around. Sometimes we needed to transfer once or twice to get to our destination. Yes, it takes longer that way, but there are some benefits.

Consider the cost of fuel for your car and the wear and tear. Stopping to change a flat tire can take a few minutes. Riding the bus, one does not need to deal with roundabouts or finding a parking place near your destination.

It’s all a matter of six of one or half a dozen of the other.

HELEN CAPPETTO
Grand Junction

Mesa County employees do great job maintaining parks

Too many times we find things to gripe and moan about. I really wish to give many accolades to the employees of Mesa County Parks and Recreation and in particular to Sue Gormley and Greg Linza.

I have been given the opportunity to photograph most if not all the Mesa County Parks and facilities. They are marvelously well-maintained facilities. Of particular beauty is Long Memorial Park. They only word to describe this park is Wow!

I hope everybody goes out and enjoys this facility. The Mesa County Fairgrounds, human services, animal services, the Sheriff’s Department and on and on are beautifully maintained. We are getting maximum benefit for our tax dollar.

ROD MARTINEZ
Grand Junction

Central High staff, students did great job with Senior Theatre

I would like to express praise for two local teens. I performed in this year’s Senior Theatre production held at Central High School. There were two special young women, Shannon and Sierra, who helped with the show.
I have never been so impressed with two young technicians. They did their job superbly. When there was a problem, they provided a solution. They were supportive, complimentary, enthusiastic, caring and smart. I wanted to take these girls home.

I want to say a thank you to the Central High School staff as well.
BEVERLY WINDSCHEFFELGrand Junction

McCain’s strategy is to blame Bush for all country’s failures

One tactic to be used by the Republicans during this election cycle is already in evidence. It is being used by none other than their presumptive nominee, John McCain. That is, blaming the current oval office occupant for all the failures of his administration.
That is, for all intents and purposes, an attempt by Republicans seeking election or re-election to distract attention from their own failures. Bush, despite his failings, did not do anything by himself. He was aided and abetted in those failures by all of those, inside and outside of Republican Party, who worked or voted for him to put or keep him in office, and supported his policies and decisions.

George Bush has been, in my opinion, a disaster for this country. No reasonably educated individual would deny that. However, what must also be looked at are those who enabled him. They also failed, and in many ways.

They failed to meet their obligations of oversight. They failed, in many cases, by placing their partisanship ahead of the interests of the people. They failed by placing their own personal interests and ambitions ahead of the interests of the country and they failed in voting in blind support of Bush policies.

This developing scenario being used by the Republican Party, as well as its candidates, reminds me of the classic work by Oscar Wilde, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” For those who have never read it, do so. For those who have, do so again. The lesson contained within its pages remains true to this day.
ROBERT I. LAITRESDelta

Sunday graduation sets immoral tone for district

As today’s culture embraces relativism, the lines are blurring between right and wrong, good and evil, moral and immoral, ethical and unethical responsibility and entitlement.

Considering this, reading the newspaper, listening to the news, hearing reports of what can be found on the Internet brings no surprises.

However, it did come as a surprise — or, more accurately, disbelief — when the school district here scheduled its high-school graduation for 10 a.m. Sunday, May 18.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that many area churches hold services on Sunday. Apparently respect for, or consideration for, these services was not considered when scheduling this school activity.

This school-district decision did send a message to the students and the community.

Successfully preparing our students for life includes setting an example by doing what is good. Choosing this kind of example enhances a student’s character rather than detracting from it. Education has for its object the formation of character.

MARYANN TONDER
Parachute

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