Gridlock is a sign
of the future

I would like to thank The Daily Sentinel for the interest in the future of Battlement Mesa as evidenced in the feature “Embattled Mesa.” We appreciate the Sentinel’s attention because the treatment of issues goes beyond Mesa County and are thus important to the whole Western Slope.
I’m writing to emphasize the problem of the crippling transportation gridlock in Parachute, involving interchanges and bridges and also in Glenwood Springs, to provide on/off access to Interstate 70. We are pleased to have a candidate for Garfield County commissioner in the person of Mike Samson who is dedicated to address these problems and has proposed a bi-county forum to study means for abatement.
It should be noted that with the gas industry growth in property in De Beque, it is also only a step away from gridlock. Only through Mike’s leadership and a cooperative effort can we exert the pressure for funding needed to fix our road and bridge problems exacerbated by the energy boom.
Support for Mike Samson will be appreciated.
LARRY SODERBERG
Parachute

Oil and gas leases
should not be limited
Politicians claim that 68 million acres of oil and gas leases in the United States are held by big oil companies and should be drilled before any more are leased. Actually, most of these leases are held by small companies and individuals.
U.S. exploration leases held by major oil companies today are located far offshore, in western United States or in Alaska. Producing areas are a small part of the sedimentary basins which are necessary to generate oil and gas.  Leases in wildcat areas are necessarily large.
First, wildcat areas are selected by air photo, surface geology and regional geophysical surveys. If a sedimentary basin is confirmed leasing is requested. The lease winner, by largest bid, then conducts detailed seismic work which is expensive and time consuming, especially if there is a lot of surface legal work and unjustified environmental opposition. If prospects are located drilling equipment can be mobilized and surface locations acquired, permitted and prepared. Rarely prospective areas are easily identified and can be drilled soon after issuance of the lease and all legal requirements accomplished.
If a discovery is made and development initiated, the remainder of the lease is explored in detail for smaller prospects. Usually several dry holes are drilled before a lease is fully explored. Availability of offshore deepwater drilling equipment is another factor. Seldom is the entire process completed before the lease expires.
It usually takes many years before a productive basin is fully explored. It would be complete folly and disaster to limit the term of oil and gas leases. We should offer every incentive to explore our far offshore and Alaskan Arctic areas to reduce the effect of Mid East oil producers on the cost of our energy.
C. J. GUDIM
Fruita
Local business owners
exemplify work ethic
On Aug. 23, just a few hours from the Grand Junction Symphony, the Centennial Band and the Talking Rhythms Evening Under the Stars program, I was informed that there had been a mix-up and no portable toilets had been delivered to Lincoln Park for the concert.
I called Loren Mullen, the owner of Rocky Mountain Sanitation, and despite his plans to spend his Saturday afternoon doing something else, he and his wife, Lisa, made many phone calls to find available help and literally at a moment’s notice, delivered 19 portable toilets to Lincoln Park. This is extraordinary service, especially since they had not been contacted to do this initially and truly exemplifies the business ethic of these two highly respected business owners.
I applaud their efforts on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Grand Junction Symphony so the concert would go on as scheduled enabling thousands of attendees to truly enjoy this Wells Fargo Bank sponsored concert — a highlight of the summer.
KAREN HILDEBRANDT
Board of Directors
Grand Junction Symphony
Grand Junction

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