‘Split Estate’ reveals unanswered questions

The Daily Sentinel’s Oct. 24 editorial, “Gas documentary offers anecdotes, not evidence” suggests that the documentary, “Split Estate,” is an assortment of sad tales that don’t prove a direct link between hydraulic fracturing and the health problems described in the film. The editorial misses the point.

First, the Sentinel should not be so quick to let hydraulic fracturing — injecting chemically treated water into the earth to extract gas — off the hook. Serious questions remain about the safety of the technique.

Second, what difference does it make whether wells contaminated in Wyoming were tainted by mishandled wastewater instead of the hydraulic fracturing process, as industry experts suggest? We need to protect public health from the impacts of gas development at every stage of the process.

What the anecdotes of “Split Estate” reveal is that many unanswered questions remain about the safety of gas development. The film exposes the dire need for full disclosure of chemicals used, extensive air and water quality monitoring, and serious health impact
assessments in regions of intensive drilling.

No such studies have been done because the gas development industry has prevented both government and the public from getting the information needed for rigorous research.

DEBORAH GOLDBERG
Managing Attorney
Earthjustice
New York, N.Y.

Candidates should stand up
to the oil and gas industry

The story, “BLM offers parcels near canyons,” in The Daily Sentinel Oct. 27, reveals the weak character of our politicos to shoot straight and lead.

Both candidates running for governor, while reserving an opinion on drilling for gas and oil in close proximity to and ultimately in the Grand Valley, show how spineless they are in their convictions.

If they have no idea presently of the effects drilling by the oil and gas industry will have on Grand Junction and its environs, they simply need to drive east on Interstate 70 to Rifle. If not blinded by personal ambition, they will see, up close, the visual devastation by this industry along the way.  

And while in Rifle, they should take a deep breath of the fresh petroleum-laced air that its citizens so graciously and sacrificially breath in support of the greed of an industry and its minions, who have no regard for the health and welfare of the locals when it negatively affects their bottom line.

ROBERT A. TALLARICO
Grand Junction

Rural lifestyle is gone
from Clifton and Fruitvale

In response to those opposed to annexation of Fruitvale and Clifton, I must ask: What is wrong with wanting one’s suburban neighborhood free of trash, junk cars, yard waste and gunfire?

Many old-time residents seem to pine for the rural life they led in times gone by, free to trash up their property and shoot their guns. But for most of Clifton and especially Fruitvale, the rural lifestyle is over.

If it looks like the suburbs and demands city services like the suburbs, we should pay our fair share and join the city.

CHERYL CONROD
Fruitvale

Bed and breakfast will not
detract from historical area

The rights of property owners was the focus recently as the Seventh Street overlay discussion turned to Ron and Sherri DeRose’s proposed bed and breakfast.

Why is a very small group of people going ballistic over one small, three-bedroom bed and breakfast?

There is currently a children’s day-care center that encompasses three lots in this overlay area. Also, several homes in this area have been converted to duplexes or have apartments over the garages to use as rentals.

I’ve only heard two objections to this application. One involves parking and the other is about keeping the home consistent with the historical guidelines of the area.

As to the parking, even if the bed and breakfast were at full occupancy, there would be three extra cars. Assuming a 50 percent occupancy rate, since this business would be seasonal and primarily weekends, this impact would be negligible. It would not create near the traffic that a day-care center does. The homes in this area that have full-time renters on their property have an extra car or two all of the time.

As to the historical nature of the neighborhood, the DeRose’s home is one of the few that has rigidly adhered to the original design. Not only that, but the DeRoses have beautifully restored the interior and filled it top to bottom with an incredible collection of antiques. They have researched the home’s history and have amazing stories to tell.

What better way to share this interesting piece of history with the public than to open it up as a bed and breakfast?

This minority needs to quit trying to dictate what people on Seventh Street can do inside their own homes. I enjoy driving by and seeing these old homes as much as anyone, and the approval of the bed and breakfast will not detract in the least. It is a great way of sharing some colorful Grand Junction history.

ELDON BEVILL
Grand Junction

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 6:12 am and is filed under Printed letters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.