Open letter to Gov. Herbert:
As I have chosen to spend my life in Utah to enjoy the unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation (hiking, skiing, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking) on public lands — many of them in Arches and Canyonlands national parks and others in the Moab area, in particular — I urge you to call for the cancellation of the upcoming September oil and gas lease sale in Utah.
The largest contributor to Utah’s economy is tourism. Millions visit Utah to view our scenery, breathe (sometimes) fresh air and enjoy the tranquil sensation that arises from looking out over Utah’s majestic scenery. They leave only footprints — and large sums of money for food, lodging, transportation and outdoor gear that contributes mightily to, especially, Utah’s rural economy.
They, actually we, do not visit national parks or wilderness areas or undeveloped lands to view oil rigs, watch dust trails from oil trucks cloud the air, see roads crisscross the landscape. The Uintah basin is not on my must-see list, given the disastrous gas sacrifice area that it has become, for example.
We do not need more oil, gas or coal. Burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming. The costs of solar and wind power are now competitive with, if not less expensive than, fossil-fuel power. And, to make matters even less desirable from a financial perspective, the royalties paid to the state of Utah for oil and gas extracted from our lands have been drastically reduced.
So, again, I urge you to oppose the upcoming sale of Utah's precious and rare public lands for fossil fuel leasing. This cancellation would have an enduring positive effect on Utah's economy, reduce carbon emissions and allow Utahns, and the citizens of the world, to continue to enjoy the magic of Utah's greatest resource — its natural beauty.
Phil Triolo, Salt Lake City