Editor:

This is a call to arms to all people of the Roaring Fork Valley, as well as Silt and all the other communities that surround the Thompson Divide.

Sen. Michael Bennet has drafted a bill to prevent any further oil and gas leasing of the Thompson Divide, which is the largely natural backcountry area that lies between Carbondale, Glenwood, Silt and McClure Pass. He’s asking for public input, and already he’s getting pressure from industry.

Robbie Guinn of SG Interests, which wants to drill in the heart of the Thompson Divide, was quoted as saying, “I think it’s another perfect example of the current administration promoting job-killing legislation.”

That is wrong on so many levels.

Sen. Bennet isn’t the administration, he’s a member of Congress, and this isn’t a partisan issue. The Senator is acting on behalf of the vast majority of his constituents who don’t want the Thompson Divide to be drilled, and who know that we’ll have more jobs — and better, more sustainable jobs — by keeping the Thompson Divide as is.

In fact, there’s near-unanimity on this. I’ve never seen an issue that has such agreement — upvalley, downvalley, Republicans, Democrats, ranchers, businesses, homeowners and recreationalists.

We all stand together, the entire community of people whose fate is tied to that of the Thompson Divide. If the area is allowed to be drilled, our economy, our livelihoods, our environment and our way of life would be destroyed. Only a few companies stand to benefit, and they would take their profits to Houston and Denver.

It’s time to take a stand. It starts with telling Sen. Bennet we support his bill and we want him to introduce it and champion it in Congress. To do that, go to www.bennet.senate.gov/thompsondivide [1]. Do it right now.

After that, contact the Thompson Divide Coalition (www.savethompsondivide.org [2]) to find out how to get more involved. Because even as Sen. Bennet floats his bill, companies like SG are preparing to stake out roads and well pads in the Thompson Divide. The threat is serious and imminent.

This is not a time for complacency. It’s time to get organized, to rally our friends and neighbors, to create a popular movement and build political strength. I don’t want to demonize the companies for doing what they feel they have to do. But this is our home and we’re going to do what we have to do to protect it.

Dave Reed
Carbondale