State Senator Gail Schwartz will moderate a public hearing on Saturday, January 28, on the BLM’s proposal to lease some 30,000 acres of oil & gas mineral rights in the North Fork of the Gunnison valley.  The hearing will be held at the Hotchkiss High School  from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.  Representatives from the offices of US Sen. Mark Udall and US Sen. Michael Bennett will attend.

Testimony will be recorded and presented to BLM as part of the public record.  Here are some tips if you plan to make a statement in opposition to the lease sale:

• Sign up begins at 12:30 pm.
• Plan your statement so it fits in the 3 minute limit.
• Begin your statement with “I am here today to ask the BLM to remove the 22 parcels from the August oil and gas lease sale”.
• Make your most important points first in case you run out of time.
• Be as specific as possible about your concerns.  If you have personal knowledge of an area, be sure to mention it.

If you can’t attend the hearing, visit the BLM’s website to submit your comments before the Feb. 9 deadline.

The meeting is organized by Citizens for a Healthy Community.