The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have announced public meetings next week for the proposed Thompson Divide Administrative Mineral Withdrawal. Please attend (in-person or virtually) and show our federal agencies that we remain Unified For the Thompson Divide!

What: Public Meetings about the proposed Thompson Divide Mineral Withdrawal

When: Tuesday, May 9 (Delta) & Thursday, May 11 (Gunnison & Virtual); sessions begin at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Where: Bill Heddles Recreation Center (531 N. Palmer St., Delta, CO 81416) & the Western Colorado University Ballroom (1 Western Way, Gunnison, CO 81231) or virtually (register in advance)

Format: The sessions will consist of a short presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session. Additional information can be found here. The May 11, 6:30 p.m. session will include Spanish interpretation virtually.

If you’re able to attend, we suggest you share with agency staff why you want to see the Thompson Divide protected and the following key points:

  • There is strong support for the proposed withdrawal – locally and across the country.
  • Federal agencies (the BLM and USFS) need to move quickly and make this a priority.
  • Permanent protection of the Divide remains our goal.

As a reminder, in October 2022 President Biden and Interior Secretary Haaland officially proposed to administratively withdraw 225,000 acres of the Thompson Divide from all future oil and gas leasing, as well as mining, for 20 years! The BLM held an initial 90-day comment period, which ended in January 2023. Next week’s public meetings are part of the US Forest Service-led NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process for the proposed withdrawal.

Wilderness Workshop is enthusiastically supportive of the proposed withdrawal – you can read more about this incredible landscape on this page or in our print newsletter, Wild Works. We remain committed to permanently protecting the Divide by passing the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act, which would forever prohibit new oil and gas leasing in this spectacular landscape.