Letter to the Editor: BBC Ads

By Sun Advocate

Editor:
The last Bill Barrett Corporation ad pushed me over the edge.
“Help us keep the lights on”.
I don’t think that too many of us in Price have gas lights. Even we simple country folk have moved on to those light bulb things. Now don’t get me wrong I do like a nice warm house in the winter.
I have been following the ads with much interest and concern. I find them misleading, full of half truths and demeaning.
One of the ads says “524 jobs and over $22 million in wages.” A lot of these jobs are going to people from out of state.
Another says “industry will invest over a billion dollars in Utah this year alone.” They don’t say what industries.
In an ad they also say “Producing natural gas and protecting cultural artifacts, can it be done? It’s already being done” Yes it can be done. But sadly it is not working that way in Nine Mile Canyon.
The Bill Barrett Corporation could have taken the high road, pun intended. Oil and gas companies build the best roads. This is a fact. BBC could have put in an alternate road and most of us would not know that they were in the Nine Mile Canyon area. But being responsible and doing the right thing would take some money out of some ones bottom line.
To quote Dave Levanger in the Sun Advocate, Letter to Editor May 27, 2008, “Bill Barrett Corporation reported on May 6 that its first quarter 2008 earnings doubled over those from last year”.
I overheard people talking about the road in Nine Mile Canyon. They did not see the big deal over the dust in Nine Mile. They say “it’s always been a dusty road”. And this is a true story, only the road is not a real road it is a graded trail. And when you add magnesium chloride, for several years, to a dusty trail and then add mega amounts of industrial traffic you have created huge dust clouds full of a corrosive glue. This stuff won’t stick to an improperly built road, but it does stick to the vegetation. So the wildlife and livestock get to eat the stuff and it does stick to your car and aids in rusting. And it sticks to the cultural recourses as well.
But not to worry; it’s not Barrett’s history or their sacred places that they are erasing. This corrosive element sticks to and erodes the patina on the rock art panels. (Patina is the dark thin outer crust on the rocks that can take anywhere from 3,000 to 15,000 years to form.) And what about the people who live and work in the canyon? Each one of those big trucks has a driver, a person just trying to make a living and take care of his family. What is this stuff doing to their health?
“If your local, it’s time to get vocal!” and this is a true story. It’s time to learn the truth for yourself. Pack a lunch, gather the family and take a fun trip to Nine Mile Canyon.
Barrett has stated that outsiders are trying to take away your rights. And this is also a true story. The name of this outsider is Bill Barrett Corporation. And they are laughing all the way to the bank.
I would also like to make a few more comments on Mr. Levanger’s letter.
Most of us are not against gas development atop the West Tavaputs Plateau. We are however opposed to the current slash and burn approach. Nine Mile Canyon is on the 11 most endangered places list. BBC has the power to change that. Barrett could and should build an alternate road. They could give the canyon back to the ranchers, the tourists and the wild life. The comapnay could set a new standard for other companies to aspire to. They could show the world how to take care of sensitive and vulnerable places. The press would be all over a company with so much integrity.
And good karma is something else they could take to the bank.