Pamela and Robert Baca 9141 County Road 69 Trinidad, CO ...
Pamela and Robert Baca 9141 County Road 69 Trinidad, CO ...
Pamela and Robert Baca 9141 County Road 69 Trinidad, CO ...
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<strong>Pamela</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Baca</strong><br />
<strong>9141</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Road</strong> <strong>69</strong><br />
<strong>Trinidad</strong>, <strong>CO</strong>. 81082<br />
719-846-3754<br />
Mr. David Neslin<br />
Colorado Oil <strong>and</strong> Gas Conservation Commission<br />
Denver, Colorado<br />
Dear Mr. Neslin:<br />
I am extremely concerned with the proposed regulations threatening gas<br />
production in Las Animas <strong>County</strong>. I feel these proposed regulations are unnecessary <strong>and</strong><br />
a knee jerk response to special interest groups who have no real knowledge of or stake in<br />
the quality of life here in Las Animas <strong>County</strong> <strong>and</strong> other places where gas production is<br />
prevalent. I take offense to anyone who tells our proud, hardworking town they don’t<br />
have the right to work. I take even more offense to those who don’t underst<strong>and</strong> our way<br />
of life telling us it needs to be changed.<br />
I am a life long resident of Las Animas <strong>County</strong>. I, like most other <strong>Trinidad</strong><br />
natives, deeply appreciate the blessings of our awe inspiring mountains, pristine open<br />
spaces <strong>and</strong> achingly blue skies. We treasure our clean air, crystalline water <strong>and</strong> abundant<br />
wildlife. My husb<strong>and</strong>, daughter <strong>and</strong> I have spent many hours appreciating the beauty of<br />
Colorado’s mountains. We enjoy watching elk, deer <strong>and</strong> bear in our state parks <strong>and</strong><br />
enjoying the sunshine from a family cabin in Stonewall. We thank God we live in<br />
Colorado.<br />
I also support Pioneer Natural Resources <strong>and</strong> the other gas production companies<br />
in our area. I want gas production to continue in our county <strong>and</strong> continue for a long time<br />
to come. The myth that the gas will run out is exactly that--a myth perpetuated by those<br />
who hope that will one day be true. I doubt it. <strong>Trinidad</strong> sits on top of one of the largest<br />
naturally occurring methane fields in the country. The gas will always be here <strong>and</strong> so<br />
will gas production. I am proud to say my husb<strong>and</strong> is employed at Pioneer. If our<br />
experience is the norm, Pioneer is a responsible company that places its employees at the<br />
heart of its operation. They are deeply respectful of the community <strong>and</strong> environment that<br />
surrounds them. Pioneer is a progressive company. As a labor activist <strong>and</strong> union Local<br />
president, I can tell you Pioneer is doing things right. They address many issues workers<br />
throughout our country are still trying to deal with. I underst<strong>and</strong> what corporate<br />
responsibility is <strong>and</strong> so does Pioneer. They clearly underst<strong>and</strong> respecting their<br />
employees, community <strong>and</strong> environment is a good way to do business.<br />
Our community, in just about any <strong>and</strong> every way possible, would be devastated if<br />
Pioneer was forced to decrease or halt their current operations. Pioneer employs<br />
hundreds of people in our community. Increased regulations place those families at risk.<br />
In our household, the roof over our head, the cars we drive, the food we put on our table
would be in jeopardy. I am sure many other Pioneer families would be in the same<br />
position if Pioneer pulled out. However, the livelihood of many other businesses would<br />
also be threatened. Pioneer employs many other production companies as subcontractors.<br />
If Pioneer is not here, many of these companies won’t be able to exist, let alone provide<br />
employment. This places even more families at risk.<br />
Think of the ripple effect this will have. If people cannot afford to purchase<br />
homes, real estate agents, contractors, plumbers, electricians, painters <strong>and</strong> home<br />
improvement specialists are out of a job. If homes are lost to foreclosure, local lenders<br />
are hurt <strong>and</strong> the local <strong>and</strong> national economy suffers. If trucks <strong>and</strong> equipment aren’t<br />
running, local fuel, auto <strong>and</strong> tire supply companies are out of business. If subcontractors<br />
aren’t bringing in workers, local hotels are no longer full <strong>and</strong> the two new hotels south of<br />
<strong>Trinidad</strong> are empty, perhaps with construction halted. If paychecks aren’t being received,<br />
local stores are out of business—retail stores, grocery stores, fast food places, fine dining,<br />
recreational businesses, galleries, museums, theatres. If <strong>Trinidad</strong> <strong>and</strong> Las Animas<br />
<strong>County</strong> lose millions of dollars of tax revenue, employees lose their jobs, county<br />
operations are scaled down, streets aren’t paved, roads aren’t maintained, services, such<br />
as 911 <strong>and</strong> law enforcement, are cut or depleted. If people have no paychecks, they can’t<br />
pay their bills. They can’t pay doctors, hospitals, child support. More people require<br />
public assistance from public coffers dramatically decreased by less tax dollars. If there<br />
are no businesses <strong>and</strong> recreation, no tourists want to stop here. When businesses close<br />
<strong>and</strong> people can’t earn a living, <strong>Trinidad</strong> dies <strong>and</strong> it dies alone. There is no growth, no<br />
increase to our quality of life <strong>and</strong> people leave. When people leave, classrooms shrink,<br />
colleges close. What was once a growing, thriving community on the brink of an<br />
economic, educational <strong>and</strong> cultural rebirth is now a ghost town. This is the true picture,<br />
the whole picture. Most importantly, this is the picture the lobby in favor of these<br />
regulations don’t want people to see.<br />
<strong>Trinidad</strong> knows this picture only too well. I remember this picture only too well.<br />
It always amazes me the people speaking in favor of these regulations, the people who<br />
claim to want to protect <strong>Trinidad</strong>, have no idea of <strong>Trinidad</strong>’s history. <strong>Trinidad</strong> was once<br />
a thriving coal mining town, built on the backs <strong>and</strong> sweat of brave, proud miners. When<br />
those coal mines closed, <strong>Trinidad</strong> almost closed with it. I watched as families lost homes,<br />
cars, all sources of income. I watched friends move away. I remember classmates going<br />
from well off to free lunch. I remember their hurt in admitting their parents had to apply<br />
for welfare or food stamps. I remember praying each morning for fathers <strong>and</strong> mothers to<br />
find jobs. There were so many people out of work <strong>and</strong> so many people suffered. Local<br />
businesses closed or dwindled. Downtown buildings were empty <strong>and</strong> some have yet to<br />
recover.<br />
<strong>Trinidad</strong> almost died when the mines closed <strong>and</strong> it will surely suffer the same dire<br />
fate if Pioneer pulls out. I have no shame in admitting how such a pull out would<br />
devastate our family. I value the beauty of Colorado’s l<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> I, too, value the peace<br />
<strong>and</strong> serenity of Colorado’s quiet spaces. However, I value the beauty of my 7 year old<br />
daughter’s face more. Her face <strong>and</strong> eyes are more precious <strong>and</strong> beautiful to me than any<br />
elk, tree or mountain. I deeply appreciate <strong>and</strong> value Colorado’s elk. However, I deeply
appreciate <strong>and</strong> value Colorado’s PEOPLE more. People are ALWAYS more important<br />
than elk. Children are always more important than trees. Families are always more<br />
important than l<strong>and</strong>. I am continually amazed how people who are pro-environment are<br />
so anti-people. I don’t doubt many people in <strong>Trinidad</strong> feel the same way I do. It’s time<br />
WE were heard.<br />
I am encouraging anyone who will listen to find out what they can do to stop gas<br />
production regulations that will threaten the well being of our community <strong>and</strong> way of life.<br />
I am encouraging any business or community group who has been supported by Pioneer<br />
or any of its subcontractors to st<strong>and</strong> by them now <strong>and</strong> support them in this fight. One<br />
look around aneighborhood or your school will show at least one family who depends<br />
upon gas production for their livelihood. Don’t let these regulations take their livelihood<br />
away. Don’t let these regulations take away one of <strong>Trinidad</strong>’s proudest traditions—its<br />
tradition of hard work. I respect the right of all people to live the way they choose.<br />
However, these regulations are taking away our community’s choice to live, co-exist <strong>and</strong><br />
thrive with gas production. We can’t afford let these regulations “Rule Us Out”<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<strong>Pamela</strong> M. <strong>Baca</strong><br />
Pam <strong>Baca</strong><br />
Wife to <strong>Robert</strong>, Mom to Hallie<br />
Proud Pioneer Family