June 28, 2001--

Some of Utah's most spectacular public lands are in the crosshairs, thanks to the new push for more oil and gas development.

Two locations are drawing special attention from conservationists opposed to the proposed drilling.

News Specialist John Daley recently visited the areas near Moab and has details.

Oil and gas drilling is proposed for land in and around Dead Horse Point State Park, as well as the Lockhart Basin--rugged, scenic territory right next to Canyonlands National Park.

The question: as the nation looks to boost energy production, should we allow drilling in these unique, unspoiled places?

To help California cope with its energy crunch...

To help meet President Bush's call for more energy production...

To help find more gas for our SUVs, or fuel for power plants...

Should we drill here?

The lands surrounding Moab are some of the most scenic desert and canyon country in the world.

Dead Horse Point is arguably the jewel in the crown of the entire state park system. Over a quarter of a million people visit here each year--many mistake it for a national park.

But the land is not only beautiful, it is potentially rich in fossil fuels.

From the mesa where the park sits--world-class views. Under the mesa--possibly reserves of oil.

Within the park, two plots of land have been leased by Utah's School Trust Lands Administration to a Colorado oil company, which recently indicated it plans to do exploratory drilling.

The park's superintendent is deeply concerned about what it means for the future of the park and for visitors.

Tim Smith/Utah State Parks: "THEY'RE HOPING TO SEE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND GET AWAY FROM IT ALL. AND THE SIGHT AND EVEN SOUND AND SMELL OF OIL WELLS INSIDE THE PARK IS NOT IN KEEPING WITH WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS HOPE TO EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY VISIT DEAD HORSE POINT."

Surrounding the park--36 square miles of land targeted for oil and gas production by a company called Veritas.

Seismic exploration would require large trucks to drive 150 miles cross country, stopping every few hundred feet to lower pads and vibrate the earth.

Eventually it could lead to new roads and new wells, although the industry maintains it can drill horizontally and mostly avoid damaging the land.

The drilling proposal draws mixed reaction from visiting tourists.

Farrell Kunz/Dead Horse Point Visitor: "I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GET SOME INDEPENDENCE FROM THE OUTSIDE OIL, ARAB OIL, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF OIL."

Monique Gosselin/Dead Horse Point Visitor: "WELL, I LOVE IT THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE DESTROYED."

Trouble is, some of Utah's most spectacular territory is also the most coveted for energy development.

The areas shaded in green are lands that advocacy groups say should be protected as wilderness.

But oil and gas reserves may be found in the cross-hatched areas.

Thus, in southeast Utah, energy development and wilderness protection are on a collision course.

Another likely battleground--a large, unspoiled spot south of Moab.

John Daley/Eyewitness News: "THIS IS LOCKHART BASIN. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S ACTUALLY PART OF CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, BUT IT'S NOT. IT'S CONTROLLED BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS ACTIVELY PROMOTING OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT HERE."

The Bush administration is pushing energy development.

Oil and gas companies want to drill exploratory wells here, over the objections of environmentalists and deep worries of the National Park Service.

And the Bureau of Land Management is caught in the middle.

Maggie Wyatt/Bureau of Land Management: "WELL, I THINK WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF CONTROVERSY DOWN IN THIS PART OF THE STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS THAT PEOPLE REGARD AS LOOKING LIKE WILDERNESS OR BEING ELIGIBLE FOR WILDERNESS."

Conservationists say they don't have a problem with drilling in the already bustling Uinta Basin.

But Lockhart Basin has outstanding views, bighorn sheep habitat, and there's even a proposal to add it to Canyonlands National Park.

Kevin Walker/Sierra Club: "THIS IS THE KIND OF PLACE THAT WE'D LIKE TO STILL BE HERE FOR OUR GRANDKIDS TO ENJOY. MAYBE THERE IS SOME OIL AND GAS HERE. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND IF IT'S THERE AND LET OUR GRANDKIDS DECIDE, 50 YEARS FROM NOW, IF IT'S WORTH MESSING UP THIS PLACE."

Not far away in Moab, there's a fierce debate about the issue.

It's a town where Old West industries like mining and cattle grazing have given way to a tourism-based economy with its ubiquitous expresso bars and moutain bikers.

Tom Cooper is climbing manager in the shop called Gear Heads.

The 23-year-old moved to Moab five years ago from New Jersey.

Tom Cooper/Moab Resident: "I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE LESS DRILLING AND MORE CONSERVATION, MORE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE BEING DEVELOPED."

Retired geologist Harvey Merrill has left Moab and returned several times following the town's boom and bust cycles.

He thinks energy develoment is a good idea.

Harvey Merrill/Former Grand County Commissioner: "WELL THE NEW ECONOMY PAYS SIX DOLLARS AN HOUR. THE OLD ECONOMY PAID FIFTEEN OR TWENTY."

All sides agree on one thing--we need to produce energy to fuel our economy.

But some wonder what are we willing to give up in order to do it?

No final decisions have yet been made.

The public has 30 days to comment on the proposal to do exploratory work surrounding Dead Horse Point.

Opponents are trying organize a fight against the drilling.

But the oil and gas companies have their permits and it's up to officials with the state and the Bureau of Land Management to raise objections to drilling, if they have any.