The quest to protect Desolation Canyon

The Gasco drilling plan, due for final approval after a comment period closes on Monday, brings wells to the doorstep of Sand Wash, a popular float-trip access point for the wild Green River Canyon in eastern Utah. The plan already has drawn a personal appeal from Peter Metcalf, president of Salt Lake City-based outdoor equipment maker Black Diamond Equipment.

This week, representatives from Eastern states, and Arizona and Colorado added their support for preserving the canyon’s remoteness.

"Though the [Bureau of Land Management] recognizes that Desolation Canyon is a wilderness resource, the area is managed under a significantly flawed plan finalized in the last administration," the representatives wrote Tuesday to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, "and those values are not being upheld." Salt Lake Tribune