__________________________________________________________________
Reform of the Archaic
1872 Mining Law Heard by Senate Energy Committee
During the last several months High Country Citizens' Alliance has been actively
participating in efforts to support comprehensive reform of the 1872 Mining Law. This outdated law is at the root of the
proposed mine on Mt.
Emmons and has been the
reason that mines across the west have been approved despite significant risks
of pollution and other impacts to communities and wild places. For the first time in more than 10 years the
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources heard testimony on reforming
this outdated law on July 14th.
Members of the committee, including the Senior Senator from Colorado - Mark Udall,
heard witness testimony on the need to bring the mining law up to modern
standards.
The committee hearing is the first step in a process to
bring reform of the mining law to fruition.
Both the Senate and House of Representatives will work on revisions to
their versions of mining law reform. Efforts
will be made to reconcile differences and to arrive at a compromise package
that will bring meaningful changes to the mining law. As we did prior to the Senate Energy
Committee hearing, HCCA will continue to send alerts when opportunities for you
to weigh in on the process will be most be helpful. Keep track of reform progress at www.hccaonline.org and www.miningreform.org.
If you have questions about reform of the mining law or
anything related to Mt.
Emmons please contact Dan Morse at dan@hccaonline.org
or 349-7104.
__________________________________________________________________
|
Snodgrass Expansion
Proposal Submitted to Forest Service
In mid-June, Crested Butte Mountain Resort submitted a
12-page ski area expansion proposal to the US Forest Service. The expansion proposal details CBMR's planned
development onto Snodgrass Mountain within the Gunnison National Forest. The USFS will be reviewing the expansion
proposal and deciding whether or not they will formally accept the
document.
If you are interested in reviewing the proposal for
yourself, it is available here. For more
information, please email Lawton Grinter, Conservation Analyst, at lawton@hccaonline.org.
___________________________________________________________________
|
Climate & Clean Energy Program Broadens Efforts Under New Grants
HCCA's Climate and Clean
Energy program recently received a grant to fund its efforts over the next year. To date, HCCA
has been striving to effect positive change both locally and at Tri-State
Generation and Transmission by working with Gunnison County Electric
Association (GCEA) and its members. Excellent progress with GCEA to implement
local energy efficiency efforts and carry a message of the need for investments
in renewable generation (versus new, old-style coal plants) to Tri-State has
been noted throughout the region. Now, the Climate and Clean Energy program
will begin moving forward with similar efforts to work collaboratively with the
memberships of three other cooperatives; Delta Montrose Electric Association
(DMEA), San Miguel Power Association (SMPA) and Sangre de Cristo Electric
Association (SDCEA). Of course, we will also continue working with GCEA and its
membership. Each one of these electrical cooperatives holds one (of 44 total)
vote with Tri-State, shaping its policy and direction. By working
with the membership of four Western Colorado Tri-State member co-ops, we'll
continue striving, to pressure Tri-State to be an
active participant, and perhaps even a leader in Colorado's New Energy Economy
which is designed to "secure our energy, economic and environmental
future."
For more information please email, Chris Menges, Climate & Clean Energy Coordinator, at: chris@hccaonline.org.
__________________________________________________________________
|
HCCA Clears First Hurdle in US Energy Water Treatment Plant Permit Appeal
In July of 2008, the Colorado Water Quality Control Division
issued a long-delayed renewal of the discharge permit for the water treatment
plant at the old Keystone Mine site on Mt. Emmons.
This facility treats acid mine drainage coming out of the ground from
the old mine workings. High Country Citizens' Alliance,
the Town of Crested Butte, and Gunnison County
appealed that permit because it did not require a surety bond as we requested.
As reported last month in the local press, we have succeeded in preventing our
appeal from being dismissed. The administrative law judge ruled that, in fact,
the Division does have the authority to decide whether the facility should have
a bond to guarantee its future operation. The judge has set a date in Oct. 2009
for a hearing on whether a bond should be required in this permit and how much
it should be.
For more information please email, Steve Glazer, Water Program Director, at: steve@hccaonline.org.
|
Crested Butte Festival of the Arts- August 1 and 2.
Come see us at the HCCA booth!
Arts Festival Membership Special!
Memberships or Renewals accompanied by an additional donation will receive an extra premium of a baseball cap or a set of Red Lady prayer flags!
_________________________________________________________________
|
2009 Senior Hike Schedule and
Information
In July we began the 17th
season of "Day Hikes for Seniors". Some
of our hikes will take us to areas that HCCA is actively working to protect.
All hikes require moderate capability, as well as water, hat, raingear, sunscreen,
lunch, hiking boots and a sense of adventure.
We meet at the Visitors
Center parking lot on Wednesdays at 8AM and carpool to the trailheads.
Call 970-349-7104, ext. 7 after 5 PM
on Wednesdays to reserve your space for the next hike. Group size is limited to
15* per Forest Service regulations and Leave No Trace principles.
The 2009 hikes into our incredible backcountry are:
July 1~ Horse Ranch
Park-Silver Creek
July 8~ Snodgrass Mountain
July 15 ~ Elk Creek -
Standard Mine cleanup site
July 22~ Mill Creek (bring
water sandals)
July 29~ Green Lake
overlooking Lake Irwin
August 5~ Rustlers Gulch
(Maroon Bells Wilderness, *group limit 10)
August 12~ West Brush
Creek (bring water sandals)
August 19~ Crystal Mill
(bring water sandals)
August 26~ Oh-Be-Joyful
(Don's favorite)
We look forward to sharing
the backcountry experience with you. We always appreciate your generous
donations, your memberships, and we hope we can count on you to support our
conservation work.
__________________________________________________________________
|
4th of July Parade Photos
Click Here to view our 4th of July parade photos. Thank you for your wonderful support!
|
|
