The Colorado Mining Association and the state of Wyoming on Monday petitioned the full 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear “en banc” an October decision upholding the Clinton administration’s 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
When it comes to Colorado’s controversial roadless rule, conservation groups are waiting to see whether the Obama administration delivers a Keystone XL-style victory or the disappointment of delaying tougher EPA smog standards.
The United States Forest Service (USFS) Tuesday gave the green light to a 1,700-acre expansion of the West Elk coal mine 10 miles east of Paonia on Colorado’s Western Slope. West Elk owner Arch Coal, based in St. Louis, Mo., praised the decision for its job-saving potential. Environmental groups blasted the USFS ruling for its possible industrialization of the pristine Sunset Trail roadless area adjacent to the West Elk Wilderness Area.
An environmental attorney who argued in favor of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule before a federal appeals court says there are only two legal options left for opponents of the Clinton-era rule and backers of state-specific rules like Colorado’s – and both are long-shots.
The environment’s relationship to the economy is a key theme for Sal Pace, minority leader in the Colorado House, as he challenges incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton for a seat in Congress. He says Tipton misses the connection.
Sportsmen aren’t necessarily opposing an anti-wilderness bill co-sponsored by three Colorado Republicans because they’re enamored with the Colorado Roadless Rule, which would likely be derailed by the bill after six long years of negotiation. They just want the ability to keep trying to improve the Colorado rule.
A group of eight Colorado conservation and sportsmen’s groups today urged Colorado’s congressional delegation and Gov. John Hickenlooper to oppose a federal wilderness bill some fear would undo six years of work crafting the controversial Colorado Roadless Rule.
When it comes to constructing roads to manage national forests, U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton doesn’t think the Colorado Roadless Rule goes far enough.
There is a new buzz in the roadless debate. Charlie Berger, owner of Denver Beer Co., this week called on Congress to strengthen protections of public lands in light of the U.S. Forest Service’s deliberation of a new state-specific proposal to manage forests and attempts by Republican lawmakers to roll back wilderness and roadless area protections.
Colorado’s senior member of Congress, Democrat Diana DeGette, issued a statement today blasting Republican attempts to roll back wilderness and roadless area protections for public lands, also offering her support for national Great Outdoors Week Aug. 20-28.
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