Tag: Colorado roadless rule

A court ruling issued in Colorado on Friday could nudge government agencies toward making more honest assessments of the climate impacts tied to the projects they approve for federal lands.

A plan to manage some of Colorado's most prized forests went into effect on Tuesday, marking the end of a seven-year process conducted among an eclectic mix of stakeholders.

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.