Environment

*The San Juan Mountains Association, a non-profit education support partner for the San Juan National Forest and BLM, will be sponsoring an Ecology Field Seminar Series on Saturdays June 14, August 2 and August 14. For more info, click SJMA

Colorado News

*4/10/08 By Joe Hanel, Herald Denver Bureau: Bill requires proof of water supplies The House approved House Bill 1141, which requires developers to prove they have adequate water supplies before city councils give their approvals to build.
to read the complete report, click DH4-10-08

*3/20/08 Durango Herald by Dale Rodebaugh: Local company takes on greenhouse gases- There's a new, local player in the carbon-offset game. To read about this Durango company, click DH3-20

*1/16/2008 Durango Herald Governor Ritter has picked a high-profile environmentalist for a 4-year term on the CO Public Utilities Commission. To read the article, click DH1-16-08

Letters from our members

Letter to Senator Ken Salazar August 16 regarding the Desert Rock Energy Project, 2007
Letter to La Plata Board of County Commissioners August 23 regarding the land Use Code, 2007
Letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs September 12 regarding the Desert Rock Energy Project, 2007

Pending Local Positions

Desert Rock Energy Project - proposed 9/11/2007

If you would like to comment on this subject directly to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, write to Harrilene Yazzie, Regional NEPA Coordinator, Navajo Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 1060, Gallup, New Mexico 87305. Comments must be received by 4 p.m. October 9. In addition, we may send comments by e-mail to the project Web site, http://www.desertrockenergy.com, or to the BIA contractor's e-mail account for this project, desertrockEIS@urscorp.com. The BIA asks that comment writers please include the caption, `'Desert Rock Energy Project DEIS Comments," at the top of your letter or in the subject line of your e-mail message.

Past Events

*LWV of La Plata members attended an informative tour of the Animas/La Plata Water Project on April 16. Click ALP to view some of our "hardhat crew"

*to read the remarks of Jack Rogers, Public Works Director for the City of Durango, from the Water Forum held March 19, click Rogers

*3/19/2008: Are you confused by water issues in Durango and La Plata County?
The League of Women Voters of La Plata County invites you to meet with local water experts on Wednesday, March 19 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM at Christ the King Church, 495 Florida Road. Hear Jack Rogers, Public Works Director for the City of Durango and Peter Butler, Chairman of the La Plata County Water Advisory Board and past member of the State Water Quality Control Commission speak on topics from proposed water districts to river basin sharing to potential impacts of climate change.
Remember to bring your questions!
for a copy of the flier, click 3-19-08
The following links are provided as references for the Water Forum

May 14, 2003: Durango Herald by Jennifer Kostka,Drought: Lake Durango Can't Support New Taps

June 18, 2003: Durango Herald by Lindsay Nelson,Drought: Four Corners Still Facing Serious Water Shortage

March 24, 2004: Durango Herald by Dale Rodebaugh, BLM: Water to cost $75M

July 6, 2007: Durango Herald by Dale Rodebaugh, Stalled Water-District Plan May be Ready to Flow Backers modify plan to meet county, gas company objections

August 8, 2007: Durango Herald, Katie Burford, County looks at New Water Regulations Rules would set quality, availability standards for new developments

November 1, 2007: Durango Herald by Dale Rodebaugh Agreement Likely on Recreation Water Durango could have kayak park without hurting upstream users

November 28, 2007: Durango Herald by Dale Rodebaugh, Water Boards to Discuss Management Officials to examine possible options of 1922 river agreement

December 12, 2007: Durango Herald by Joe Hanel, Herald Denver Bureau New dimension makes water decisions challenging in Colorado 1922 agreement could be tested with new projects

December 16, 2007: Durango Herald Denver Bureau by Joe Hanel, Warming Prompts Debate: Dams vs. Conservation

December 30, 2007: Durango Herald Denver Bureau by Joe Hanel, Three Million Reasons to Worry About Water in Colorado Every drop counts

January 13, 2008: Durango Herald by Barry Spear, Durango Attorney, Pooling Efforts: Water Pact Allows Recreation, Development to Coexist

February 2, 2008: Durango Herald by Dale Rodebaugh, Pine River Water Agreement Would Help Support Aquatic Life

February 20, 2008: Durango Herald by Joe Hanel, Herald Denver Bureau, House Panel Approves Proof of Water Supply

February 28, 2008: New York Times, by Dan Frosch in Leadville CO, Mine Water Poses Danger of a Toxic Gusher

March 3, 2008: Durango Herald by Ted Holteen, Growth Rules Focus of Talk

March 3, 2008: Durango Herald by Nicholas K. Geranios, Associated Press, As West grows, So Does Interest in Dams Water needs drive search for solutions

March 12, 2008: Durango Herald by Joe Hanel Herald Denver Bureau, Isgar seeks information about water call Asks for $500,000 to learn about states' demands

References

*3/20/08 Durango Herald, Chuck Slothower: Desert Rock sues the EPA-The developers of the proposed Desert Rock power plant have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency seeking to force the federal regulator to issue a long-delayed air permit. To read the article, click DH3-20

*1/18/08 ECOS Consulting has recently completed a report on ways the Navajo Nation could obtain more permanent jobs and produce more energy using renewable resources than by constructing the Desert Rock Energy Project. To view the report (size 4.3mb), click Energy and Economic Alternatives to DREP
*11/11/07 Durango Herald Can't Stand the Heat Global-warming naysayers won't face proven facts, Author Richard E. White

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: May 13, 2008 08:06 PDT.

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