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Thursday, February 21, 2008
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Political Wire: "Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama will meet in Austin, TX for a debate tonight. It will be broadcast on CNN at 8 pm ET. 'Given the recent unpleasantness between the two, and Mrs. Clinton's 10-state losing streak, it seems a safe bet that when they meet Thursday night...the tone just might not be so jolly,' the New York Times reports. The Houston Chronicle says Clinton campaign officials 'are counting on landing a memorable zinger or forcing an Obama gaffe that could change the dynamic of the presidential race.'"
"2008 pres"
7:02:34 AM 
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Development of oil shale reserves along with oil and gas has a huge effect on local government services in Western Colorado. Some on the West Slope are looking at ways to get their hands on some of the dough in the Anvil Points Trust Fund, according to The Glenwood Springs Post Independent "reg". From the article:
Garfield County Commissioner John Martin will travel to Denver today to participate in a roundtable to try to develop a way to distribute millions of dollars from the Anvil Points oil shale trust fund back to Colorado. U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., called for the meeting and invited county commissioners from Rio Blanco, Mesa, Routt and Moffat counties and representatives of the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC) and the Club 20 Western Slope advocacy group. U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, and state representatives and senators have also been invited to the meeting. That fund is estimated to have about $86.5 million, with about $1.5 million in gas lease revenues flowing into the fund every month.
Allard is concerned that Congress could siphon off some of the revenues and spend the money outside Colorado. U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has said the department is looking to take about $24 million out of the trust fund. At the county commissioners' meeting on Monday, Commissioner Larry McCown said it is the position of AGNC that money left over from the costs of the cleanup in the oil shale trust fund should come back to Colorado, and to Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. "That is what we are pushing for," Martin said. Steve Wymer, a spokesman for Allard, said the meeting is a "real opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings or misinformation about the solutions Allard has provided to the Anvil points oil shale trust fund account money." Wymer said the senator's main goal is to bring the money from the trust fund back to Colorado. The Salazars have submitted legislation that would immediately send money from the trust fund to Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. Under that legislation, each county could receive more than $15 million. The Salazars said their bill would direct Colorado's share of the fund toward land, water and wildlife protection, along with improvements for roads affected by oil and gas development.
"2008 pres"
6:27:33 AM
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There was action to report on HB 08-1161 and HB 08-1280 yesterday according to The Denver Post. From the article:
A bill that would require uranium mining companies to show they can clean up groundwater damage from their operations had an unexpectedly easy time in committee Thursday after undergoing some big changes. House Bill 1161, sponsored by Reps. John Kefalas and Randy Fischer, both Fort Collins Democrats, passed on a bipartisan 11-2 vote. The bill comes in response to a proposal for a new uranium mine in Weld County and was amended to limit the requirements to uranium mining companies. It also was stripped of a rule forcing state officials to deny a proposed mine if the mining company can't meet the requirements.
A revision to Colorado water law that would allow rights- holders to leave water in the river without losing their rights passed its first hurdle Wednesday. By a vote of 10-2, the House natural resources committee approved House Bill 1280 by Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins. Colorado water law is based on the idea that rights-holders use the water they're allotted or they lose their rights. Fischer's bill would allow rights-holders to lease or temporarily donate water rights to the Colorado Water Conservation Board without forfeiting them. Supporters, including numerous environmental groups, say fuller rivers boost ecosystem health and Colorado's tourism economy.
More coverage from The Fort Collins Coloradoan. They write:
House Bill 1280, sponsored by Fort Collins Democrat Rep. Randy Fischer, passed the House Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources committee Wednesday by a 10-2 vote. "No one wants our state's future to dry up today - and it doesn't have to," Fischer said. "Today's demands on our rivers will require new and flexible solutions. This measure energizes current state programs by creating new freedoms for water right holders to keep their local rivers and streams healthy." The state of Colorado passed laws in 1973 to ensure that state stewards of Colorado's water resources would work to preserve rivers and streams. With more population growth expected statewide in coming decades, water program managers and partners are promoting several improvements to the current law including HB 1280.
HB 08-1280 is part of the "Heathy Rivers" package. More Coyote Gulch coverage here, here and here.
"colorado water"
6:02:57 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/15/09; 2:09:12 PM.
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