Friday, March 23, 2007

Arkansas River Basin Roundtable approves grant for Round Mountain Water and Sanitation District From the Wet Mountain Tribune, "Round Mountain Water and Sanitation District received preliminary approval for a $120,000 grant to fund a new well, pump, water treatment facility and associated support building. On March 14, RMW representatives met with the Arkansas Basin Roundtable and submitted the grant application. The Arkansas Basin Roundtable unanimously approved the application. However, there is one more step involved to secure the grant funds. In May, RMW will send a representative to Grand Junction to meet with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, which will check the application for compliance and make the final decision. Bud Piquette of RMW said chances look good for the grant application to be approved. Round Mountain received praise from the Arkansas Basin Roundtable for their thorough application and preparedness. Category: Colorado Water 6:06:08 AM     Appeals court upholds Summit County cyanide ban From today's Summit Daily News (free registration required), "A three-judge Colorado Court of Appeals panel today reinstated a local ban on cyanide heap leach mining adopted by the Summit Board of County Commissioners in 2004. The ruling is subject to appeal in the Colorado Supreme Court. At issue is the abillity of local governments to regulate mining practices. The Colorado Mining Association won a challenge to the local regulations in District Court, when Judge David Lass ruled that state authority preempts local regulation, voiding the local cyanide ban. Five other Colorado counties have adopted similar regulations. Cyanide heap-leach mining essentially involves drizzling a cyanide solution over a pile of low-grade ore to profitably extract gold. The BOCC adopted the ban to protect water quality and guard against the potentially disastrous consequences of an accident. Mining industry leaders said up-to-date technology enables them to minimize the risk and use the method safely and profitably." Category: Colorado Water 6:00:24 AM     HB 1341 Here's an update on HB 07-1341 [pdf], Concerning the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission, and, In Connection Therewith, Directing the Commission to Foster Oil and Gas Development Consistent with the Protection of the Environment, Wildlife Resources, and Public Health, Safety, and Welfare, from the Colorado Springs Gazette. From the article, "A bill that would overhaul the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission and allow the governor to mold it into a more environmentally conscious board advanced Thursday in the Colorado House... "The bill would reduce the commission's latitude in approving projects that damage the land, water and air. Democratic proponents said the bill is essential to slow the impacts of oil and gas extraction on large swaths of the Western Slope and eastern plains. 'People whose property is affected by mineral rights want action, and they want it now,' Rep. Liane 'Buffie' Mc-Fadyen, D-Pueblo West, said. Republicans, led by Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, argued that Colorado will raise the costs of energy production and ultimately harm consumers if the commission decides that some oil and gas must be left in the ground to protect the environment. Gardner also said that kind of regulation would be a violation of drillers' property rights. 'This is a drastic and dramatic change in over 100 years of Colorado mineral law,' Gardner said. 'This bill changes the fundamental nature of the property right they acquired.' Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, said the bill will clarify that the commission is to speak for the public and not the industry. 'Up to this point they've been a lobbyist for oil and gas,' Merrifield said." More Coyote Gulch coverage here. Category: Colorado Water 5:43:26 AM     Farm disaster on the South Platte Here's an article about the impending economic disaster up in Morgan County from the Rocky Mountain News. From the article, "Morgan County officials told Gov. Bill Ritter on Thursday the county is facing 'economic catastrophe' unless they get emergency help by April 15 for farmers whose water wells were shut down by the state in a water rights dispute. They asked Ritter to issue an emergency executive order for a moratorium on shutdowns for two years so they can find a solution to a problem that has idled thousands of acres of farmland." More coverage from 9News.com. They write, "Ritter said he also is considering adding more water court judges in the district to reduce delays of up to four years processing water augmentation cases that require farmers to replace water they use in the South Platte River. The crisis began when the state suffered one of its worst droughts in history beginning in 2002. When South Platte River levels are low, the wells must be turned off to ensure that water users with higher-priority rights get their share. State law allows the wells to be used as long as they can replace water when it's needed downstream. The state engineer for 30 years had been able to juggle the state's water supply to keep farmers happy and the South Platte flowing. But last year, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld a 1969 law requiring well owners to put water back into the South Platte. The courts also ruled that the water courts, not the state engineer, should decide water issues... "Bob Sakata, a Brighton vegetable grower, said water law makes it too difficult for farmers to stay in business because of expensive legal challenges. He said agriculture in the four counties with wells - Weld, Logan, Adams and Morgan - is a $2 billion business. He said Front Range communities are sucking farms dry to provide water to thirsty suburbs." More Coyote Gulch coverage here. Category: Colorado Water 5:36:48 AM

© Copyright 2007 John Orr. Last update: 4/1/07; 9:50:50 AM.