** Proposed limestone quarry expansion threatens Glenwood Springs, Colorado
------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, November 15, 2019
Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Photo: Jason Cipriani ([link removed])
Rocky Mountain Resources (RMR) has submitted a plan to the Colorado Bureau of Land Management office that proposes a 5,000% expansion ([link removed]) of its current limestone quarry mining operations near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, a popular tourist destination. This would entail ([link removed]) mining 24 hours a day, blasting from 9am to 4pm, and hauling as many as 500 trucks per day from the mine site that overlooks the town. In addition, the mine's owner has ties to Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck ([link removed]) , the law firm that employed current Interior Secretary David Bernhardt when he lobbied on behalf of oil and gas clients across the West.
Understandably, the communities nearby are voicing their opposition ([link removed]) to this disruptive and potentially dangerous proposal. Jeff Peterson, Glenwood Springs Citizens’ Alliance executive director said ([link removed]) , “We view this as a serious threat to our community with long lasting implications. We have had almost 2,000 residents sign a petition opposing this and have a couple hundred businesses on board as well.” The community is famous for its natural hot springs that attract substantial economic activity to the region. Even RMR's request to drill test wells for baseline analysis has the potential to cause irreparable damage ([link removed]) to the geothermal aquifer that feeds the springs.
** Developing the California desert
------------------------------------------------------------
For more than two decades, Congress and past administrations have worked to protect millions of acres in the California desert. But after decades of progress, the Interior Department is set to roll back ([link removed]) hard-won protections in the name of energy development,
making the California desert just the latest casualty of the Trump administration’s push for “energy dominance.”
Quick hits
** Podcast: Center for Western Priorities talks to 38-year career civil service veteran about the BLM relocation
------------------------------------------------------------
Go West, Young Podcast ([link removed])
** Proposed limestone quarry expansion threatens Glenwood Springs, Colorado
------------------------------------------------------------
Glenwood Springs Post Independent ([link removed]) | Denver Post ([link removed]) | Colorado Sun ([link removed])
** Developing the California desert
------------------------------------------------------------
Westwise ([link removed])
** Wyoming's mule deer rank at the top of the list for epic migrations
------------------------------------------------------------
New York Times ([link removed]) | Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])
** Colorado withdraws oil and gas lease sale after federal judge's ruling on sage-grouse plans
------------------------------------------------------------
Denver Post ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
** National Park Service disbands flawed industry-heavy advisory panel
------------------------------------------------------------
E&E News ([link removed])
** Lawmakers demand answers from Interior on BLM relocation
------------------------------------------------------------
The Hill ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
** Editorial: Nevada is no place for fracking
------------------------------------------------------------
Las Vegas Sun ([link removed])
Quote of the day
We understand there is a balancing act between developing our natural resources and protecting them. The proposal to expand a limestone operation near Glenwood Springs, however, strikes no such balance.”
—Denver Post Editorial Board ([link removed])
Picture this
** "Snow rollers," by Yellowstone National Park ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
Copyright © 2019 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
820 16th Street
Suite 450
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
