Rio Grande forest ‘endangered’

Wolf Creek Ski Area cranked up for a limited opening last Friday amid more controversy. Rio Grande National Forest, the public land surrounding Wolf Creek, has landed on the list of “America’s Most Endangered National Forests.” The National Forest Protection Alliance recently released its third biennial report listing 12 of the country’s most endangered national forests. 

“Our national forests face myriad threats from Bush Administration policies and Forest Service management,” said Jake Kreilick, of the NFPA. “Collectively, the forest profiles in this report illustrate the poor ecological state of the national forest system, in large part from Forest Service efforts to place private, industrial interests above the interests of the American people.”

The Rio Grande National Forest was named as one of “The Dirty Dozen,” courtesy of the proposed Village at Wolf Creek and numerous industrial timber sale proposals already under way.

According to the report, the Rio Grande is currently moving foreword with four logging proposals totaling 46 million board feet of timber, or roughly 9,200 logging trucks. The “County Line” project, which is the largest and most controversial of these projects, calls for clear cutting 841 acres of high-elevation, old-growth Engelmann spruce and thinning another 715 acres. Opponents counter that logging is unlikely to address the forest health issues used by the Forest Service to rationalize the project, and instead will significantly degrade water, soils and wildlife habitat.

In addition to the escalating logging threat, the Rio Grande National Forest is also host to Wolf Creek Ski Area and the infamous Village at Wolf Creek plan. A Texas development company, headed by Clear Channel Radio baron Red McCombs, has pitched the Village at Wolf Creek for 287.5 acres at the base of the ski area’s Alberta quad. The “village” would include 2,172 units on 162 lots, 5,176 bedrooms and 222,100 square feet of commercial space including 12 restaurants, multiple hotels and a convention center.

Located between two wilderness areas, the proposed development would likely have tremendous impacts on wildlife populations, according to the report. Potential damage to water quality and quantity; increased traffic and the potential need for highway reconstruction also prompted the listing.

Uranium boom sweeps the region

Soaring prices are spreading the current boom in uranium mining further into the Four Corners area. Presently, a flurry of prospecting is taking place in southeast Utah and northwest Arizona, and at least one company is considering reactivating its mines in the region.

The International Uranium Corp. recently acquired additional properties in southeast Utah and is considering reopening a mine in northern Arizona. Ron Hockstein, president of IUC, characterized the area as one of the richest uranium deposits in the world. The company is working to begin mining and processing the ore at its mill in Blanding, Utah.

“This combination consolidates one of the largest known uranium resources in the Colorado Plateau District,” Hochstein said. “The consolidated resources will provide a long-term source of feed to the mill.”

The Bureau of Land Management said that it expects between 1,500 and 2,000 new claims in northern Arizona alone by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the Moab area has been hit with a flurry of speculation, and several old mines have reopened in Southwest Colorado in the vicinity of Dove Creek.

In response, the Navajo Nation has formally banned uranium mining throughout tribal lands. The tribe faults the last uranium boom for a boom-bust cycle and numerous health problems.

Citizens asked to guide city’s future

The City of Durango is looking to citizens to help guide the future. Public workshops are being held •today, Nov. 17, in an effort to tap public sentiment. The feedback will be used to update Durango’s Comprehensive Plan, which will guide public and private growth decisions for the next 20 years.

“Everybody knows what we should have done 20 years ago to make Durango a better place to live today,” said Michael Lauer, workshop facilitator. “Today’s question is, ‘What should be done today to make Durango a better place to live 20 years from now?’”

The first workshop runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and a second, identical one runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Both will take place in the Peaks Room at the Durango Community Recreation Center.  

The goal of the workshop process is to bring citizens, public administrators and service providers together to create a shared vision of the city’s goals, to be included in the Comprehensive Plan. Durango’s updated Comprehensive Plan will address land use, transportation, utilities, community facilities, economic growth, natural resources and other elements defining the quality of life in Durango. For the first time, the city’s plan area will also include the La Posta Road area, north of Basin Creek.

For more information, contact the Planning Department at 375-4850.

Local Dems put the heat on Allard

Local Democrats are holding U.S. Sen, Wayne Allard’s feet to the fire. Last Wednesday, the La Plata Dems formally asked Allard to not approve revisions to the national budget that will cut funding for student loans, Medicaid, food stamps and child support. The group sent a strong message Wednesday, rallying in front of Allard’s Durango office.

“We are asking Senator Allard to join us in our goal of ‘Fiscal Sanity, not Savagery,’” said Joelle Riddle, chair of the local Democratic Party. “The proposed budget revisions contain provisions that will directly and adversely impact the neediest people in our state and county.”

Riddle explained that the Republican Congress is currently trying to cut $40 billion to $50 billion from the budget. At the same time, the administration is passing on $70 billion in permanent tax cuts to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.

“The Republicans’ plan is wonderful if you make more than $250,000 a year,” Riddle concluded. “But if you’re a college student who needs a loan, or a child in need of financial support, or disabled and needing Medicaid, you just got slapped down again.”

City offers computer recycling event

The City of Durango is hoping to keep toxic materials out of the landfill. A three-day computer and television recycling collection takes place this week, Nov. 17-19, at the Durango Recycling Center. The center will be open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day.

Disposal of certain electronics is prohibited in Colorado landfills because of the hazardous materials contained within them. Cathode ray tubes (CRT’s) and circuit boards found in computers and televisions contain significant amounts of lead, chromium, silver, and many other toxic materials.

“This event is being held in response to requests from people in the area who need a way to dispose of their computer equipment in an economically and environmentally responsible manner,” said Nancy Andrews, resource conservation coordinator.

In order to cover recycling and transportation costs, some fees will be charged. There will be a $5 fee for CPU’s, printers and scanners. Each monitor, laptop and TV up to 27 inches will be $15. Items such as keyboards, cables, mice, Gameboys and CD players will be accepted at no charge. Cell phones and inkjet and toner cartridges will also be collected for free. Large electronics such as copiers or plotters will be 25 cents  per pound.

For further information, contact 375-4831 or andrewsnp@ci.durango.co.us.

– compiled by Will Sands