New Mexico targets greenhouse gas

Durango could reap some benefits from the greening of New Mexico. Last week, Gov. Bill Richardson signed an executive order spelling out strategies to address greenhouse gas emissions. The move, similar to newly enacted California legislation, could mean stringent emission limits for power plants and oil refineries among other industries.

Richardson signed the order last Thursday and directed state agencies to follow many of the bold recommendations of the Climate Change Advisory Group, which has produced a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 267 million metric tons. The reduction will also create a projected $2 billion net economic savings for New Mexico’s economy, according to the group.

“Climate change is the major environmental issue of our time,” Richardson said at the signing. “Nothing poses a bigger threat to our water, our livelihood and our quality of life than a warming climate. Today I am taking the first step toward implementing as many of these recommendations as are possible, feasible and effective.”

The order also creates a state government implementation team that will ensure the policies are carried out. Among the directives are: the advancement of carbon capture technology and measures to improve air quality; the development of green building outreach and education; a mandate that all state-owned vehicles use clean and renewable fuels; and a tax credit for alternative-fuel filling stations. The New Mexico Environment Department will also begin studying and developing ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the oil and gas industry with a goal of reducing methane emissions by 20 percent by 2020.  

Richardson has a strong record on greenhouse gases. He more than quadrupled New Mexico’s renewable energy use by mandating that 15 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2015. This year, New Mexico also became the first state to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, a greenhouse gas-emission reduction and trading program.

In the current effort, New Mexico’s advisory group consisted of about 40 representatives from tribes, industry, agriculture, universities and our national labs and environmental nonprofit groups. This diversity is the reason the effort should be successful, according to Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry.

“The climate change advisory group’s process for developing strategies that are feasible for such diverse organizations makes New Mexico’s process on combating global warming unique,” he said. “The reason our state is accomplishing so much is that we know how to cooperate. We can now move forward rapidly with these recommendations.”

Log Chutes logging set to begin

One of Durango’s most popular trails systems is going back to its roots. Logging is set to return to the Log Chutes area this month, and several miles of singletrack will eventually go back to being active logging roads as a result.

The Forest Service plans to kick off the thinning project in mid-January. In an effort to reduce the risk of wildfire, the agency has proposed a combination of hydromowing and cutting by hand on nearly 900 acres approximately 5 miles north of Durango. The hand thinning will require the presence of logging trucks, and 3.25 miles of trail that were once old roads are scheduled to be cleared, bladed and reconstructed. Another 1.95 miles of new, temporary roads also are proposed to create access for logging and mowing.

During the scoping phase of the project, the Forest Service explained that turning trail back into road is the most cost effective way to conduct the project. The agency noted that when the Log Chutes Trail System was created, it was with the understanding that logging would someday return to the area.

“Both of the trails we’re looking at reopening are old logging roads,” Pam Wilson, fire information officer, said at the time. “At the time that trail system was set up, it was with the understanding that they might be reopened some day.”

The project’s first phase should not disturb any singletrack, however. This 200-acre project will involve mechanically thinning nine different areas, primarily on the west side of the Junction Creek Road, and also in an area behind the Junction Creek Campground.

The area will be treated by selectively cutting ponderosa pine and using a hydrowmower to reduce gambel oak and other small shrubs that may carry a wildfire into the tree crowns. Larger ponderosa pine trees will not be cut or removed during this project unless they pose a safety hazard, and older gambel oak clumps will be left in place, where possible, to benefit wildlife and enhance visual aesthetics.

The project is expected to be completed prior to May 1 so that the campground opening will not be affected. Plans also call for thinning an additional 700 acres in the Log Chutes area, though no timeline has been set for the beginning of that project.

City anniversary art to be unveiled

Artwork commemorating the City of Durango’s 125th anniversary goes public this week. An original sculpture by Bryan Saren will be installed in front of City Hall, 949 E. Second Ave., this Fri., Jan. 5, at 8 a.m.

Carol Martin, chair of the Public Art Commission, encouraged residents to turn out for the unveiling. “This public art piece commemorates the 125th anniversary of the City of Durango and celebrates the spirit of our community, past, present and future,” she said.

On July 14, three finalists, including Saren, presented their proposals to a selection panel. Saren’s piece was selected by a majority vote three days later.

The metal sculpture contains 125 different pieces and includes steel likenesses of Perins Peak and Smelter Mountain framed by copper sections of river. A large, spoked wheel sits above and below the mountains and river.  

To help fund the art project, the city sold commemorative 125th anniversary mason jars. Steamworks, Carvers and Ska Brewing helped sell the mason jars and brewed the special Founders’ Lager, which filled them.

Smoke-free push targets casinos

The Sky Ute Casino could be the next place in La Plata County to go smoke-free. A new group is looking to expand the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act, which went effective July 2006. GASP (Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution) and Smoke-Free Gaming of Colorado are hoping to extend the ban on smoking to casinos, one of several areas exempted in the new law.

The groups launched a website, www.smokefree gaming.org, last week as a way to provide the public with a way to sign a petition in support of smoke-free casinos and to educate casino employees on how secondhand smoke impacts their health.

GASP was established in 1977 to promote smoke-free policies and educate the public about the dangers of second-hand smoke. Smoke-Free Gaming is a relatively new grassroots coalition of Colorado residents and casino employees supporting the passage of laws to end smoking in casinos.

– compiled by Will Sands