Swonger seeks District 59 House seat
Silverton businessman and Town Board Trustee Patrick Swonger has singed on to give J. Paul Brown a run for his money. Swonger, a Democrat, announced his plans to run for the District 59 House seat, now occupied by Brown, R-Ignacio, on Tuesday at Fort Lewis College. Brown’s two-year term will be up next November.

“My campaign is about jobs, education and preserving our environment while leveraging both its beauty and bounty,” said Swonger, a self-described moderate Democrat who would work to bring jobs while standing firm for families and children.

As part of his 2012 campaign, Swonger announced the “59 Jobs” initiative. His goal is to work a half-day or more alongside fellow Coloradoans in 58

different jobs. “Ranching, farming, energy, education, tourism, health care: these are some key industries for our area in the 21st century. Working in these fields is the best way to learn more about what folks need to succeed,” he said. And for the 59th job? “As the newly elected representative, I can craft legislation to help the current and future businesses of my district.”

Swonger talked of moving past partisan politics and working toward a common good. “We face immense challenges in rebuilding Colorado’s economy, creating good jobs and adequately funding education,” he said. “We desperately need vision and political leadership. The people of this district don’t want to waste two more years on extreme political agendas and polarizing ideologies.”   

An Air Force veteran, Swonger is a past commander of American Legion Post 14 in Silverton. He’s worked in a variety of Colorado industries – tourism, hospitality, construction and mining. A graduate of the University of Florida, he went on to start Vidion, a telecom and IT service business, in Silverton in 1994. More recently, he has worked to improve internet and telecommunication services on the Western Slope through a bi-partisan coalition known as Operation Linkup

In addition, has served as a trustee on the Silverton Town Board for six years, is a representative on the Southwest Council of Governments and is a past board member of the Mountain Studies Institute. He is married with three sons.


Mining banned in Grand Canyon
One of America’s national treasures is safe from the ravages of uranium mining, at least for the next 20 years.

On Monday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced that the Obama Administration has put a moratorium on new hard-rock mining on more than 1 million acres in and around Grand Canyon National Park.

A recent spike in uranium leases in the area led lawmakers and conservationists to push for the ban, arguing mining would jeopardize a multi-million dollar tourism industry as well as the water supply for such downstream cities as Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

“Americans can celebrate that the Grand Canyon is protected for future generations to enjoy,” said Jane Danowitz, public lands director for the Pew Environment Group. “Today’s action to safeguard the Grand Canyon reflects overwhelming public support and input from prominent scientists, elected officials, and business community leaders.”

However, not all approved of the ban, arguing it will eliminate hundreds of jobs and dry up a potential source of energy. “It is a devastating blow to job creation in northern Arizona,” said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

But Arizona sportsmen and conservationists disputed this view. “Visitation to the Grand Canyon generates almost $680 million each year and provides thousands of employment opportunities,” said Tom Mackin, president of the Arizona Wildlife Federation and resident of northern Arizona. “This especially benefits rural communities like those surrounding the Grand Canyon. The potential benefits to Arizona from uranium mining in this area could never come close to those numbers. Why put any of this at risk when it is not necessary nor widely supported?”

In response to a rash of new mining claims near Grand Canyon National Park, Salazar issued a temporary halt in 2009. Two years later, a report by the Pew Environment Group showed that claims around the park had increased 2,000 percent between 2005-10. Hundreds of these claims are controlled by foreign interests, including Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation and South Korea’s state-owned utility. The ore is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars.

In addition to shutting down uranium mining in sensitive areas, the government is also under pressure to reform the antiquated 1872 Mining Law that governs such activities. Signed into law by Ulysses S. Grant, it gives mining companies “free and open access” to the majority of public land in the West.

In 2010, it allowed at least $2.4 billion in metals to be taken from public land without taxpayer compensation. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency has identified hardrock mining as the nation’s top polluter: the United States has spent more than $2 billion on mine cleanup over the past decade.

“The nation’s antiquated mining law still gives this industry unfettered access to the majority of public lands in the West—putting at risk other national parks, monuments and forests,” said Danowitz, with the Pew Environment Group. “We hope the Obama administration will work with Congress now to reform the 1872 Mining Law so that other American treasures are also protected.”


Residents to be surveyed on bears
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is conducting a survey of all Durango residents to learn about their attitudes towards black bears and bear management. The survey is part of the agency’s long-term bear study that started last summer.

“Many residents have had some type of contact with bears, so we can learn a lot from a survey,” said Stacy Lischka, a researcher with Parks and Wildlife. “Because these interactions are important to so many people in Durango, we’re going to try to survey everyone. We’re really interested in learning about the good and bad of living with bears.”

All residences within Durango city limits and a sampling of residences in nearby unincorporated areas will receive a survey. It will be mailed Jan. 17.

The white envelopes, emblazoned with the Parks and Wildlife logo, will be addressed to the property owner or current resident. Whoever is living at the property, including renters, are asked to complete the survey.

“This is a critical aspect of the overall study,” said Heather Johnson, lead researcher on the bear project. “All residents should fill out the surveys regardless of whether they are a homeowner or renter. We hope to evaluate the issue of bear-human encounters from both the perspective of the bears that inhabit Durango and the people that interact with them.”

Researchers are also asking that even those who have never seen a bear to take the survey. The perspectives and attitudes of all residents are important to its success, the researchers said.

The survey is estimated to take about 15 minutes. Resident will be asked if they’ve had interactions with bears, what precautions they’ve taken and how they feel about management actions.

The overall goals of the study are to: determine how to reduce bear-human interactions in an urban area; develop a better understanding of how urban areas affect bear populations; and to improve techniques for estimating bear numbers.

Last summer, researchers placed GPS collars on 26 female bears and ear-tagged more than 40 others in the area. The movements of the collared bears and their reproductive success are being tracked. More bears will be trapped and collared next summer. “We’re gathering a tremendous amount of data that will greatly improve our understanding of how these animals use the urban-wildland interface,” said Johnson.
While the study is focused on Durango, results will be applicable throughout the state.

Postage will be included on the return envelope. Residents are urged to return the surveys as soon as possible. Survey results will be available in the fall on the agency’s website.

To learn more, go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/ LivingWithWildlife/Pages/LivingWith.aspx

– Missy Votel