Second comment period added for grazing

Residents will have a second chance to weigh in on whether or not to phase out grazing in the Weminuche Wilderness.

The San Juan National Forest announced it is adding another public comment period on the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Weminuche Landscape Grazing Analysis. The Forest Service received several requests to extend the first comment period, which ended June 16, but regulations do not allow for extensions. However, because of the level of public interest and complexity of the project, the Forest Service has announced another 30-day period that runs through July 21.

In May, the U.S. Forest Service released an EA that looked at ending sheep grazing on 166,700 acres in the nearby wilderness area. The draft document examined specific impacts that decision could have on soil, water, vegetation, recreation and wildlife, as well as social and economic impacts.

Currently, 13 grazing allotments exist. The proposal is to close seven of those, leaving five open to sheep grazing and one for cattle. However, the five sheep allotments would include a “sunset clause” meant to eventually phase out sheep grazing altogether.

Other proposed actions include:

- Fences and water features for cattle on the Canyon Creek Allotment.

- Applying adaptive management strategies, which define desired conditions, monitoring requirements and actions to be taken if conditions are not being met.

- Applying criteria intended to improve conditions at certain locations; minimize disease-transmission risk between domestic and bighorn sheep; and reduce conflicts between recreationists and sheep.

- Allotment boundary adjustments.

There is no need for people who already submitted comments to re-submit. These comments will remain in the record.

The EA, including maps, is available at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/sanjuan/projects.

Written comments must be submitted by Fri., July 21, to the Columbine District Ranger, P.O. Box 439, 367 Pearl St., Bayfield, CO 81122, or via email to: comments-rocky-mountain-san-juan-columbine@fs.fed.us.

2013-14 ski season goes down as busiest ever

If you thought the slopes were crowded last winter, it wasn’t just your imagination. With all the state’s lifts quiet, Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) finally had a chance to sit down and tally the numbers. According to the trade organization, statewide skier visits totaled an estimated 12.6 million for the 2013-14 ski season – making it the busiest season on record. Visitation was up more than 10 percent compared to last season and more than 8 percent compared to the five-year-average.

“Seeing our visitation punch through the 12.5 million level and best our prior mark demonstrates the vibrancy of Colorado’s ski industry,” said Melanie Mills, president & CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA. “With two consecutive years of growth, momentum is certainly in our favor.”

Colorado outperformed the ski industry nationally as well, particularly Pacific resorts which were heavily impacted by drought. Colorado resorts also bested other resorts in the Rocky Mountains, including Wyoming and Montana.  

Of the 12.6 million skier visits, CSCUSA’s 21 member resorts hosted an estimated 7.1 million last winter. Several factors were credited with fueling the increase, including early snowfall; heavy snow in the central and northern mountains in January and February; the legalization of marijuana; and the Winter Olympics.

 “A variety of things came together ... and the results had major ski weekends bustling with guests,” Mills said.

Power plant EIS deeply flawed, enviros say

A consortium of environmental groups blasted prolonging the life of the Four Corners Power Plant this week, calling the plan “deeply flawed.” The groups cited what they call huge deficiencies in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy.  The proposed action in the DEIS would allow the 52–year-old Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine coal complex, located on the Navajo Nation in northwestern New Mexico, to continue operating until 2041. However, the groups allege the draft does not address cultural, health, biological and climate costs of the coal-fired plant, which is deemed one of the nation’s dirties. The plan also fails to look at clean energy alternatives, according to the groups.

The comments were submitted Tuesday to the Department of Interior, which oversees the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement which is conducting the EIS. Those commenting included the Western Environmental Law Center; Center for Biological Diversity; WildEarth Guardians; Sierra Club and San Juan Citizens Alliance. The groups highlight what they call several shortcomings and accuse the OSM of having “blinders squarely on” and “rubber-stamping” the  project.

Deficiencies range from a lack of analysis of alternatives; inadequate consideration of climate and public health risks; minimization of water impacts and threats from waste; ignoring impacts to local culture; and failing to assess financial terms.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act, the impact of prolonging coal operations must be assessed and compared to alternative sources of energy over the plant’s 25-year lifespan, the groups assert.

– Missy Votel

“Resident human health remains at high risk in the impacted areas from both coal ash and the coal burning power plant,” said Sarah Jane White of Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment. Such health impacts include respiratory, kidney, heart, digestive and neurological problems; meningitis; cancer and rheumatoid arthritis , she claims.

“OSM’s failure to adequately assess the health and water impacts from the continued burning of coal at Four Corners Power Plant is unacceptable,“ said Nellis Kennedy-Howard, Sierra Club. “Four Corners Power Plant is over 50 years old – it’s time to begin thinking about clean and safe alternatives in renewable energy.”  

Communities and power companies throughout the U.S. are getting out of long-term spending on coal precisely because of those pollution dangers and financial risks, according to the groups. The current owners at Four Corners Power Plant, including Southern California Edison and El Paso Electric. This leaves Arizona Public Service (APS) as the majority owner of the Four Corners Power Plant.

Likewise, BHP Billiton has sold the mine and will exit in 2016, at which time the Navajo Nation will take over ownership of the Navajo Mine.

“Given the increased recognition of the correlation between coal-fired power plant emissions and extreme environmental, economic and health impacts, it is alarming the Department of the Interior continues the sacrifice of the Southwest,” said Mike Eisenfeld, New Mexico Energy Coordinator for Durango-based San Juan Citizens Alliance. “The Interior Department is ignoring renewable technologies and innovation in order to prioritize 25 more years of the coal complex, and doing this at the same time that the scientific community and Obama administration acknowledge climate change, increased drought, wildfire, and water scarcity occurring in the region.”

In response to requests for an extension of the public comment period, OSMRE granted a 31-day extension to June 27. The Final Environmental Impact Statement along with a Record of Decision is expected in the first quarter of next year.