Sept. 18, 2008

Vote YES on Amendment 58

San Juan Citizens Alliance urges a YES vote on Amendment 58, to make oil and gas severance taxes more equitable in Colorado. Amendment 58 closes a 30-year-old tax loophole that lets oil and gas companies avoid paying millions of dollars in severance taxes. Amendment 58 would make Colorado closer, though not yet equal, to mineral severance tax rates in neighboring New Mexico and Wyoming that are enjoying robust state budget surpluses.

Amendment 58 would generate $300 million annually in additional revenues. Of this, 60% goes to college scholarships for low and middle-income students, 15% back to impacted counties, 15% for wildlife habitat conservation, and 10% for renewable energy development. Visit www.asmartercolorado.com for more information.

August 22, 2008

Act to Protect Colorado Roadless Areas!

You can support the protection of Colorado’s Roadless Areas, including thousands of acres in the San Juan National Forest, by providing written comments.

BACKGROUND: Today, 4.4 million acres of Colorado’s roadless national forests are protected by the landmark Roadless Area Conservation Rule of 2001. On its way out the door, the Bush administration is moving forward with plans to remove the current protections now in place for Colorado’s roadless backcountry forests.  The proposed Draft Colorado Rule creates a second-rate management scheme that would allow industrial activity for some of the state’s most sensitive wildlands, leaving them with less protection than any other state in the lower 48. 

The Bush plan does not reflect – or respect – the intent to protect Colorado’s roadless national forests, as expressed by the public, the Governor, and in the State Task Force process.  Our written comments need to remind them of these important points:

1. Take More Time: The Bush administration is attempting to rush the process to a conclusion instead of taking the necessary time to comprehensively review the proposed rule for ALL of the effects it would have on Colorado’s roadless backcountry.

2. Support the 2001 Roadless Rule: This rule offered adequate protections for Roadless Areas and is the high standard necessary to protect all of our nation’s roadless lands - Colorado’s roadless backcountry deserves this measure of protection. More than 1.6 million public comments backed this rule when it was first proposed!!

3. Any version of a roadless rule enacted must provide these basic protections:

  • The cessation of road construction including the “long-term temporary roads” noted in the Draft Colorado Roadless Rule that would last up to 30 years!
  • Halting further oil and gas leasing and associated development such as pipelines and compressor stations.
  • A stop to logging, coal mining and powerline construction.

Here is a thorough analysis (Word doc) of the proposed Colorado roadless rule.

Learn more about San Juan NF roadless areas.

Written comments can be made via e-mail to COcomments@fsroadless.org

or

Roadless Area Conservation – Colorado, P.O Box 162909, Sacramento, CA 95816-2909

Deadline is October 23, 2008

Oktoberfest, Downtown Durango, September 27-28, 2008
San Juan Citizens' VERY fun fundraiser. Live music, brew, kids events and food, and a drawing for a bicycle cruiser! More>
 
The GBR, Green Business Roundtable
The Green Business Roundtable helps INSPIRE, EDUCATE, and IMPROVE the business community on environmental issues through a monthly lunch networking event. More>
 
Donate Now
Support San Juan Citizens Alliance! Want to donate? Donations are matched by a challenge grant from Earth Friends Wildlife Foundation!

 

 

 
What's Hot - Colorado O&G Rules
Beginning in January, 2008 the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) will take public comment on newly proposed oil and gas drilling regulations. The oil industry has mobilized massive resources to gut common sense health, safety and wildlife protections. More>
 

What’s Hot - San Juan Forest Plan
The 20-year plan for managing 2.3-million acres of San Juan National Forest and public lands in the Dolores River basin was available for comment through April 11, 2008. The plan proposes new wilderness, wild river protection, and snowmobile-free areas. More>

 
What’s Hot - Northern San Juan Mountains Wilderness
Local governments and concerned citizens are advocating wilderness protection for Sheep Mountain, expanded Mt. Sneffels, and BLM lands in Disappointment Valley and the Dolores River. Write Rep. Salazar today! More>
What's Hot - Desert Rock
On July 31, 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the Air Quality permit for the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant. The permit appeal period has been extended to October 2, 2008 to brief the issues. More>
 
What’s Hot - HD Mountains
Diverse interests representing farmers, landowners, hunters, and conservation groups challenged the Forest Service decision authorizing dozens of wells in HD Mountains roadless area with a lawsuit filed on January 23, 2008. More>

Watch a 10-minute video on YouTube - "The Drill Man Cometh"

 
What’s Hot - Chaco Culture
National Historical Park

This World Heritage Site in San Juan County, New Mexico needs protection and is under pressure from energy development and road projects in the region. Read about Chaco here.
 
September 8, Monday La Plata County Commissioner candidate forum, Fort Lewis College

September 10, Wednesday Green Business Roundtable luncheon, noon, Strater Hotel, Durango

September 27-28 2008 Oktoberfest, Downtown Durango


 
San Juan Citizens Alliance is a grass roots organization dedicated to social, economic and environmental justice in the San Juan Basin. We organize San Juan Basin residents to protect our water and air, our public lands, our rural character, and our unique quality of life while embracing the diversity of our region’s people, economy and ecology.
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