36 Protecting At-risk Public Lands and Values in Central Colorado

When the Trump administration messes with Central Colorado’s public lands, the results are not pretty. Hear what’s happening and what you can do to help protect our “Big Back Yard.” Pikes Peak Group of the Sierra Club Wilderness Chair John Stansfield and Conservation Chair Jim Lockhart discuss multiple planning projects underway, some of which are nearing the end of their public comment period. 

The Bureau of Land Management is preparing a resource management plan (RMP) and environmental impact statement to provide comprehensive management direction for all resources and uses within the Royal Gorge Field Office in eastern Colorado. The BLM manages over 650,000 acres of surface land in Eastern Colorado and over 3 million acres of subsurface mineral rights, including “split-estate” lands in which the federal government owns the mineral rights, but private landowners own the surface. Jim and John share some of the details.

The RMP will consider every aspect and impact of federal land use, from air to water to mineral extraction, what areas to protect and what areas are open to exploitation. The final opportunity for citizens to provide comments on the current draft of the plan closes on September 20. Oil production on BLM land in southern Colorado could more than double and natural gas production could more than triple, tripling carbon emissions under one scenario under consideration. See the links section below to review the plan and/or comment.

The BLM is also considering a proposal by the Army at Fort Carson to allow Army training over wildlands managed by the federal government, with helicopters landing on 43 remote sites in Teller, Fremont and Park counties. Jim and John share some of the details. Comments on this proposal are due by September 11th. See the links section below for information and commenting.

The BLM is also working jointly with the U.S. Forest Service on a resource management plan for the new Browns Canyon National Monument.  A draft plan and environmental impact statement are expected to be released this Fall. See the links section below for information.

This episode is courtesy of Pikes Peak Group of the Sierra Club. The Pikes Peak Group is part of the Colorado Chapter of the Sierra Club and represents members in the greater Pikes Peak region as well as communities to the east and west of the region. The purpose of the Sierra Club is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; and to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.

We invite you to join in our events, hikes, and discussions. For more information about the Group’s activities and events, follow Pikes Peak Group of the Sierra Club on Facebook (links below).

LINKS:

BLM Eastern Colorado Resource Management Plan – info and to submit public comments

The public can also mail comments to: BLM Royal Gorge Field Office 3028 East Main Street Canon City, CO  81212

Fort Carson High Altitude Mountain Environment Training (helicopter training) – info and to submit public comments

Browns Canyon National Monument Resource Management Plan (draft to be release...