REP's national conference took place in Golden
REP Policy Director Spoke in Grand Junction
The chapter hosted a community event at Mesa College in Grand Junction on October 24, 2006. REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso spoke on "The Conservative Case for Conservation."
Chapter Vice President Testifies in Favor of Wilderness Bill
On July 27, 2006, Chapter Vice President Dick Scar testified before the U.S. House Forests & Forests Health Subcommittee in favor of legislation to designate Browns Canyon Wilderness. Click here to read his testimony.
Colorado Chapter Holds 2006 Annual Meeting
Grand County Commissioner James Newberry and rancher
Kirk Klancke give presentation on Colorado water issues at
chapter annual meeting.
Chapter Tabled at Evergreen Earth Day Festival
Chapter President Marty Sorensen and his wife Linda Cornish staffed a REP table at the Evergreen Earth Day Festival on April 22, 2006.
Chapter Members Attend Legislative Reception
Chapter President Marty Sorensen, Linda Cornish and Jo Johnson attended attended a March 6 legislative reception at the Warwick Hotel in Denver.
2005
Letter to Senator Wayne Allard Regarding Wolf Creek Development
July 19, 2005
Dear Senator Allard,
I am writing to get your views on the proposed Village at Wolf Creek development at near Wolf Creek Pass in Mineral County. This development as planned would house as many as 10,000 people above 10,000 feet elevation in a county which now has fewer than 900 residents. This development would obviously have huge impacts on this part of the state.
Some of our concerns are listed below:
The U.S. Forest Service, by taking the unusual action in 1986 of creating a private inholding within Rio Grande National Forest, has put two private property rights in direct conflict. The 288-acre inholding is entirely within the 1,581 acres of national forest land now permitted under a Special Use Permit by the Wolf Creek Ski Corporation until the year 2037.
The economic impacts on adjacent Archuleta and Rio Grande counties could be very negative. Lodging facilities and restaurants in Pagosa Springs and South Fork will be hurt by this development.
The Wolf Creek Ski Area could become a private area instead of a public one because skiers who now come to Wolf Creek Ski Area like its undeveloped character. The current skiers would likely stay away, leaving the area for the exclusive use of residents of the Village at Wolf Creek. Public land would become less public.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is just completing a 20-year build-out on U.S, Highway 160 but the plan did not take into consideration a massive development on Wolf Creek Pass. Where is the money going to come from to expand the highway to absorb a huge increase in population and traffic?
Wolf Creek Pass is on one of the 12 major wildlife corridors in the state. A major development will have tremendous impacts on both wildlife and humans. Increased collisions of wildlife with vehicles will cause major loss of property and life, and greatly impact insurance companies.
Considering the major impacts this proposal would have, it is unreasonable that the U.S. Forest Service is not addressing them. The Forest Service is being constrained to consider only the impacts of a 250-ft long access road. This is an example of micro stewardship vs. macro stewardship. Forest Service employees on the ground need to be given the freedom and responsibility to deal with the total impacts this proposed development will have on our state and the local region.
We will appreciate your consideration of these concerns and look forward to receiving your thoughts on the matter.
Sincerely,
Marty Sorensen
President
Colorado Chapter, Republicans for Environmental Protection
REP Policy Director Spoke to WSERC on March 20, 2005
REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso spoke to the 28th annual meeting of the Western Slope Environmental Resource Council on Sunday, March, 20, 2005, at Hotchkiss Memorial Hall, in Hotchkiss, Delta County. DiPeso spoke on energy and public lands issues. Click here to read his speech.
Colorado Chapter Testified Against HB 1259
On Feb. 23, 2005, Chapter Secretary Steve Bonowski testified against state House Bill 1259, which would have created a task force to implement the Bush adminstration's revisions of the national forest Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The Colorado chapter is following the activities of the roadless areas task force appointed by Governor Owens and legislative leaders following passage of SB 243.
2004
Chapter Backed Amendment 37 to Expand Renewable Energy
The Colorado chapter was an enthusiastic backer of Amendment 37, the ballot measure passed in November 2004 that requires Colorado utilities to obtain at least 10 percent of electricity from renewable resources by 2015. Amendment 37 will create additional economic opportunities for rural communities, as well as increase the amount of clean energy generated in Colorado.
Shown on the steps of Colorado's Capitol in Denver
are, from left, National REP President Martha Marks,
then-state House Speaker Lola Spradley, and Hans Berg.
REP President Spoke to Colorado Conservation Voters
National REP President Martha Marks spoke to the annual luncheon of Colorado Conservation Voters on Sept. 9, 2004 in Denver. Click here to read her speech.
2004
Colorado becomes REP's 9th official chapter!
On Saturday, June 12, 2004, a group of REP members from around the state of Colorado gathered to lay the groundwork for a chapter in their state. Soon thereafter, the national Board of Directors accepted the chapter's application and welcomed the Colorado Chapter to the Republicans for Environmental Protection family.
National REP President Martha Marks spoke on "Loving the Earth" to the High Country Citizens Alliance in Crested Butte.
