Sierra Club blasts study on N.M. coal operations
Environmental groups Friday criticized as inadequate a draft federal study of coal operations at Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine near Farmington.
The comment period ended Friday for the draft environmental impact statement conducted by the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement. The study examines the combined environmental impacts of the coal-fired power plant and adjacent mine.
“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, a Sierra Club representative, in a news release Friday afternoon. “Four Corners Power Plant is over 50 years old – it’s time to begin thinking about clean and safe alternatives in renewable energy.”
The federal study examines the planned life of the power plant and mine, which is envisioned to stretch to 2041.
The Navajo Nation last year agreed to take ownership of the coal mine from mining giant BHP Billiton, although BHP will continue to operate the mine until 2016. The power plant is primarily owned and operated by Arizona Public Service Co., a Phoenix-based utility company.
Local control compromise sought on drilling
Energy companies are divided over Gov. John Hickenlooper’s latest proposal for a compromise to grant more control to local governments over oil and gas operations.
Nineteen companies, including BP America, Shell Oil Co. and Encana Oil and Gas, signed a letter delivered to Hickenlooper Friday in opposition to the draft bill.
The Denver Post reported that seven energy companies, including Anadarko Petroleum and Noble Energy wrote a letter in support of the proposal. Those two companies, which are the largest drillers on the Front Range, have expressed support for Hickenlooper’s push to find a legislative compromise.
The draft proposal being circulated would give local governments the power to impose setbacks greater than 500 feet on drilling rigs. Local jurisdictions could also control noise from energy development and conduct inspections of operations.
The attempt to find a compromise is an effort to stave off proposed ballot measures that would impose more stringent rules over drilling. Some of those ballot proposals have the financial backing of Colorado U.S. Rep. Jared Polis.
July 4 weekend fires up highest gas prices since ’08
The run-up in gasoline prices will make the Fourth of July weekend the costliest for motorists since 2008.
Prices will average about $3.68 a gallon for regular grade, up 17 cents from last year but below the $4.11 record set in 2008.
Rising crude oil prices have been driving an unseasonably early summer run-up on gas prices, mostly on fears of unrest in Iraq.
Durango reconsiders half-cent recreation tax
The city of Durango is preparing to launch a campaign to encourage residents to reauthorize a half-cent tax increase.
The authorization of the tax 15 years ago was intended to build the Durango Community Recreation Center and gaps in the Animas River Trail, but the city has an estimated $156 million in parks, open space, trails and recreation projects it wants to help fund through reauthorization of the tax. If approved by voters, the tax increase would continue for 20 more years, sunsetting in 2039.
Durango voters will be asked to reauthorize the tax in April.
The Cortez Journal
