County, Letters To The Editor, Opinion

Letter: Ritter should oppose greenhouse gas limits

While governors from 18 U.S. states spent last Wednesday urging Congress to nix the EPA’s “harmful” regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, Gov. Bill Ritter chose to stand idly by.
The EPA’s plan will directly impact five western counties: Mesa, Rio Blanco, Gunnison, La Plata and Montezuma, yet Gov. Ritter has thus far refused to stand up for our western counties.
The EPA is attempting to change the ozone standard from .075 parts per million (ppm) to somewhere between 60 and 70 ppm.
Fifteen counties will not meet the standard if it’s changed. And with this come the potential loss in federal highway dollars, compliance costs and job loss. The industry that will get hit the hardest if the standard changes? Oil and gas. If the rule is passed, our oil and gas operators will be hit with more federal regulations and, of course, more fees.
La Plata and Montezuma counties in the San Juan Basin had 340 active drilling permits issued last year, and Gunnison, Mesa and Rio Blanco counties in the Piceance basin held nearly 800 permits in 2009. These five counties produced more than 852 million MCF of natural gas last year and four million barrels of oil.
This proposed rule doesn’t have definitive science to back it up. If you read the Federal Register on the proposed rule, you’ll see the EPA states their decision is based on “inconclusive scientific and technical information” and that the risk of harm isn’t even “precisely identified.”
I don’t want a rule that isn’t based on science and will harm an industry that is the backbone of the Western Slope. Come on Ritter, it’s time to stand up for what is right. It’s time to tell the EPA we aren’t putting up with this political move.
Sam Susuras
City councilman, Grand Junction
Chairman, Colorado Energy Forum

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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
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6 days ago
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
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