May 2, 2013

U.S. Energy's Plan of Operations, dated April 12, 2013 - version "accepted by U.S. Forest Service.

Click Here to Download

March 12, 2013

High Country Citizens’ Alliance is pleased to announce that Alli Melton has been hired as its new Public Lands Director.  Ms. Melton grew up in Fort Collins and although she left the state briefly for academic pursuits, Colorado has always pulled her back.  “Colorado is my home, there’s something truly special about the Rocky Mountain air, landscapes, and communities.  I am very fortunate that my work involves protecting and preserving what makes this area so special.” 

As an undergraduate at Colorado State University, Ms. Melton was involved in a grass roots organization seeking to protect the northern front-range from in-situ leach uranium mining.  “This experience taught me first hand that when communities unite they can achieve their goal of protecting their land, air, water, and health.”  Ms. Melton received her Bachelor’s degree in political science from Colorado State University in 2009 and her J.D. from Colorado Law in 2012.  At Colorado Law, Ms. Melton focused on natural resources and environmental law in addition to interning for the Western Mining Action Project and the U.S. EPA Office of Enforcement, Compliance, and Environmental Justice. 

Since graduating, Ms. Melton was admitted to the Colorado Bar, clerked as a Judicial Fellow for Colorado Supreme Court Justice Monica M. Márquez, and worked pro bono for the Western Mining Action Project.  

“We hired Alli because she has a great foundation on the legal issues needed to protect this amazing area and has an excellent understanding of how to build support across the community.”  Said Greg Dyson, HCCA’s Executive Director.  Sue Navy, a HCCA board member also added that: “We are very fortunate to have found someone with Alli’s background and enthusiasm for our public lands conservation work. We know she will be an asset to the organization.”

Ms. Melton stated: “I am thrilled to be here in Crested Butte.  I am looking forward to integrating into the Upper Gunnison River Basin community and exploring the beautiful landscapes that surround us.  This community’s commitment to protecting Red Lady is inspiring and I am excited to become part of the effort to protect our land, air, water, communities, and lifestyles.  As the Public Lands Director, I intend to work with various stakeholders to ensure our public lands are managed in a sustainable manner so they can be enjoyed by and inspire generations to come.”      

---

 

February 6, 2013

All North Fork Oil and Gas Parcels Removed From February BLM Lease Sale!
 
Agency Cites “Extensive Public Comments” in Deferral of 20,555 Acres
 
In a February 6th press release the BLM Colorado Office announced that it has decided to remove all 20 lease parcels in the North Fork Valley of Gunnison and Delta Counties from its February 14th oil and gas lease sale. This is a tremendous victory for the North Fork, including its communities, farms and ranches, wildlife, waters and public lands.
 
HCCA wants to thank all our members who took the time to write the BLM and elected officials urging the withdrawal of the nominated parcels. The agency noted the “extensive public comments” in justifying its action to withdraw all 20 parcels. Your input was critical in shaping the BLM’s decision!
 
For now, the beautiful public lands, bountiful orchards, abundant wildlife and clean waters of the North Fork are spared from tens of thousands of acres of new development. HCCA will continue to work with our conservation partners, agency staff and elected officials to ensure that the cherished landscapes of Gunnison County and the Upper Gunnison River Basin remain protected.

---

 

January 29, 2013

Gunnison County, CO—Conservationists late yesterday filed an appeal with the Department of the Interior to halt Arch Coal’s plans to bulldoze, road, and drill the forests next to Colorado’s iconic West Elk Wilderness Area as part the company’s plans to expand dirty energy development on public lands.

Click here to read the full press release

---

 

January 16, 2013

Crested Butte— After winning release of U.S. Energy’s Plan of Operations (PoO), High Country Citizens’ Alliance and the community can now see—for the first time—U.S. Energy’s specific plans for a mine on Mt. Emmons.  According to the PoO, the proposed mine on Red Lady, as locals affectionately term Mt. Emmons, would: impact 10,000 acres of public land, require upgrading Kebler Pass to a two lane road, include pumping the Slate River, and necessitate dams on Upper Ohio Creek, Carbon Creek, and Elk Creek.   “This proposal cannot be measured on a scale of anything the Gunnison Valley has previously experienced.  Mining Red Lady would fundamentally alter the economy and lifestyle of Crested Butte.  It would result in the loss of the scenic, recreation, wildlife, and water quality values we enjoy today,” said HCCA’s Executive Director Greg Dyson.  The PoO outlines plans for mine sludge to be stored in tailings ponds at the western base of Whetstone Mountain, a 46,000 square foot mill building just off Kebler Pass Road, and an estimated 32 truck trips per day across the treasured scenic byway from the mine site to the North Fork Valley.
 
In addition, the PoO outlines very real impacts to water quality, but glosses over these concerns.  HCCA’s Water Director Jennifer Bock points out, “We drink this water and we fish in these streams.  U.S. Energy acknowledges that there is already acid mine drainage from the old Keystone Mine on Mt. Emmons, but in the same document, claims that there will be no new impacts to aquatic life or water quality from their mine.  This is unrealistic given what we’ve seen at other moly mines such as Climax near Leadville.”  The Town of Crested Butte has taken pains to protect its watershed, yet U.S. Energy dismisses the Town’s ability to protect our drinking water, stating “Legal counsel for U.S. Energy has reviewed the Town of Crested Butte watershed ordinance and has determined that it will not affect operations under this Plan of Operations.”

HCCA is in the process of analyzing the PoO in order to provide more details to the public.  The organization, which has opposed mining on Red Lady for over 35 years, is also working to ensure that the PoO meets all Forest Service requirements and that the agency follows proper protocol as it considers the PoO and its impacts on the local environment.  While there is no formal opportunity for the public to comment at this time, if the Forest Service accepts the PoO, procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will trigger extensive public involvement in environmental analysis.

Ultimately, said HCCA’s Board President, Rich Karas, the organization’s aim is to reach a permanent solution to the mine issues through negotiations, “We believe that both HCCA’s and U.S. Energy’s time and resources are much better spent in negotiations rather than debating a mining plan.”  HCCA and U.S. Energy, along with the Town of Crested Butte and Red Lady Coalition announced in May 2011 that the groups had begun discussions aimed at a land exchange package which would permanently end the threat of mining on Mt. Emmons.

Click here to download U.S. Energy's Plan of Operations  
*Maps are on page 83

Click here to download the Plan of Operations map only

Click here to download HCCA's fact sheet

---

 

January 16, 2013

High Country Citizens’ Alliance is pleased to announce that Greg Dyson has been hired to be its new Executive Director.  Mr. Dyson is an environmental attorney with 20 years experience in the environmental movement as an activist and non-profit manager.  He founded and ran the group ‘Bark’ in Portland, Oregon, and later was Executive Director of the Hells Canyon Preservation Council in Northeast Oregon.  At those two groups, he worked on mining, energy, old growth, wilderness, recreation, wildlife, forest planning and watershed issues.  Most recently, he has been residing in Denver.  Mr. Dyson started at HCCA on January 2nd. 

Rich Karas, President of the HCCA Board, stated: “we were fortunate to find in Greg someone who could bring a strong background on the issues along with a wealth of experience in running a non-profit.”  Sue Navy, a founding Board member of HCCA, added: “Greg has a demonstrated ability to work constructively with a wide range of interest groups while staying true to an environmental mission.”

“I’m excited to be here in Crested Butte.  Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly, and the way in which the community has banded together to stop mining on Red Lady for all these years is truly inspiring.  I intend to keep serious pressure on US Energy and strengthen our Water and Public Lands programs, while building our support base in and out of the Upper Gunnison Valley,” Mr. Dyson said.

---

 

May 14, 2012
 
Dear HCCA Members and Supporters,
 
It is with hope and excitement that I write today to let you know that HCCA, working with the Town of Crested Butte and the Red Lady Coalition, has been in discussions with U.S. Energy Corp. on a deal that would ensure that no mining would ever occur on Mt. Emmons.  We are in the initial stages of developing a comprehensive agreement that would benefit the community, the environment and the interests of all parties involved while ensuring that no mining would ever occur.  After 35 years of working to protect Mt. Emmons, all of us on the Board of Directors and Staff at HCCA are thrilled and proud to bring you this news.
 
A permanent solution will likely involve some combination of federal, local and private interests creating an exchange of value for the mining rights as well as ensuring funding and continued operation of the water treatment plant that handles water coming from the Keystone Mine. A final deal will also need to return the private lands on Mt. Emmons to public ownership.  If a land exchange is included in the final deal, the input of local communities will be critical to a successful outcome.  We look forward to getting further into the details of the exchange in the very near future and hope to make significant progress this year.
 
HCCA is pleased to finally see the possibility of ending the Mt. Emmons mining controversy.  While we are very excited by that prospect, we are acutely aware that there is a great deal of work still to be done and many details to be worked out in what is likely to be a highly complex negotiation.  We intend to invest every possible resource in those negotiations in order to reach the best possible solution – one that is good for the Gunnison Valley, good for the environment and one that will allow our communities to shift our focus to other important issues.  In our view we have never been as close to a permanent solution as we are now and must make every effort to see it through.
 
But we still need your help!  The effort to create a permanent solution for Mt. Emmons involves significant expense and staff time.  Your contributions, large and small, make this work possible and every dollar given to support HCCA’s work on Red Lady will help us create the best possible solution.  Please consider making a contribution to HCCA today to help finish our work on Mt. Emmons.
 
If you have questions or thoughts on this important news please contact HCCA at saveredlady@hccaonline.org.
 
Thank you for your membership and support.  We look forward to permanently saving Red Lady.
 
All my best,

Dan Morse
Executive Director

---

 

The mission of High County Citizens’ Alliance is to champion the protection, conservation and preservation of the natural ecosystems within the Upper Gunnison River Basin.

---

 

You can become a member and make online donations to HCCA via your credit or bank card by clicking Network for Good link above!

 

---