Vote to Support Coal Creek

VOTE TO SUPPORT COAL CREEK

The Coal Creek Watershed Coalition is competing for a grant from MillerCoors and River Network. The Coalition is one of 8 finalists from an initial pool of 32 applicants. The top 4 vote-getters will receive $10,000. Funds from this grant will be used to do some cleanup at the Forest Queen Mine, conduct a study of how Magnesium Chloride might be affecting Coal Creek and to work with the Office for Resource Efficiency (ORE) with an educational program on water conservation.

The finalists will be picked by popular vote. COAL CREEK WATERSHED COALITION NEEDS YOUR VOTE! It will only take a minute. High Country Citizens' Alliance appreciates all of you and your friends voting in support of Coal Creek. Please help spread the word. Votes must be received by March 6th.

This is the direct link to the voting form:

http://www.rivernetwork.org/forms/vote-millercoors-grants

Regards,

Steve Glazer
HCCA Water Program Director
President, Coal Creek Watershed Coalition

COGCC Rules in Jeopardy - Act Now !

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rules in Jeopardy

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Contact Rep. Kathleen Curry to support her

in opposing HB 1255

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Vote Scheduled for Friday, February 20th at 1:30 pm

Colorado is on the front edge of a dramatic oil and gas drilling boom, necessitating the updated oversight of drilling. Since 1999, drilling permits are up 600% and projections call for 120,000 new wells to be drilled in Colorado in the next 30 years.

In early December, the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) updated its regulations by and 8-0 vote. The unanimous, 8-0 vote demonstrates the consensus achieved on the Commission in support of these rules. HCCA realizes it took tremendous compromise to reach an agreement on these rules. The COGCC is to be commended for the enormous amount of time they spent on this process and for ensuring the final protections achieve a fair balance. However, attempts to gut these regulations are under way and the updated rules need your voice to keep them in place.

Ultimately these updated rules will help protect Colorado's air/water quality and wildlife habitat while still allowing oil & gas companies to continue to operate in the state. Other noteworthy improvements in the new rules include:

• Establishing a 300 foot no drill buffer around streams that serve public drinking water supplies.

• Requiring companies to keep track of and disclose to state and emergency responders chemicals they use in drilling operations.

Colorado State Representative Kathleen Curry has been working tirelessly to make sure the COGCC's efforts don't get thwarted by misguided attempts to scale back the new rules. The introduction of HB 1255 by Cory Gardner (R-Wray) is one such effort that would gut wildlife protections and eliminate important feedback from public health and wildlife experts in oil & gas drilling.

Please show your support for Rep. Curry by contacting her TODAY to thank her for her leadership on this issue and ask her to oppose HB 1255. Write a letter to the editor of the Gunnison Times and Crested Butte News in support of her work on the COGCC rules.

Email, Call or Write:

State Representative Kathleen Curry

200 E. Colfax

Denver, CO 80203

Capitol Phone: (303) 866-2945

E-mail: kathleen.curry.house@state.co.us

Gunnison Times

218 N. Wisconsin

Gunnison, CO 81230

E-mail: editor@gunnisontimes.com

Crested Butte News

PO Box 369

Crested Butte, CO 81224

E-mail: editorial@crestedbuttenews.com

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UPDATE

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Thanks to your letters and your support of Rep. Curry, HB 1255 was killed in committee of February 20th in a 7-6 vote.

32nd Annual Red Lady Salvation Ball

The 32^nd Annual Red Lady Salvation will take place on Saturday, March 7, at The Eldo and will feature Delta blues sensation Papa Mali, with opener, local favorite Second Time Around. Tickets are $25 and include a one-year membership with High Country Citizens’ Alliance (HCCA)! Doors will open at 8:00 pm.

The Red Lady Ball is HCCA’s annual fundraiser and membership drive to support protection of the natural world that surrounds us. The evening is highlighted by the coronation of the Red Lady, a tradition of this long-time community event. Nominations are currently being accepted from the public, so if you know of someone who should be the next Red Lady, please nominate her or him. For more information on our website please click HERE.

Red Lady candidates should be Gunnison Valley residents who have made a commitment towards protection of the natural ecosystems of the Upper Gunnison River Basin. The next Red Lady can be male or female, no matter their age. The Red Lady makes appearances during parades and festivals, various community functions, and also volunteers throughout the year representing HCCA’s work to keep Red Lady (Mt. Emmons) free of a molybdenum mine. Nominations can be either phoned in to 349.7104 or emailed to office@hccaonline.org until Monday, February 23. Please include a sentence or two about your nomination.

The evening also features a raffle of fabulous prizes donated by local and regional businesses, such as vacation lodging, nordic ski passes, massages, wine, lunches, dinners, artwork, outdoors equipment and clothing. Tickets for the raffle go on sale Monday, March 2, in front of the Crested Butte Post Office and at the HCCA office in the Depot, 716 Elk Avenue. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10. Watch for red-clad ticket sellers outside the Post Office to get your chance to win great prizes.

Note: We have posted this as an event on Facebook - Click here to view the event and RSVP.

HCCA is on Twitter!

High Country Citizens' Alliance has a Twitter page! Join us as a "friend" or "follower" on Twitter. CLICK HERE to go to our Twitter Page.

Twitter is a social networking service that allows you to answer the question, "What am I doing right now?" HCCA will be using Twitter to update the community on what we are doing both online with blog posts, video updates, facebook updates and website updates as well as in the community with local events and outreach programs.

You do not need a Twitter account to view our page but you will if you want to become a friend or follower.

Once on our page, please register to setup your own Twitter account, become a friend or follower and stay informed with HCCA happenings in the Gunnison Valley.

And please spread the word that HCCA is on Twitter!