From the Styx by Peggy Tibbetts

Sometimes it seems like the impacts of gas well drilling are hitting us from all sides. Despite increasing evidence of water and air quality impacts, we are powerless to hold the gas companies accountable. As gas well development increases, the demand for gravel is at an all time high. But are we willing to risk turning the Colorado River Basin into an industrial dust bowl? It would seem so.

Despite concerns, gravel pit moves closer to annexation
by Dennis Webb

SILT - The Silt Board of Trustees has found the site of a proposed gravel pit to be legally eligible for consideration for annexation.

Monday night’s determination that the proposal complies with state statutes clears the way for continuing with an annexation process that could last for years and is drawing opposition from residents living near the land in question.

Some raised concerns about the proposal both at Monday night’s board meeting and earlier Monday when the matter came before Garfield County commissioners.

Nancy Limbach, who runs a wildlife rehabilitation center on County Road 346, worries about the impacts on her center. Traffic on the road, which is located in natural gas drilling country, already is bad, she said.

“It’s nonstop trucks anymore,” she said.

Gravel pit traffic would create further noise for the center, where rehabilitating bears try to hibernate in the winter and deer and elk in pens have been disturbed by traffic, she said …

If there’s no stopping the gravel pit, then I understand the need for Silt to annex the property so the town government can put regulations in place to minimize the impacts and demand reclamation. Problem is, I’m against more gravel pits – period. They cause dust, truck traffic, and they’re an eyesore. We don’t know enough about the impact of mining all this gravel. And I’m not alone in my concerns. Local officials met last week to discuss gravel pits.

Rifle, GarCo discuss gravel pit issue
by Heidi Rice

RIFLE - Reclamation of the Colorado River Basin following the increasing number of gravel pits along the corridor from New Castle to Rifle was the top concern voiced by local municipalities to the Garfield County Commissioners Wednesday night.

The joint, informational discussion came up in light of two recent applications for gravel pits in both Silt and Rifle.

Members of the Rifle City Council asked that the impacts of the mining be addressed and proposed an Environmental Impact Study be conducted by reclamation specialists.

“The goal here is to create a collaboration between the city and county to fund the studies,” said Councilor Jennifer Firmin. “We want to take a proactive stance to ensure reclamation.”

Councilor Alan Lambert outlined his concerns about the gravel pits, including impacts to water quality, wildlife, economic development, flooding, conservation and reclamation.

“We need to reclaim one (gravel pit) before the next in line, otherwise we’ll have a huge industrial strip,” Lambert said …

The Silt Board of Trustees will hold at least two more hearings on the gravel pit proposal. I hope we can stop it, although I realize it’s a long shot.

In other news, Silt Trustees unanimously adopted a resolution stating that the White River National Forest’s roadless areas should remain that way.

Bravo!

The resolution was sought by Citizens for Roadless Area Defense. In May 2005, the Bush administration overturned a Clinton ruling that protected nearly 60 million acres of roadless areas nationwide. Conservationists have designated 1.1 million acres that should remain off limits to timber and natural gas drilling. The Roadless Areas Review Task Force will hold a hearing on June 21 at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs.

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