DENVER, Colo. – The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission will have a follow-up discussion regarding antler shed collection and perform an annual review of regulation chapters related to big game, furbearers and small game, and waterfowl and migratory game birds at its March meeting. The Commission will also discuss herd management plans for elk in Buffalo Peaks, Lower Rio Grande, and West Elk Mountains.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and adjourn at 4 p.m. on March 7 at 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216. The Commission will reconvene at the same location at 8:30 a.m. and adjourn at 10:30 a.m. on March 8.
Additional agenda items include:
GOCO Update
Boulder County Recognition
Roxborough and Castlewood Canyon Volunteer Recognition
New restrictions on shed antler and horn collection take effect on Friday, March 2
DENVER, Colo. – Antler collectors and all people taking to Colorado for recreation are reminded that shed antler and horn collecting is prohibited on all public lands west of I-25 from March 2 through April 30. Additionally, in order to maintain protection for the Gunnison sage-grouse, the new regulations include a closure to collection of shed antlers on public lands May 1 to May 15 from sunset to 10 a.m. in the Gunnison basin (Game Management Units 54, 55, 66, 67, 551).
Gunnison sage-grouse
The new regulation was approved by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission in January. Starting next year and in all subsequent years, the seasonal collection prohibition starts on Jan. 1 and continues through April 30.
Moose
The purpose of this regulation is to reduce stress on wintering big game animals during the time of year when deer, elk, pronghorn and moose are most vulnerable. Stress can result in decreased body condition, increased mortality and decreased survival of deer fawns and elk calves. These regulations protect the health of Colorado’s big game herds and other wintering wildlife.
CPW will be working with recreation organizations, land-use management agencies, visitors bureaus and local communities to get the word out about these new restrictions. Protecting our wintering wildlife is something we have to do together.
As more people enjoy each season that Colorado has to offer, and new forms of recreation continue to emerge, it is increasingly important that everyone involved in outdoor recreation help to educate others about conservation of our public lands. — CPW Director Bob Broscheid
Anyone violating the closure or in possession of antlers or horns during the closure period will be fined at least $68. Even if you are not intentionally looking for antlers you are prohibited from picking up antlers.
Because wildlife officers patrol vast areas, CPW is asking for help from the public to enforce the new regulations. If you see activity that appears to be in violation of the closure regulation, please call the nearest CPW office or local law enforcement as soon as possible. Do not, however, confront or approach anyone you suspect is behaving illegally.
Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Why were these dates chosen?
In most parts of western Colorado, winter conditions affecting big game typically last into late April or early May, and big game are still losing weight and body condition. The April 30 date is intended to help minimize additional stress during this critical time frame.
In addition, these dates closely align with restrictions in neighboring states. For instance, Wyoming prohibits the collection of shed antlers and horns from January 1 through April 30 on public lands west of the Continental Divide.
Why are other kinds of recreation and hunting still allowed in areas where shed collection is restricted?
While it is true that these restrictions may overlap with some hunting seasons, the amount of pressure put on the animals will be limited by the number of hunting license holders. Some shed collectors use OHVs and snowmobiles in their search. Loud, fast-moving OHVs and snowmobiles are major sources of wildlife stress. Also, the CPW Commission does not regulate other forms of recreation such as hikers and bikers on other land-use agency properties such as the Bureau of Land Management lands or National Forest land.
What are the penalties for violations?
Our initial goal is to educate the public about the negative impacts to wildlife caused by irresponsible shed collecting and recreational activity, and why the new regulation is needed; however, based on officer discretion, violators will likely face a $50 fine and $18 surcharge. There will be five license suspension points applied to the violator’s privilege to apply for, purchase, or exercise the benefits conferred by any licenses issued by CPW. If a person accumulates 20 or more points within a five-year period, that person could be suspended from hunting and fishing for up to five years.
Additionally, possession of antlers during the closure on public lands west of I-25 can also be counted as a separate ($68) violation with each individual antler being considered a possible violation offense. In addition, apart from the new shed collection rules, harassing wildlife remains illegal and CPW officers will cite any individual violating this existing regulation. Harassing wildlife is a $137 violation that also includes 10 license suspension points. A $2.50 DNA surcharge will also apply to each citation that an officer issues to a violator.
What about private lands?
The CPW Commission chose not to include a private land requirement in its decision to enact a shed collection closure in Colorado. However, it is unlawful to collect sheds on private property unless a person has lawful access to that private property. Possession of antlers or horns on private property without lawful access is prohibited.
Is shed and horn collection growing in popularity?
Although shed collection is not a new activity in Colorado, there is evidence that it is rapidly growing in popularity. At the CPW Commission’s January meeting, both the commissioners and members of the public noted they had seen a big increase in shed collection around the state, likely due to the substantial profit collectors can make from the sale of shed horns and antlers. Once considered a fun, recreational activity for families or the source of a unique medium for artisans, shed collection is now a major business. As a result, a growing number of people are participating. Unfortunately, too many shed collectors are focusing on financial gain rather than protecting wildlife, creating the need for new regulations.
In some states, you need a permit to collect sheds. Is Colorado considering the same?
The requirement of a priced permit for collecting shed antlers and horns is a novel concept that would be precedent-setting in the western U.S. Although the CPW Commission decided not to require a permit at its latest meeting, it is an issue it may revisit in the future.
Will the BLM/Forest Service/Sheriff’s Office, enforce the new regulation as well?
These agencies may notify CPW if they catch violators and coordinate with CPW officers to take enforcement action.
Once an antler or horn drops, why is it still the purview of CPW? It is no longer ‘wildlife.’
Shed antlers or shed horns are still considered “wildlife” based on the statutory definition, which includes any parts thereof and whether alive or dead.
Have there been past restrictions?
Previously there were two localized antler collection closures in place, one for public lands in the Gunnison Basin and one for public lands in the Eagle and Roaring Fork Valleys. The problem with these closures was that it was moving the antler collection pressure to other areas of the state with important winter range habitats. The only other restriction that is also in place is the harassment of wildlife statute, which can be written to any individual who is harassing wildlife, including shed collectors. A harassment ticket is $137.
What if I’m doing something unrelated, like hiking, and find an antler?
If you are hiking in an area where there is currently a shed antler and horn collecting closure and you see an antler or horn, please leave it alone. There is no way for a CPW officer to differentiate between you and someone who entered the area for the purpose of shed collecting.
Gina McCarthy, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, will be at the Colorado State University campus, addressing topics of sustainability, world health and climate change, on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Ballroom.
McCarthy, who served as EPA Administrator in the Obama administration from 2013-17, is also a Harvard University Senior Fellow at the Institute of Politics and Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard. A leader in public health and environmental protection, she helped develop the Climate Action Plan, signed the Clean Power Plan, and spurred international efforts to secure the Paris Climate Agreement.
McCarthy is appearing as part of the CSU Office of International Programs’ Global Engagement Lecture Series.
We are very honored to host such an extraordinary and influential global thought leader on campus. — Shauna DeLuca, assistant director of Global Co-Curricular Initiatives for International Programs.
The talk is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Register online at csutix.com.
Chemical products that contain compounds refined from petroleum, like household cleaners, pesticides, paints and perfumes, now rival motor vehicle emissions as the top source of urban air pollution, according to a surprising NOAA-led study by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and other institutions.
A smoggy view of Los Angeles in 2010. Scientists captured this image from a research aircraft that was part of an intense mission, CALNEX, to study the region’s air quality and climate-related challenges. Photo: Raul Alvarez, NOAA.
People use a lot more fuel than they do petroleum-based compounds in chemical products—about 15 times more by weight, according to the new assessment. Even so, lotions, paints and other products contribute about as much to air pollution as the transportation sector does, said lead author Brian McDonald, a scientist at the CU Boulder-based Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) working in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Chemical Sciences Division.
In the case of one type of pollution—tiny particles that can damage people’s lungs—particle-forming emissions from chemical products are about twice as high as those from the transportation sector, his team found. McDonald and colleagues from NOAA and several other institutions reported their results today in the journal Science.
As transportation gets cleaner, those other sources become more and more important. The stuff we use in our everyday lives can impact air pollution. — McDonald
For the new assessment, the scientists focused on volatile organic compounds or VOCs. VOCs can waft into the atmosphere and react to produce either ozone or particulate matter—both of which are regulated in the United States and many other countries because of health impacts, including lung damage.
Those of us living in cities and suburbs assume that much of the pollution we breathe comes from car and truck emissions or leaky gas pumps. That’s for good reason: it was clearly true in past decades. But regulators and car manufacturers made pollution-limiting changes to engines, fuels and pollution control systems. So McDonald and his colleagues reassessed air pollution sources by sorting through recent chemical production statistics compiled by industries and regulatory agencies, by making detailed atmospheric chemistry measurements in Los Angeles air, and by evaluating indoor air quality measurements made by others.
The scientists concluded that in the United States, the amount of VOCs emitted by consumer and industrial products is actually two or three times greater than estimated by current air pollution inventories, which also overestimate vehicular sources. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 75 percent of fossil VOC emissions (by weight) come from fuel-related sources, and about 25 percent from chemical products. The new study, with its detailed assessment of up-to-date chemical use statistics and previously unavailable atmospheric data, puts the split closer to 50-50.
The disproportionate air quality impact of chemical product emissions is partly because of a fundamental difference between those products and fuels, said NOAA atmospheric scientist Jessica Gilman, a co-author of the new paper.
Gasoline is stored in closed, hopefully airtight, containers and the VOCs in gasoline are burned for energy. But volatile chemical products used in common solvents and personal care products are literally designed to evaporate. You wear perfume or use scented products so that you or your neighbor can enjoy the aroma. You don’t do this with gasoline. — Gilman
The team was particularly interested in how those VOCs end up contributing to particulate pollution. A comprehensive assessment published in the British medical journal Lancet last year put air pollution in a top-five list of global mortality threats, with “ambient particulate matter pollution” as the largest air pollution risk.
The new study finds that as cars have gotten cleaner, the VOCs forming those pollution particles are coming increasingly from consumer products.
We’ve reached that transition point already in Los Angeles. — McDonald
He and his colleagues found that they simply could not reproduce the levels of particles or ozone measured in the atmosphere unless they included emissions from volatile chemical products. In the course of that work, they also determined that people are exposed to very high concentrations of volatile compounds indoors, which are more concentrated inside than out, said co-author Allen Goldstein, from the University of California Berkeley.
Indoor concentrations are often 10 times higher indoors than outdoors, and that’s consistent with a scenario in which petroleum-based products used indoors provide a significant source to outdoor air in urban environments.”
The new assessment does find that the U.S. regulatory focus on car emissions has been very effective, said co-author Joost de Gouw, a CIRES chemist.
It’s worked so well that to make further progress on air quality, regulatory efforts would need to become more diverse. It’s not just vehicles anymore. — de Gouw
CIRES is a partnership of NOAA and the University of Colorado Boulder.
DENVER, Colo. ﹘ Responding to testimony from hunters, anglers, state park visitors and volunteers about the need to provide a long-term funding solution for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Senate Finance Committee unanimously passed, 5-0, the Hunting, Fishing, and Parks for Future Generations Act (Senate Bill 18-143) late Tuesday.
Lawmakers credited CPW leadership for conducting exhaustive statewide public outreach and using the feedback to resubmit an improved proposal that lays out specific ways money generated by modest fee increases would be used, such as fixing deteriorating dams, recruiting new hunters, expanding conservation efforts and looking for ways to increase outdoor recreation opportunities for all Coloradans.
“With the public’s input in mind, we were able to submit a straightforward bill that is more specific about how a modest fee increase would be used,” said CPW Director Bob Broscheid. “This increase would help us address the need to repair deteriorating dams, expand our critical conservation efforts and do more to increase outdoor recreation opportunities for all Coloradans, including those that visit our great state specifically to enjoy its natural resources.”
The unanimous vote came after testimony from outdoor enthusiasts in support of the proposal. One by one, supporters encouraged lawmakers to give CPW the authority it needs to adjust the cost of hunting and fishing licenses to reflect inflation and the overall cost of goods and services, including utilities and maintenance.
Several speakers noted CPW faces a financial crisis if the funding issue isn’t addressed. They noted that CPW has cut or defunded 50 positions and reduced $40 million from its wildlife budget since 2009. They pointed out that resident hunting and fishing license fees have not increased since the legislature last took action in 2005, even as inflation has increased prices almost 30 percent in that period, reducing CPW’s spending power.
Others told lawmakers that park entrance fees have not increased since 2010. By 2025, CPW forecasts budget shortfalls of $30 million annually for wildlife and $11 million annually for parks.
As they voted, the three Republicans and two Democrats on the committee commended the efforts that have gone into the bill, the broad support for the legislation and forwarded the bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.
CPW is the state’s lead agency for providing recreational venues for residents and tourists as well as a national and international leader in conservation management and research. Many people don’t realize it, but behind the scenes of the well-kept trails in state parks, amazing glimpses of wildlife at festivals and across the landscape, and plentiful fish in lakes, CPW staff work diligently to manage 960 species of wildlife, 41 state parks and numerous conservation and education programs. These resources define Colorado and provide for Coloradans in many ways.
More stable funding would ensure the continued availability of recreational opportunities that contribute $6.1 billion annually to Colorado’s economy. The health of the outdoor recreation sector is not only vital to the overall strength of the economy, these resources are vitally important to the people.
For 120 years Colorado’s citizens have asked CPW to conserve the land and wildlife that makes Colorado, Colorado. “We are committed to something much greater than ourselves, and we are reminded that we all have a responsibility to make sure that future generations have access to the quality hunting, fishing and park recreational opportunities that we enjoy today,” Broscheid said.
The agency is seeking approval to adjust fees to cover the rising costs associated with managing wildlife, protecting habitat and maintaining and improving state parks to meet the needs of a booming population. With this new funding, CPW commits to pursuing the following goals and objectives by 2025:
Grow the number of hunters and anglers in Colorado through investments in programs such as hunter education, Fishing is Fun, and the Cameo Shooting and Education Complex, and grants for shooting ranges in all regions of the state.
Expand access for hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists by renewing existing high-priority leases and supporting additional public access programs on public and private lands.
Increase and improve big game populations through investments in habitat and conservation, including building more highway wildlife crossings to protect wildlife and motorists.
Partner with private landowners to improve wildlife health and sustainability, and ensure landscape connectivity to benefit agricultural production and habitat for all.
Increase the number of fish stocked in Colorado waters through hatchery modernization and renovations.
Identify and begin planning the development of Colorado’s next state park.
Reduce risks to life and property and sustain water-based recreation opportunities by reducing CPW’s dam maintenance and repair backlog by 50 percent.
Partner with outdoor recreationists, such as hikers, bikers, and wildlife watchers, to develop strategies for funding the maintenance of state lands and facilities and the management of wildlife.
Recruit and retain qualified employees to manage wildlife, park, recreational and aquatic resources.
Provide quality infrastructure at CPW properties by completing much needed construction and maintenance.
CPW relies on user fees, not general tax dollars, to fund its work. Hunting and fishing licenses, park entrance fees and OHV, boat and snowmobile registration fees are the primary source of funding for the agency. CPW has worked hard to ensure that any fee increases are minimal, but that they will help in accomplishing the much-needed maintenance and goals set forth by agency leadership. To achieve this, the bill limits increases to most multi-day resident hunting licenses to $8. For example, an elk tag would increase from $45 to $53. The bill also limits any annual increase to daily park entrance fees to $1 and $10 for an annual pass.
“We are building on an amazing legacy that was handed to us with the intention that these resources are left in the same or better shape and that they outlive each of us,” said John Howard, Chairman of the Parks and Wildlife Commission. “Should this legislation pass, we will ensure that the agency will be accountable to the people of Colorado and the legislature by providing annual reports on the spending and progress toward achieving the 10 goals outlined within the bill.”
Governor Hickenlooper, Rolling Stone’s Chuck Leavell, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke & Local Thought Leaders Join to Deliberate Colorado’s Forests
Partnerships, Working Together Highlighted During Jan. 24 Premier of ‘America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell’
DENVER – Chuck Leavell may be best known as the keyboardist and musical director for The Rolling Stones, but he is also an educated and enthusiastic forestry advocate, conservationist and tree farmer, and host of the new national TV series, America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell. He was joined by national and local thought leaders at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Jan. 24 for the debut of the new episode featuring stories and public benefits from Colorado’s forests, along with robust discussion about challenges, opportunities and innovations happening within our forests.
The search for solutions to the problems of sustainable growth, climate change and energy conservation is increasingly inspiring thought leaders to look at one of America’s finest resources — our forests. Whether for building or for recreation, our forests are good for the economy and for the spirit. — said Leavell
Timed to coincide with the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show, conversations on forest health, management and utilization took place with Leavell, Governor John Hickenlooper, Tony Tooke, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, and Chris Topik, Director of Forest Restoration at The Nature Conservancy. Following the premier of the Colorado episode, an intimate fireside chat was hosted by Leavell alongside Brian Ferebee, Regional Forester for the Rocky Mountain Region of U.S. Forest Service; Jim Neiman, President and CEO of Neiman Enterprises; and Paige Lewis, Deputy Director/Director of Conservation of the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
While diverse constituencies were represented, a number of consistent themes emerged including the crucial importance of public-private partnerships in shared stewardship of our lands, implementing proactive and innovative strategies to manage our lands versus reactive, and the opportunities that are available through maintaining multi-use lands.
Public and private partners across the country are working hand-in-hand to both care for and create sustainable solutions using wood from our forests. This important work is vital to a healthy forest environment that provides world-class recreation, wildlife habitats and scenic beauty. — said Bruce Ward, president of Choose Outdoors
Following the premier, the Colorado episode first aired on Rocky Mountain PBS and is now online for viewing at americasforestswithchuckleavell.com. The episode includes segments on the therapeutic value of our forests, the importance of forests to our water supply and the innovative ideas on turning the wood from forests devastated by the mountain pine beetle epidemic into musical instruments, skis, snowboards and sustainable building applications.
The series is produced by Choose Outdoors and 42 Degrees North Media and the Colorado episode was made possible with support from the USDA Forest Service, Denver Water, Colorado State Forest Service, Intermountain Forest Association, El Pomar Foundation, Rocky Mountain PBS and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Gardner Requests Delay of Proposed National Park Fee Increase
Washington D.C. — Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) sent a letter to Department of Interior Secretary Zinke requesting he “delay the implementation of and work with the stakeholders on the proposed targeted fee increase at 17 National Parks.”
“While I share your urgency on the need to address the park maintenance backlog, I have concerns that sudden and dramatic increases in the costs of passes for both private individuals and commercial operations could have unforeseen negative consequences on the communities that rely on visitation to these parks to keep their economies thriving,” wrote Gardner. “Additionally, I have serious concerns about the elimination of day pass at RMNP.”
The letter reads in full:
Dear Secretary Zinke:
I write to request that you delay the implementation of and work with the stakeholders on the proposed targeted fee increase at 17 National Parks. One of the parks where a fee increase has been proposed, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), is in the state of Colorado and if the proposal moves forward as written, RMNP would be subject to an increase of over 100% and 400% on private and commercial passes, respectively, while also eliminating day passes.
While I share your urgency on the need to address the park maintenance backlog, I have concerns that sudden and dramatic increases in the costs of passes for both private individuals and commercial operations could have unforeseen negative consequences on the communities that rely on visitation to these parks to keep their economies thriving. Additionally, I have serious concerns about the elimination of day pass at RMNP.
RMNP is unique in that it is the only national park in the country that currently issues a daily pass. Coloradoans love their public lands, and a great number of RMNP visitors are day-trippers from the front-range. In 2016, day passes represented 70% of the total number of passes issued, and were responsible for 50% of the fee revenue generated by all passes. I do not believe the elimination of this pass would increase either visitation or revenue to the park. The more likely outcome is the purchase of more annual passes, which when purchased online do not see the park benefit from the revenue generated by the sale.
There is an urgent need to address the more than $11 billion dollar maintenance backlog on lands managed by the National Park Service, over $220 million of which is here in Colorado. However, we must ensure that any changes we make do not cause a reduction in visitation that could affect the local economies that support the parks. I oppose any immediate fee increases at RMNP and urge you to engage with the stakeholders prior to finalizing any proposal for the fee structure as well as keep the day pass that generates the most revenue for RMNP.
I stand ready and willing to work with you to find a legislative solution to the maintenance backlog that will more ably address the issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Cory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to meet Feb. 7 and 8 in Denver
DENVER — The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission will discuss emergency regulations to add the redclaw crayfish to the list of species that food production facilities may possess in Colorado, an update on Chronic Wasting Disease, and herd management plan drafts for deer in the Lower Rio Grande, North Fork Gunnison and South Grand Mesa areas at its February meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and adjourn at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 at 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216. The Commission will reconvene at the same location at 8:30 a.m. and adjourn at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 8.
Additional agenda items include:
Overview of information required for sales in CPW’s new purchasing system
Trap and transplant proposals from CPW’s Terrestrial Programs Supervisor
Update from Great Outdoors Colorado
Support for Land and Water Conservation Funds Reauthorization with CPW’s State Trails Program Manager
The commission meets regularly and travels to communities around the state to facilitate public participation. Anyone can listen to commission meetings through the CPW website. This opportunity keeps constituents informed about the development of regulations and how the commission works with Parks and Wildlife staff to manage the parks, wildlife and outdoor recreation programs administered by the agency. Find out more about the commission on the CPW website.
The next commission meeting will take place March 7 and 8 in Denver.
January 24, 2018 — Bronnor Corp, in coordination with The Colorado Department of Revenue (“DOR”)
and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (“CDPHE”), in the interest of public health and public safety, are issuing a health and safety advisory due to the preliminary indication of potentially unsafe levels of residual Ethanol on retail marijuana. Bronnor Corp has informed DOR’s Marijuana Enforcement Division that affected product sold was limited to marijuana contained in vaporizer pens. Further, Bronnor Corp will conduct subsequent tests in an effort to verify acceptable levels of Ethanol in the marijuana remaining in the licensee’s possession.
Consumers who have these affected products in their possession should return them to the retail store from which they were purchased for proper disposal. All affected marijuana has a label affixed to the container that at a minimum indicates the license number of the retail marijuana business that manufactured the retail marijuana, as well as the production batch number assigned to the marijuana.
Mandatory residual solvent testing for the presence of Ethanol begins February 1, 2018. Therefore, screening for Ethanol by licensees is not currently required and was conducted voluntarily by Bronnor Corp. Upon notification of the detection of Ethanol exceeding acceptable limits, Bronnor Corp notified the DOR and communicated the licensee’s intention to conduct additional testing.
Countdown clock to protest President Trump’s attacks against national monuments
DENVER — Wednesday, January 24th a group of outdoor industry leaders and conservation organizations will project a countdown clock on the McNichols Civic Center in protest of President Trump’s sell-out of national monuments to mining and drilling interests.
President Trump’s recent removal of vast portions of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante national monuments was the largest ever elimination of protected areas in U.S. history. Within those proclamations are provisions that allow private companies to begin staking mining and drilling claims in the areas cut from the monuments within 60 days of their signing.
As the Outdoor Retailer show makes a new home in Colorado, we can’t forget the unprecedented attacks on public lands that forced the show to move from Utah in the first place. In less than two weeks, the extractive industry will gain privileged access to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, while Native American nations, outdoor enthusiasts, and everyday Americans could see these lands made off limits. Tonight is about raising awareness of the imminent threat not only to these two national monuments but to public lands everywhere if we don’t make our voices heard. — Lisa Pike Sheehy, VP of Environmental Activism, Patagonia
The 60-day countdown clock, which ends at 9:00 am ET on February 2, will be projected outside of the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show’s “Night Zero” welcome party. This is Denver’s debut of the $45 million Outdoor Retailer show after a public split from Salt Lake City, UT, over the state’s harmful public lands policies. This week’s show comes just seven weeks after Trump eliminated protections for more than two million acres, which is now being challenged in five separate lawsuits.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 24th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. MST
WHERE: McNichols Civic Center building, 144 W Colfax Ave Denver, CO 80202
WHO: Patagonia, Conservation Lands Foundation, The Wilderness Society, and Center for American Progress.
Gov. Hickenlooper announces details of the Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan
January 24, 2018
DENVER — Gov. John Hickenlooper, along with leaders from several state agencies, announced details of the Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan. The plan’s goal is to electrify Colorado’s transportation corridors and support economic development and tourism across the state while reducing harmful air pollution, delivering on a directive set forth in the July 2017 Executive Order, “Supporting Colorado’s Clean Energy Transition.”
“The Colorado EV Plan serves as a roadmap to build out a fast-charging network, giving Coloradans the ability to travel anywhere in the state in an EV,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “The plan includes a set of goals and strategies that ensure Colorado continues leading in adoption of EVs and leverages the economic development and tourism benefits.”
The plan details a series of actions supporting EV infrastructure along Colorado’s corridors. It also lays out goals to accelerate adoption of EVs and ensure Colorado remains a leader in the EV market.
Colorado EV Plan Five Key Action Areas:
Create strategies and partnerships to build out EV fast-charging corridors.
Coordinate with Regional Electric Vehicle West memorandum of understanding states on Intermountain electric corridor.
Develop strategic partnerships with utilities, local governments, and other stakeholders.
Update signage and wayfinding requirements to include EV fast-charging.
Ensure economic and tourism benefits and increase access for all Coloradans.
In October 2017, the governors of eight Western states signed the Regional Electric Vehicle West memorandum of understanding (REV West MOU). The REV West MOU created a framework for collaboration in developing an Intermountain West Electric Corridor. Interstates 70, 76 and 25 are included under Colorado’s commitment to the REV West Plan.
The Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan will be updated on an annual basis to ensure Colorado remains responsive to a rapidly-changing market.
