Saturday, July 28, 2018

Friends of Wolf Creek, Call to Action! Submit Comments to RGNF/USDA

I received the following email today and am sharing it as a public service announcement.

Submit your objection to the Village at Wolf Creek Pass 
Road Access Project to,

The Forest Service intends to give the Village of Wolf Creek road access. The Rio Grande National Forest announced its intention on July 19 to circumvent a federal court ruling that invalidated prior approvals for the controversial Village at Wolf Creek real estate development. 

As you know, a Colorado federal district court set aside the Forest Service's approval of a land exchange to facilitate the development in May of last year. "The Forest Service cannot abdicate its responsibility to protect the forest by making an attempt at an artful dodge," the court declared. Now, the Forest Service hopes to use the same artfully dodged analysis, previously deemed in violation of multiple federal laws, to approve a different means of providing the developers access.

The Forest Service is also trying to severely limit who can comment on this acton by limiting objections to those who "previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or comments on the draft EIS" in 2012.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to comment on changes to their public lands. We encourage everyone to submit their objections.
Please email Friends of Wolf Creek with a copy of your comments, so that we have a record of what the Forest Service is receiving (this is obviously not a requirement for objections, we would just really appreciate it!).

Objection requirements, how to submit your objection, talking points, and how to write comments that stick can be found on our website.
Submit your comments before the September 5 deadline.


Thank you for supporting the fight to keep Wolf Creek Pass wild! Stay tuned for further action.
#NoPillage
Chris Talbot-Heindl
Rocky Mountain Wild
Communications & Membership Manager

P.S. If you want to follow Friends of Wolf Creek on social media, we do have a Facebook page and a Twitter account, which has up-to-date information from all Friends of Wolf Creek partners.
P.S.S. Consider making a donation to the Friends of Wolf Creek. Select "Friends of Wolf Creek" in the "Direct My Donation" drop-down.


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The draft Record of Decision is now available for public review during a formal 45 day objection period. The objection period will run through September 4, 2018. To learn more about the project, read previous comments, or to object, please visit 


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Here are links to some background information 

August 30, 2012
INDEX for my comments VWC-DEIS #35945

Reviewing the VWC-DEIS you'll notice a number of points worth a closer look. Below is an incomplete list of problems with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement #35945.

To facilitate understanding the document I have organized my objections into single issue threads. I'm hoping this will help give folks a jump-start in learning about the VWC-DEIS

Each post begins with USDA Forest Service - Village at Wolf Creek Access Project - Draft Environmental Impact Statement section quoted.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~









    •    VWC-DEIS 3.7.6 Fens


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

April 19, 2012
Alberta Park Openhouse ~ Recalling the RGNF Sept. 20th, 2011 Field Trip

October 15, 2011
Exhibit Three: The VWC: Salesmanship Trumps Meteorology ~ Larry Calloway

October 15, 2011
Exhibit Two: The Wolf Creek Wars ~ by Marcia Darnell ~ April/May 2007

October 15, 2011
Exhibit One: Weirdness in Spades at Wolf Creek ~ by Allen Best ~ May 2007

March 4, 2010
The Back Story ~ Village at Wolf Creek ~ presented by Ryan Bidwell

March 1, 2010
Questioning the Soundness of "Red's" Plan

March 1, 2010
* VWC at 10'300 feet & Altitude Sickness

December 20, 2009
Reflections on local meetings regarding the VWC



Submitting Your Objection to the Village at Wolf Creek Pass Road Access Project

Posted on  by chris at Rocky Mountain Wild

The Forest Service intends to give the Village of Wolf Creek road access. The Rio Grande National Forest announced its intention on July 19 to circumvent a federal court ruling that invalidated prior approvals for the controversial Village at Wolf Creek real estate development.
As you know, a Colorado federal district court set aside the Forest Service’s approval of a land exchange to facilitate the development in May of last year. “The Forest Service cannot abdicate its responsibility to protect the forest by making an attempt at an artful dodge,” the court declared. Now, the Forest Service hopes to use the same artfully dodged analysis, previously deemed in violation of multiple federal laws, to approve a different means of providing the developers access.
The Forest Service is also trying to severely limit who can comment on this action by limiting objections to those who “previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or comments on the draft EIS” in 2012.
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to comment on changes to their public lands.
We encourage everyone to submit their objections.
Please email Friends of Wolf Creek with a copy of your comments, so that we have a record of what the Forest Service is receiving.

Objection Requirements

  1. Name and address of objector
  2. Name of proposed project: Village at Wolf Creek Access Project
  3. Name and title of responsible official: Dan Dallas, Forest Supervisor, Rio Grande National Forest
  4. Name of National Forest: Rio Grande National Forest
  5. Aspects of proposed project addressed by objections, how it violates the law, regulation, or policy: see talking points below.
  6. Suggestions for remedies: Do not approve access for the development of the Village at Wolf Creek.
  7. Supporting reasons:
    1. A federal court has already deemed the analysis for any decision to allow access for the development of the Village at Wolf Creek to be flawed.
    2. An 8,000 person Village atop Wolf Creek Pass would irreparably harm a critical and irreplaceable wildlife corridor important to the Canada lynx and many other species.
    3. Wolf Creek Pass plays a crucial role in protecting regional water resources as the headwaters to the Rio Grande and home to rare fen wetlands.
    4. The public is overwhelmingly opposed to this development.
  8. Connection between prior written comment and objections (unless new information)

Objection Submissions

Due by Wednesday, September 5

By Mail:

Reviewing Officer, Tammy Whittington, Deputy Regional Forester
USDA Forest Service, Region 2
1617 Cole Blvd, Building 17
Lakewood, CO 80401

By Email:

By Online Form:

Talking Points:

  1. It’s illegal. A federal court ruled the Forest Service’s original decision to provide access via a lands swap for the development of the Village at Wolf Creek based  ‘on an analysis that is contrary to law.” This new decision to provide access via a road is based on the exact same analysis already deemed unlawful.
  2. An 8,000-person city is not a ‘reasonable’ use. The Forest Service argues that under ANILCA, they must provide access for reasonable use of the property. By any measure unlimited access and use to develop an 8,000-person city atop Wolf Creek Pass is far from reasonable.
  3. It fails to protect the Canada lynx. A federal court has already deemed the Forest Service’s approval of the land swap failed “to comply with the statutory requirements for the protection of that species.” Regardless of how the Forest Service provides accesses, the agency is still failing to protect the species.
  4. It is a backroom deal. The Forest Service appears compelled to approve access to this horrific development, which for years the public has overwhelmingly opposed and the courts have deemed unlawful. It is highly suspicious that the agency maintains a commitment to enabling a private developer to profit handsomely at such a steep cost to the public. Why was this decision made after a federal court has already deemed a prior decision to green light this development, and the analysis on which it was based, to be unlawful? The public deserves accountability and to understand how and why this decisions was made.

Writing Comments that Stick:

  • Send it to the right address in the correct format.
  • Don’t miss the deadline.
  • Write in your own words. Use the talking points above only as a guideline. Copy and paste comments don’t get counted as individual comments. Neither do simple sign-on online letters. While it is great to show that we have thousands of people supporting an issue, it doesn’t add to the information the agency uses to make a decision. Take time to write your own comments.
  • Show relevance. How does this issue effect you personally? Is it the headwaters of your drinking water? Is there a species you enjoy watching or care about? How will you be harmed if the action happens?
  • Be on topic. If you are opposing the development, talk about the development. Overarching platitudes fall on deaf ears.
  • Show your expertise. Back up your requests with facts and science. Tell the agency something they may not already know and need to add to the record. Site examples if you have them. (Don’t let this step intimidate you – even one fact can make a difference. Pro tip: Google)
  • Be concise. Help the agency get your point, don’t hide it from them. And, grammar is important.
  • Be respectful. 
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