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News Release
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
September 27, 2012
Forest Service extends comment period on Village at Wolf Creek Access Project
Monte Vista, Colo., September 27, 2012 –The Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) is extending the 45-day comment period on the Village at Wolf Creek Access Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) ten more days to October 11.
“Although we have received over 250 comments on the DEIS thus far, I decided to extend the comment period ten days in response to a request for an extension from local and regional environmental organizations,” said Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor Dan Dallas.
The DEIS includes analyses of the land exchange as the proposed action, an access alternative, and a no-action alternative. The proposed land exchange involves approximately 204 federal acres and 178 non-federal acres within the boundaries of the Rio Grande National Forest. Part of the federal land proposed for exchange would connect the private land to U.S. Highway 160, thus precluding the need for securing access across the national forest.
The primary benefits of the land exchange proposal over the previous easement access proposal include scaled down development on the private land, relocation of most of the proposed private land development to an area farther away from the ski area, and a net gain to the Forest Service via acquisition of wetlands and perennial stream habitat for wildlife.
LMJV previously sought a right-of-way access across RGNF from U.S. Highway 160 to their private land. Since their private land is surrounded by National Forest System land, LMJV is entitled by federal statute to have granted to them by the Forest Service a right-of-way for access commensurate with the reasonable use and enjoyment of their property.
Comments should be submitted by October 11, 2012. Comments may be emailed to: comments-rocky-mountain-rio-grande@fs.fed.us. Please include “Village at Wolf Creek Access Project DEIS” in the subject line of the e-mail.
Hardcopy comments should be addressed to:
Village at Wolf Creek Access Project
c/o Tom Malecek, Divide District Ranger
Rio Grande National Forest
13308 West Highway 160
Del Norte, CO 81132
For more information about the proposed Village at Wolf Creek Access Project, visit the Rio Grande National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande.
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Please note those key words:
"... commensurate with the reasonable use and enjoyment of their property."
Why the Forest Service feels that facilitating a doomed speculative luxury village for thousands through the middle of a watershed at the source of the Rio Grande River Basin can in any way be considered "commensurate" with Red McCombs' rights to enjoy property he obtained under false pretense - is beyond me.
That false pretense being presenting plans for a small exclusive retreat of seasonal vacation homes, then after receiving title switching to a plan ten times that size.
So that is our challenge - to explain to the US Forest Service the many reasons why going forward with this trade is not at all commensurate with the interests of the Rio Grande National Forest or all the downhill Rio Grande River Basin stakeholders who depend upon that interstate, international river.
This land swap proposal is an outlandish attempt to over compensation for something that should not be compensated for at all. Mr. McCombs tried an end run around promises he made in order to secure his original land swap in 1986 - and his deception backfired on him. The National Forest owes him nothing. And we the people have been offered another few days to explain this, on-the-record, to the Environmental Impact Study authors who's draft pays more attention to salesmen promises than scientific facts.
Let the Forest Service know they owe it to the American people to explore other avenues for resolving Red McCombs Alberta Park conundrum.
Let the Forest Service know they owe it to the American people to explore other avenues for resolving Red McCombs Alberta Park conundrum.
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012
Shared Comment - VWC-DEIS 35945 - 1.10 The ANILCA act of 1980
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2012
VWC-DEIS 1.10 ANILCA 1980 - road access rights
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However,
the United States Forest Service will never listen to you,
the United States Forest Service will never listen to you,
if you don't contact them!
Here's where to do that, but you need to do it before October 11th:
Village at Wolf Creek Land Exchange Proposal #35945
https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?Project=35945
The Forest Service values public input. Comments received, including respondents’ names and addresses, will become part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the agency with the ability to provide you with project updates. The Forest Service wishes to provide you with as many opportunities as possible to learn about our activities.
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