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Meetings & Events Meetings Archive 2006 Meetings Publisher of the Summit Daily News, discussed the special section
Meetings & Events Meetings Archive 2006 Meetings Publisher of the Summit Daily News, discussed the special section
Publisher of the Summit Daily News, discussed the special section
Publication date is on or before April 13th 2006, the day of an OFS forum on the pine beetle. Topics included content, sales and placement of advertising as well as the size of the insert.
Tom Long reported on the previous evening's meeting on a proposed wood-fired biomass plant to be built at the County Commons. Since air quality estimates appear to be acceptable, the county is ready to move forward with engineering.
Howard Hallman inquired about the extent of mercury produced by the process. Tom Long answered that the minimal amount of mercury produced through the process would not be a a health risk. Cyclone separators are preferable to water scrubbers for pollution abatement.
Vince Lanuza reacted to a recent column by Tara Flanagan In the Summit Daily that suggests that the pine beetle war is already lost. We need to make the distinction between public and private land. While the Forest Service won't be able to apply preventative treatments to the National Forest, homeowners can and should accomplish significant prevention and mitigation work..
Public meetings of the Summit County Wildfire Council will take place from 7 to 8 pm on February 20th at Dillon Town Hall and on March 1st at the Red White and Blue fire department in Breckenridge. There the emphasis will be on identifying hot spots and what communities can do to mitigate the danger of wildfire.
Ken Deshaies, representing the Summit Association of Realtors, described an agreement has been made in principle with the task force to create a standard disclosure statement for use by local realtors. He recommended that we describe the pine beetle infestation not as a terrible problem, but an opportunity promote reforestation and sustain a healthier forest.
A discussion ensued about the need for real estate professionals to exhibit due diligence by assuring clients are aware about the beetle infestation, including the potential for mitigation costs. Bob French reminded the assembly that natural and foreseeable risks exist for anyone living in a rural forested mountain environment. Caveat emptor?
Tim Thompson described how Copper Mountain is working with the Forest Service to identify infested trees at the resort area. Since beetle infestation there has not been severe, he sees an opportunity to control the spread. The Forest Service is eager to partner with organizations that are ready to commit resources and are poised to take action. Howard Hallman inquired if Copper would help fund the project. Tim indicated that was the plan.
Dan Gibbs from Representative Mark Udall's Office reported on the Rocky Mountain Fire Protection Bill. Comments about tweaking the original language have now been incorporated in the proposed legislation, many resulting from conversations at our task force meetings..
Current provisions address:
- Hauling away slash away and transporting marketable wood product;
- Lengthening the term of stewardship contracts;
- Streamlining the bureaucratic process;
- Easing conflicts between homeowners associations and the Forest Service;
- Eliminating the requirement that the Governor sign off on projects.
- Andrew Merritt explains Senator Wayne Allard's approach to Pine Beetle legislation.
- Home Task Force Meetings Contributors Legislation Pine Beetle Facts Projects
- Homeowners Info Public Policy Press Links & Contacts
- Summit County Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force
- Report on the February 16, 2006 Meeting
- County Commissioner Tom Long talks about the proposed Biomass facility.
SummitPineBeetle.org is a service of Our Future Summit
330 Fiedler Street, Suite 206A Dillon Colorado 80435
970-468-7875
The revised bill could be introduced within the next three weeks. The Summit County Republican Party Central Committee has formally endorsed it.
Andrew Merritt, Senator Allard’s state director, office described a separate bill now working its way through the Senate. The Healthy Forest Restoration Act does not address catastrophic events such as beetle infestation. Senator Allard’s focus concentrates on how we can best move wood products to consumer markets in Colorado and elsewhere. We should take advantage of existing programs to move forward rather than waste time for new programs to get underway.
Ten years ago, Colorado had over 300 saw mills in operation. Now there are less than 40, most of which are mom and pop operations. We need to provide incentives for industry to help with solutions for wood use and disposal. A lack of consumer confidence has limited the use of wood from beetle killed trees for construction purposes.
The meeting continued with a discussion how best to partner with the Forest Service. Local Ranger Districts desperately need resources to support the personnel needed to assist property owners with defensible space projects in the National Forest land adjacent to private property.
Tom Long believes that additional funding just creates more bureaucracy and a never-ending succession of site studies.
Ryan Bidwell remarked that while the Forest Services has used large scale timber sales to generate revenue, it still lacks the resources to pursue smaller scale projects that would directly benefit the residents of Summit County.
Vince Lanuza remarked that firewood permits is an existing tool that is useful for removing dead and diseased trees adjacent to private property. His homeowners association is ready and willing to fund and do the work upon Forest Service approval.
Brad Pheil added that public or private investment is required to seed projects designed to become self sustaining and provide long term solutions.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9 am.
970-468-7875
The revised bill could be introduced within the next three weeks. The Summit County Republican Party Central Committee has formally endorsed it.
Andrew Merritt, Senator Allard’s state director, office described a separate bill now working its way through the Senate. The Healthy Forest Restoration Act does not address catastrophic events such as beetle infestation. Senator Allard’s focus concentrates on how we can best move wood products to consumer markets in Colorado and elsewhere. We should take advantage of existing programs to move forward rather than waste time for new programs to get underway.
Ten years ago, Colorado had over 300 saw mills in operation. Now there are less than 40, most of which are mom and pop operations. We need to provide incentives for industry to help with solutions for wood use and disposal. A lack of consumer confidence has limited the use of wood from beetle killed trees for construction purposes.
The meeting continued with a discussion how best to partner with the Forest Service. Local Ranger Districts desperately need resources to support the personnel needed to assist property owners with defensible space projects in the National Forest land adjacent to private property.
Tom Long believes that additional funding just creates more bureaucracy and a never-ending succession of site studies.
Ryan Bidwell remarked that while the Forest Services has used large scale timber sales to generate revenue, it still lacks the resources to pursue smaller scale projects that would directly benefit the residents of Summit County.
Vince Lanuza remarked that firewood permits is an existing tool that is useful for removing dead and diseased trees adjacent to private property. His homeowners association is ready and willing to fund and do the work upon Forest Service approval.
Brad Pheil added that public or private investment is required to seed projects designed to become self sustaining and provide long term solutions.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9 am.