Amy Hadden Marsh / KDNK
A bi-partisan bill, the Glenwood Hot Springs Protection Act, was introduced in the U.S. House and Senate July 23. The proposed legislation would prohibit the U.S. Interior Secretary from processing or approving any application for the expansion of the Mid-Continent Limestone Quarry. That’s the one about a stone’s throw from Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
The 43-year old quarry sits on top of the limestone geological formation that supports area hot springs. Mining there could irreparably damage the geothermal structures that feed the hot springs. Contamination of local hot springs could not only tank tourism in Glenwood Springs but it would also disturb an ancient site long used by the Ute Nations.
On a July 23 virtual press call announcing the bill, Marvin Pinnecoose, acting chairman of the Southern Ute Tribe, drew an imaginary line from Durango to Pagosa Springs. Then another to Ouray and another to Glenwood Springs. All of those areas have hot springs, he said, that were used by his people for centuries.
“As a migrating path, it's an annual basis. Our tribes did this every year,” said Pinnecoose. “So natural, cultural, ceremonial resources thrive in specific areas and certain animals, they live in certain places during specific times of year Plants grow in certain places,” he explained. “And all of these are the reasons why we migrated to these areas, because we could rely on them year after year.
Pinnecoose added that the hot springs have medicinal and spiritual value. “These are our sacred sites, and the hot springs themselves, they hold medicine. They hold power, the power to heal, the power to soothe the soul, to relax and to pray,” he said. “And any threat to that harmony that brings that kind of peace to mankind is an offense to the great blessing that the Creator has given us and allowed us to utilize facilities like that.”
Pinncoose added that his people understand mineral extraction due to the natural gas deposits on the Southern Ute reservation. But he says it must be done responsibly. “We've had opportunities to drill in areas that would've been profitable and to be able to provide that resource to the public, but in our due diligence process, we also have to look at, you know, are we coming across cultural sites, significant plants, animals that might be in danger?” he said. “And when we're doing that due diligence, we also look at the habitats, the ecosystem. We look at the landscape itself. And if we're impacting that in a negative way, we take ourselves being stewards of the land seriously.”
Pinnecoose joined Sen. Micheal Bennet, Republican representative Jeff Hurd, Glenwood Springs city officials and community leaders during the call. The Glenwood Hot Springs Protection Act now goes to committee. Bennet said there may not be any action on the bill until after the November election. -30-
