Oil and Gas

Backers of the embattled Uinta Basin Railway want a quick decision from a federal agency to get the project back on track. But opponents, like the Center for Biological Diversity, are making sure the railway does not get a free pass.

A single vehicle accident in Rio Blanco County in early January led to over 9,000 gallons of crude oil being spilled into West Douglas Creek between Rangely and Grand Junction. The spill, which is being cleaned and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency, is just a small part of Western Colorado’s long legacy of extractive energy.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

Wilderness Workshop, based in Carbondale since 2004, has a storied history and legacy of big wins for mountain landscapes and the environment. Founded back in 1967 by Joy Caudill, Dottie Fox and Connie Harvey, this powerhouse trio of Aspen women convinced Congress to designate capital-W Wilderness in the Hunter-Fryingpan, Collegiate Peaks, Raggeds and West Elks, and doubled the size of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area. That was in the 1970s and 80s. A string of policy victories followed. More recently, energy has focused on staving off ravages from gas and oil extraction, including the hard-fought cancelling of gas leases in the Thompson Divide outside Carbondale.The hard work is not over for Wilderness Workshop. Advocacy director Erin Riccio (RICH-eeyo) just returned from Washington D.C. She stopped by KDNK this morning to tell news host Mike Lemmer about the trip, and new threats to wilderness and communities from the energy sector.

Steve Kuschner is the Roaring Fork Valley coordinator of 350 Colorado. During our fund drive, KDNK is inviting nonprofits in our listening area to join us in our studio and tell us, and you, what they are up to and why you should care.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.