Department of the Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar to Step Down

Ken Salazar has served as Secretary of the Department of Interior for four years. In those four years, he has shifted the Department from its traditional focus on resource use (i.e. mining, forestry, and oil and gas development) to a new focus on renewable energy. During his tenure, Salazar established 7 new national parks, 10 new wildlife refuges and blocked uranium mining around the Grand Canyon with a million acre buffer zone.

President Obama said in a press statement, "In his work to promote renewable energy projects on our public land and increase the development of oil and gas production, Ken has ensured that the department's decisions are driven by the best science and promote the highest safety standards." The President added that Salazar had accomplished all this and protected our public lands, water and wildlife.

Salazar is a fifth-generation Mexican-American who often spoke of his family ranch near the New Mexico border. In a statement announcing his departure, Salazar stated "Colorado is and will always be my home."

Salazar's departure coincides with the departure of Lisa P. Jackson, the Administrator of the EPA and the anticipated departure of Steven Chu, the Energy Secretary. These departures will leave climate change and energy posts vacant causing many to wonder about the future direction of US energy policy.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

Welcome to the Spring 2013 Students

The ENRGP Program has accepted an impressive group of outstanding students to start in the Spring 2013 semester. The students come from a variety of backgrounds and locations making for a diverse and interesting group. We have students from China, Mexico and another from Saudi Arabia, a number of Colorado natives and many more from outside the state. The ENRGP Program is also happy to have accepted its first two JD students to participate in the joint JD and LLM program.

The incoming class all seemed motivated and excited to pursue a specialized course of study. The students' interests ranged from mining law, water law, conservation and sustainable development issues.

Classes start next Monday the 14th. We wish all of our students a successful and engaging semester! 

 

Welcome to DU College of Law and to the

Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy Program!

 

Collaboration Needed in Solar Development and Urban Forestry

Professor DuVivier is featured in an interview in the above video discussing the conflicts that arise from the desire to have both trees and solar energy. Trees are an important part of a community providing economic, environmental and social benefits. However, trees can cause harm to these interests. Trees limit the productivity of solar panels when they shade the panels from direct sun light.

The video, A Million Trees and A Million Solar Roofs: Can We Have Both?, interviews a variety of arbor professionals as well as solar panel propenents. They break down the causes of conflicts and outline methods to reduce the conflicts to win-win solutions. Those interviewed in the video advocate increased awareness and education as a means to prevent conflicts from occuring.

The video was created by the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association's Solar Friendly Communities.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

Happy Holidays!

Colorado First in LEED Ranking

The annual Resource Rich Colorado report was released earlier this month by the Colorado Energy Coalition. The report measures Colorado's competitive position in oil, natural gas, coal, renewable energy and sustainability. It listed Colorado first in LEED-certified building square footage per capita.

Chris Hansen, director of product management for energy at IHS and chair of the CEC's Competitive Analysis Committee said in a news release, "While many states are typically strong in either fossil fuels or renewables, Colorado is fortunate to have rich and abundant resources in both aspects, making it an energy leader in the United States and worldwide."

The study also ranks Colorado fourth in installed solar capacity, fifth in natural gas production, and ninth in installed wind capacity. "The study shows that Colorado's abundant natural resources, aggressive policies, growing energy employment, and industry leadership make it an attractive state for new and expanding energy companies," the CEC said.

You can find the executive summary of the report here, and the full report here.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

Changes in the Works for CO Oil and Gas Development

Oil and gas regulators, industry representatives and environmentalists met this week to discuss creating a consistent set of state regulations for oil and gas development. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is the body in charge of both promoting and regulating oil and gas development. The current discussion focused on water quality standards. Proposed changes included requiring water testing before and after development in an effort to provide a baseline to hold companies accountable for pollution.

Most groundwater contamination occurs from surface spills during initial drilling; not from fracking activities. Residents near oil and gas development fear groundwater contamination because petroleum material contains benzene, which causes cancer. The new regulations would bring about more accountability, but might bring economic hardship to the state as well.

The proposed regulations are creating investment concerns. "Folks realize there's going to be a testing program," Colorado Petroleum Association President Stan Dempsey said. "It has to be done the right way. If the regulatory situation isn't as certain in Colorado as in another state, (company) investment dollars could flow to another part of the country or another part of the world."

However, oil and gas development companies will also experience benefits as residents will become more comfortable with development through the more rigorous standards. "It is a very rigorous standard," Environmental Defense Fund, Regional Director Dan Grossman said. "If you put in a robust system, you can bolster confidence of people in the state that these actions are being done responsibly."


Colorado Oil and Gas Statistics*

• There are 49,236 active wells statewide
• This number is up 31% since 2008 

• ·         Weld County- 17,844 active wells
  • 40% of spills in this county have reached groundwater 
   

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

*Statistics found at the Denver Post.

USFS Christmas Trees Permits Available

The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of public land. Their mission is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests.These lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply and contribute to more than $13 billion to the economy through visitor spending. The Rocky Mountain Region manages 11 national forests throughout Colorado, and an additional six areas in Nebraska and most of South Dakota and Wyoming.

Did you know that you can cut down a US Forest Service tree for Christmas? All you have to do is call the Ranger office closest to where you would like to cut and ask about getting a Christmas tree cutting permit. Areas closest to Denver charge $10 per tree with a limit of 5 trees.

It is a holiday tradition for many in the area to select a tree from the regions finest public lands. In addition to experiencing Colorado’s beautiful forests, you are actively helping to manage the national forests. The Forest Service utilizes these permits to thin smaller diameter trees from concentrated areas.

“Trees from your national forests brighten homes across the country every year,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We encourage people to be aware of changing weather conditions, dress accordingly and always follow safe cutting practices when looking for that perfect tree this holiday season.”

Click here for an interactive map of Colorado’s Forest Service lands.

For more information about tree cutting on USFS land, visit the USFS website.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant