Thompson Divide: Coalition funding water quality study to get in front of oil and gas exploration and production effects

From The Sopris Sun (Jereby Heiman):

The Thompson Divide Coalition (TDC) has organized a study that is intended to establish baseline data on the purity of streams and underground water in the threatened area to the west and southwest of Carbondale. The group has partnered with the Roaring Fork Conservancy to design and execute the study. The Roaring Fork Conservancy is a Basalt-based watershed conservation organization that employs scientists and other experts and works to protect rivers, streams, underground water and stream bank habitat. “This baseline will allow us to hold the gas drilling companies accountable,” said Jock Jacober, chairman of the TDC Steering Committee.

More oil and gas coverage here and here.

Redstone: Voters approve debt for wastewater plant

From The Aspen Times:

The district’s existing plant serves 140 users in the Redstone vicinity, south of Carbondale. It’s 35 years old, and 15 years beyond its life expectancy, according to Brian Olesen, district manager. Even with Tuesday’s vote, the district won’t go ahead with construction of a new plant unless additional federal stimulus funds become available to help pay for the project, Olesen said in advance of the election. “If more funds are made available, we’ll have voter approval in our pocket to go out and do something,” he told The Aspen Times last month. “It’s basically to take advantage of an opportunity if it arose.” Voters authorized the district to take on $2 million in debt (a $2.6 million repayment cost with interest) and to increase the district’s mill levy by no more than 5 mills to repay the loan. If the district can get $1 million from stimulus funds, plus a zero percent interest rate as a qualifying project for the money, the project would be doable, according to Olesen.

More wastewater coverage here.

Redstone hopes to build new wastewater treatment plant if stimulus dough becomes available

From the Aspen Daily News (Troy Hooper):

[The Redstone Water and Sanitation District is] asking voters permission to increase district debt to replace Redstone’s 35-year-old sewage treatment plant should $1 million of federal stimulus money ever be available. The district already spent close to $200,000 to plan for the plant’s replacement. The plant serves about 140 users.

More wastewater coverage here.