Glenwood Springs–Republicans in Colorado are holding presidential caucuses tonight. Mitt Romney appears to be the frontrunner in the Centennial State where he won in 2008. 27 precincts will be open tonight at 7 o’clock in Garfield County from Carbondale to Battlement Mesa. Call the clerk and recorder’s office for your location or go to the Garfield County website.
Glenwood Springs–Garfield County commissioners decided to postpone their decision on a company’s plans to open a new asphalt processing plant near the airport in Rifle. The owners of a nearby organic farm argued that the asphalt plant would severely impact their business. Commissioners want more information about potential pollution before making a decision.
Meeker–A Texas-based oil and gas company is looking to build a water treatment facility in the Piceance Basin. Bass Enterprises Production Company wants to treat produced water and discharge it into Yellow Creek about 20 miles from Meeker. The BLM is asking for public feedback.
Garfield County–One of major natural gas producers in Western Colorado plans to shut down a few rigs this year. WPX Energy will only operate five drilling rigs in the Piceance Basin this year, down from 11 last year.
DENVER (AP) – Colorado sportsmen are backing proposed federal
rules of public disclosure of fluids used in oil and gas drilling.
Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development is calling on the BLM
to make sure water, fish and wildlife are protected when oil and
gas wells are developed on public lands. Companies contend the
fluids are proprietary and under the rules they would have to
explain why the information should be kept from the public.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) – A Colorado Springs developer is
accused of stealing more than $1 million in grant money intended to
pay for a new headquarters for the U.S. Olympic Committee and two
related projects. The Gazette reports LandCo Equity Partners
chairman Ray Marshall faces two theft charges and a racketeering
charge and is free on a $50,000 bond. Marshall already faces trial
March 19 on 15 unrelated securities fraud charges and 18 other
counts.
DENVER (AP) – Denver prosecutors will not file a gun charge
against a Republican lawmaker who police suspected was intoxicated
when she had a firearm in her car. Denver District Attorney
spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough said yesterday prosecutors concluded
they did not have enough evidence to convict Rep. Laura Bradford,
in part because no blood-alcohol test exists. Police stopped
Bradford Jan. 25. They said they suspected she was driving drunk
but could not detain her because of a constitutional provision
aimed at protecting lawmakers.
