RIFLE BACK TO ODD/EVEN WATERING SCHEDULE
Rifle—The on again, off again water situation in Rifle is once again back on. According to the latest information from city officials, car washes and lawn watering can begin immediately thanks to the installation of a new portable pump. However, there is a kink in the hose, so to speak as a limited watering schedule is being implemented to regulate water flows. The city is calling for an odd/even calendar and address schedule to go into effect right away. City officials say the water delivery system is stable but not optimal so citizens are being asked to use water wisely and sparingly until the broken transmission line is fully repaired. They say it could take several weeks.
STUDY SHOWS WEST SLOPE HOME TO VAST AMOUNTS OF NATURAL GAS
Grand Junction—66 trillion cubic feet of natural gas currently sits under the Piceance Basin according to new research conducted by the federal government. The U.S. Geological Survey says that’s 40 times more natural gas than original estimates in 2003. One trillion cubic feet is enough to heat 15 million homes for one year. That’s the good news. The down side of having an abundance of gas is market prices are too low to reignite the now struggling industry according to West Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association Director David Ludlam. He says when prices do go up, well sites, pipelines and other infrastructure from previous drilling rigs are already in place and ready to go. The news about the Mancos Shale deposit is a big reason Congressman Scott Tipton is urging the federal government to ease restrictions and get the Jordan Cove pipeline up and running as soon as possible. Tipton and other supporters from both sides of the political aisle say the Jordan Cove project would increase natural gas exports to Japan and other overseas markets and provide a huge economic boost from Western Colorado to Oregon. The Piceance Basin’s natural gas supplies now rank as the second largest in the nation to the Marcellus formation in the eastern U.S. with 84 trillion cubic feet.
COLORADANS DANGEROUS ROAD HABITS DISCUSSED
Keystone Resort—Coloradans may be among the healthiest people in the nation but when it comes to healthy habits on the road, there’s a lot of room for improvement according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. C-DOT is holding it’s second annual “Road Health Summit” at Keystone Resort this week to talk about why so many people are dying on Colorado’s roads. Traffic safety experts are addressing topics such as impaired driving, distracted driving and seat belt use.
