By | | The Denver PostColorado officials responsible for controlling this month ordered employees to stop measuring surges of harmful sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulates, according to a filed Tuesday alleging a culture of approving permits for industrial polluters “at all costs” that sacrifices public health.Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment air pollution control director Garry Kaufman on March 15 directed employees who conduct required modeling to estimate emissions of these gases to cease their work at scores of facilities where companies apply for and...…By | | The Denver PostColorado officials responsible for controlling this month ordered employees to stop measuring surges of harmful sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulates, according to a filed Tuesday alleging a culture of approving permits for industrial polluters “at all costs” that sacrifices public health.Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment air pollution control director Garry Kaufman on March 15 directed employees who conduct required modeling to estimate emissions of these gases to cease their work at scores of facilities where companies apply for and...WW…

By | | The Denver PostFederal officials entrusted with managing millions of acres of forest in Colorado and surrounding states say they’re facing accelerated decline driven by climate warming, insect infestation, and surging human incursions.They’ve been struggling for years to and ecological balance to western forests.But they’re falling further behind on key tasks, such as selectively thinning trees to offset the harm from decades of — often to protect houses built in woods — that has loaded forests with fuels that bring bigger burns.“We’re in a situation where we need to act. We know we...…By | | The Denver PostFederal officials entrusted with managing millions of acres of forest in Colorado and surrounding states say they’re facing accelerated decline driven by climate warming, insect infestation, and surging human incursions.They’ve been struggling for years to and ecological balance to western forests.But they’re falling further behind on key tasks, such as selectively thinning trees to offset the harm from decades of — often to protect houses built in woods — that has loaded forests with fuels that bring bigger burns.“We’re in a situation where we need to act. We know we...WW…

AP NEWS https://apnews.com/article/denver-colorado-air-pollution-pollution-3741aede1fb41dee483b1d34e241d702Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/denver-colorado-air-pollution-pollution-3741aede1fb41dee483b1d34e241d702Click to copyRelated topicsDENVER (AP) — Colorado officials committed to cleaner air and reducing reliance on fossil fuels have reached a turning point on whether to tolerate the hulking oil refinery north of Denver that ranks among the state’s major polluters and regularly malfunctions.They must approve or deny Suncor Energy’s applications to renew its operating permits,...…AP NEWS https://apnews.com/article/denver-colorado-air-pollution-pollution-3741aede1fb41dee483b1d34e241d702Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/denver-colorado-air-pollution-pollution-3741aede1fb41dee483b1d34e241d702Click to copyRelated topicsDENVER (AP) — Colorado officials committed to cleaner air and reducing reliance on fossil fuels have reached a turning point on whether to tolerate the hulking oil refinery north of Denver that ranks among the state’s major polluters and regularly malfunctions.They must approve or deny Suncor Energy’s applications to renew its operating permits,...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | The Denver PostTrump administration officials on Thursday ended endangered species protection for gray wolves nationwide, rankling conservationists who contend wolves still are vulnerable — and raising the stakes in Colorado’s in next week’s election.U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt declared wolves recovered after more than 45 years under federal protection, and federal wildlife officials claimed wolves as an Endangered Species Act success along with the bald eagle.“Today’s action reflects the Trump...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | The Denver PostTrump administration officials on Thursday ended endangered species protection for gray wolves nationwide, rankling conservationists who contend wolves still are vulnerable — and raising the stakes in Colorado’s in next week’s election.U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt declared wolves recovered after more than 45 years under federal protection, and federal wildlife officials claimed wolves as an Endangered Species Act success along with the bald eagle.“Today’s action reflects the Trump...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | The Denver PostHOMESTAKE CREEK — A hundred miles from Colorado’s Front Range house-building boom, field scientist Delia Malone dug her fingers into spongy high-mountain wetlands at the edge of the Holy Cross Wilderness.She found, about 15 inches underground, partially decayed roots, twigs and the cold moisture of a fen. These structures form over thousands of years and store water that seeps down from melting snow.Malone has been digging about 20 holes a day, surveying fens for the U.S. Forest Service, to...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | The Denver PostHOMESTAKE CREEK — A hundred miles from Colorado’s Front Range house-building boom, field scientist Delia Malone dug her fingers into spongy high-mountain wetlands at the edge of the Holy Cross Wilderness.She found, about 15 inches underground, partially decayed roots, twigs and the cold moisture of a fen. These structures form over thousands of years and store water that seeps down from melting snow.Malone has been digging about 20 holes a day, surveying fens for the U.S. Forest Service, to...WW…

By | | The Denver PostClimate change hit home in Colorado this week, exacerbating multiple environmental calamities: wildfires burning across 135,423 acres, stream flows shrinking to where state officials urged limits on fishing, drought wilting crops, and record temperatures baking heat-absorbing cities.This is what scientists, for decades, would happen.Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday lamented “the hot and dry conditions” and called smoke impacts from the state’s four major wildfires “profound,” noting “poor air quality often can cause COVID-type symptoms.” He banned campfires and fireworks...…By | | The Denver PostClimate change hit home in Colorado this week, exacerbating multiple environmental calamities: wildfires burning across 135,423 acres, stream flows shrinking to where state officials urged limits on fishing, drought wilting crops, and record temperatures baking heat-absorbing cities.This is what scientists, for decades, would happen.Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday lamented “the hot and dry conditions” and called smoke impacts from the state’s four major wildfires “profound,” noting “poor air quality often can cause COVID-type symptoms.” He banned campfires and fireworks...WW…

By | | The Denver PostCOLD SPRINGS MOUNTAIN — A lone black heifer wailed, wandering into white mist as night fell across a sage-studded plateau in the middle of where a wolf pack has moved into northwestern Colorado.Rancher T. Wright Dickinson looked on, frowning, aggrieved — an arch conservative westerner whose family has run cattle here since 1885 on high country spanning three states that ranks among the last large open landscapes.He’d turned this heifer loose for grazing through spring-fed meadows where deer, pronghorn antelope and elk roam. It’s destined to be beef for city dwellers...…By | | The Denver PostCOLD SPRINGS MOUNTAIN — A lone black heifer wailed, wandering into white mist as night fell across a sage-studded plateau in the middle of where a wolf pack has moved into northwestern Colorado.Rancher T. Wright Dickinson looked on, frowning, aggrieved — an arch conservative westerner whose family has run cattle here since 1885 on high country spanning three states that ranks among the last large open landscapes.He’d turned this heifer loose for grazing through spring-fed meadows where deer, pronghorn antelope and elk roam. It’s destined to be beef for city dwellers...WW…

By | | The Denver PostA wildfire burned about 2,000 acres in Weld County on Sunday, spreading through dry grass and weeds, threatening structures, drawing firefighters from eight agencies, and forcing state and federal authorities to engage using heavy air tankers.Flames devoured grass and kicked up smoke around homes and oil and gas facilities near the intersection of Weld County Roads 49 and 22, forcing fire departments to call for air support, sheriff’s department spokesman Joe Moylan said.State authorities deployed two single-engine tankers and two large tankers equipped with infrared...…By | | The Denver PostA wildfire burned about 2,000 acres in Weld County on Sunday, spreading through dry grass and weeds, threatening structures, drawing firefighters from eight agencies, and forcing state and federal authorities to engage using heavy air tankers.Flames devoured grass and kicked up smoke around homes and oil and gas facilities near the intersection of Weld County Roads 49 and 22, forcing fire departments to call for air support, sheriff’s department spokesman Joe Moylan said.State authorities deployed two single-engine tankers and two large tankers equipped with infrared...WW…