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May 11, 2006

DOP on Aspen Public Radio

Defense of Place Director Jason Kibbey was recently on KAJX, the public radio station for Aspen, Colorado. I, Jason, talked about the proposed sell-off of National Forest Lands and threats to parks and open space in general.

Listen to the entire interview (Courtesy of KAJX)

Posted by dop_editor at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)

May 01, 2006

Trading recreation for Copper Mining

The High Country News reports that Arizona Congressman Jon Kyl and Senator John McCain are pushing to hand over a popular climbing area and campground to a mining company in exchange for a patchwork of private lands.

Why is it that whenever a mining company wants public lands that the public loves, congressmen and senators jump over one another to sign over the deed?

From the High Country News 5/1/06

A haven for rock climbers, birders, hikers and American Indians is on the chopping block again. In early April, Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, R, introduced a bill that would trade Oak Flat, a popular recreational area in the Tonto National Forest, to Resolution Copper Co., which wants to develop a copper mine on the site (HCN, 4/4/05: Rock jocks fight a mining company). In exchange, the company would provide private land in other areas. A version of the bill floated last year was shot down; the new bill creates a state park in the Tam O'Shanter Mountains to make up for the lost climbing area and adds another 880 acres of private land.

Posted by dop_editor at 09:46 PM | Comments (0)