Congressman Salazar announces $24 million in federal appropriations to benefit Colorado communities

Funding and assistance for Rifle, Cortez,  Silverton, Monte Vista, Ophir and more

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman John Salazar announced that $24 million in federal funding for seven different projects throughout Colorado’s Third Congressional district was approved by the U. S. House of Representatives. The bill, the 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill now goes to President Obama’s desk for final approval. Congressman Salazar is a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee which oversaw the formation of the bill.

Congressman Salazar offered the following comment on the passage of the 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill:

“One of my greatest responsibilities as the Representative for Colorado’s Third Congressional District is to make sure that federal funds are brought back to Colorado to help sustain, grow and improve our economy, infrastructure and environment. It’s an honor for me to serve in my new role as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and to fight to bring federal dollars back to the communities that need them most.”

Projects and communities benefiting from the appropriation funding in this bill are listed below:

Mesa Verde National Park Curation Center, Cortez

The 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill contains $11.6 million for a proposed curation center at Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde has never had an appropriate facility to store, catalogue, study or display the priceless collection of 3 million archeological artifacts. The collection is currently housed in a metal building known as the “Tin Shed” constructed 50 years ago as a temporary field lab. Mesa Verde was the first national park established to protect cultural resources including archeological sites, artifacts and the work of the people that lived here over 1,000 years ago. The park was created on June 29, 1906, to preserve from injury or spoliation the ruins and other works and relics of prehistoric humans contained within the established boundaries. In recognition of its value to the World, Mesa Verde was established as one of the seven original World Heritage sites in 1978.

Mesa Verde National Park Visitors Center, Cortez

The 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill contains $10.5 million for the new Mesa Verde Visitors center. The proposed 7,500 square foot Visitor Information Center will be located at the park entrance to welcome visitors, help plan their visit, allow them to tour the Archeological museum and obtain information on visitor services provided by the concessioner. In addition, it will educate visitors on opportunities in Mesa Verde and the surrounding communities, and the Ancestral Puebloan cultures. This project will employ hundreds of people including employees of the design firms, prime contractor, six to ten subcontractors, multiple second-tier subcontractors, and suppliers.

Shenandoah Dives Mill National Historic Landmark, Silverton

The 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill contains $150,000 for the Shenandoah Dives Mill National Historic Landmark. The Shenandoah-Dives Mill was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2000. It is one of only 20 in the State of Colorado, and one of only 2294 in the United States. Over the last 15 years, the San Juan County Historical Society has been the economic engine for the Silverton area, bringing over $10 million into the community in the form of good-paying jobs and purchase of supplies and services.

City of Rifle Regional Water Purification Facility Transmission Line Improvements

The 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill contains $300,000 for the City of Rifle Regional Water Purification Facility Transmission Line Improvements. Without any state or federal grant assistance the construction of this new water purification facility will make Rifle's water rate beyond what the state considers reasonable for residents' water bills. This is based upon a percentage of the adjusted median income. Any time a community's water rates are beyond 1.5 percent AMI, the rates are considered to adversely impact the residents of that community. The anticipated rates without any significant financial assistance from outside sources would have resulted in Rifle's water rates being 1.94 percent of AMI. Additionally, the Colorado Department of Health-Water Quality Control Division cites the need of this project in its Intended Use Plan/2009 Drinking Water Revolving Fund Project Eligibility List as a “Priority 1” due to a continuous violation of an acute maximum contaminant level (MCL) or a surface water treatment rule (SWTR) treatment technique requirement.

Uncompahgre National Forest, Ophir Valley

The 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill contains $1 million for land preservation in the Uncompahgre National Forest, Ophir Valley. Against a backdrop of unsurpassed alpine scenery, the Ophir Valley offers an abundance of recreational opportunities for visitors and habitat for threatened and endangered species. This protection effort is a natural extension of the successful Red Mountain project, located just to the north and east of the Ophir Valley along a different portion of the San Juan Skyway. It also will be complemented by other land protection and recreation enhancement efforts along and adjacent to the San Juan Skyway, one of only 21 All-American Roads in the National Scenic Byway

 Sherman Avenue Interceptor Project, Monte Vista

The 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill contains $300,000 for the Sherman Avenue Interceptor Project in Monte Vista. This project will combine the dual wastewater facilities in Monte Vista, install a new lift station and over 15,000 feet of pipe. The project will consolidate all wastewater treatment into an existing facility known as the Henderson Wastewater Treatment Plant, eliminating an underused and undersized facility that is currently dedicated to serving residents along the town’s incorporated border. The move is estimated to save $100,000 per year in operation and maintenance costs, as well as allow the sale of the secondary treatment facility property. 

Extension of the Good Neighbor Act Authority

The 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill also authorized the Extension of the Good Neighbor Act Authority through 2013. The Good Neighbor Act allows the U. S. Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Service to perform watershed restoration and protection services on National Forest lands in the state of Colorado when similar and complementary watershed restoration and protection services are being performed by the State Forest Service on adjacent State or private lands. This act has greatly facilitated cross-boundary watershed restoration activities and has enhanced the land management agencies effectiveness in improving forest conditions and helping prevent severe wild land fires by allowing federal and state agencies to work more closely together to treat lands across ownership boundaries.  Since its inception the authority has been successfully used on over 38 projects in Colorado totaling over 2,700 acres.