GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo.—A lack of environmental inspectors has prompted the Bureau of Land Management to halt construction of a 25-mile natural gas pipeline that cuts through roadless forest areas in western Colorado.
A management plan for the Bull Mountain pipeline requires an environmental manager, along with three environmental inspectors be involved in its construction through Gunnison, Mesa and Garfield counties. The BLM cease and desist order issued Monday said only one inspector remained on the project, which made it unlikely environmental protections could be assured.
Robbie Guinn, vice president of pipeline developer SG Interests, said they’re working on hiring more inspectors. Some work such as trench filling on the half-completed pipeline will continue until Oct. 1.
BLM spokesman David Boyd said that work needs to be completed to prevent problems during the winter.
“We want them to finish up, and take the (pipeline) to a good finishing point,” Boyd said.
Earlier this summer, environmentalists lost an effort to block construction of the pipeline in federal court while their lawsuit challenging it moved ahead.
They say federal approval of the pipeline through three roadless areas violates the 2001 ban on new roads on about 58 million acres in national forests across the country.
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Information from: Post Independent,
