U.S. SENATOR SALAZAR RESPONDS

 

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: A message from Senator Ken Salazar
From: Senator_Salazar@salazar.senate.gov
Date: Fri, July 13, 2007 1:23 pm
To: Becky@montroselandgrab.com

 

Dear Rebecca:

Thank you for contacting me regarding revised statute 2477 (R.S. 2477) and right-of-way claims on public lands. I appreciate hearing from you.

Contained in the 1866 Mining Law, R.S. 2477 was intended to facilitate settlement of the West by granting right-of-ways on public lands. Although existing right-of-way claims were grandfathered when R.S. 2477 was repealed in 1976, there remain thousands of unresolved right-of-way claims across the West, many of which are in Colorado.

The Department of the Interior has implemented a revision to its R.S. 2477 policy which could have a devastating impact on some of our most prized public lands. The new policy risks significant harm to our National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, National Monuments, and other crown jewels of the American landscape by opening these lands to road development. I have repeatedly expressed my concerns with this proposal and have asked the Secretary of the Interior to reconsider this ill-advised policy.

Although the Department of the Interior has taken a flawed approach to this matter, I do believe that we should create a process for resolving outstanding RS 2477 claims that makes good on the promises that the federal government made to local communities. This process must be fair to counties, local governments, and private landowners. I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind as I work with my colleagues toward a sensible solution to this issue.

Again, thanks for contacting me.

Sincerely,

Ken Salazar
United States Senator