GJ GETS BLM HEADQUARTERS, JOBS COME TO LAKEWOOD, ACROSS THE WEST

In a letter to the U.S. Senate, the Bureau of Land Management stated it is moving the headquarters of the BLM to Grand Junction, along with 27 positions, including the BLM director, deputy director of operations, assistant directors and other staff members. Another 58 positions will be relocated to Colorado, with most split between the Colorado State Office and the National Operations Center in Lakewood. In addition, 49 posts will be moved to Nevada, 44 to Utah and 39 each to Arizona and New Mexico.

TRI-STATE, DMEA REACH SETTLEMENT

The Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and the Delta-Montrose Electric Association issued a filing to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission that they were seeking approval of a negotiated settlement from their respective boards and would submit a final filing on Friday. Although the settlement resolves the dispute between Tri-State and DMEA, the PUC remains unsure of the arrangement between Tri-State and the other 17 electric associations in Colorado that get their power from Tri-State as Tri-State has asked for rate oversight from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and its utility members will have to take future complaints to Washington, D.C.

UNITED CHANGING GROUND SERVICES VENDOR AT DIA

United Airlines has terminated the contract with Prime Flight Aviation effective Sept. 18 and the company's 439 employees will be terminated. Most of the workers clean the cabins of the United planes, with others working in inventory, and some supervisors. United Ground Express, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Airlines, will start cleaning cabins and many of the Prime Flight employees are expected to be hired by United Ground Express.

PITCO P&Z: NO DECISION ON WOODY CREEK SOLAR FARM

The Pitkin County Planning and Zoning Commission held a public review of the proposed solar farm near Woody Creek on Tuesday and the two-and-a-half-hour meeting produced a standing-room-only audience. The project is proposed by the Aspen Sanitation District, Holy Cross Energy and Renewable Energy Systems, a private company that would build and operate the solar farm and would place 18,000 solar panels on 35 acres of land owned by the sanitation district near the Brush Creek Road and Highway 82 intersection. The P&Z, after hearing extended public comments, adjourned the meeting and continued it until Aug. 6.

ROCK MITIGATION WORK FINISHING UP ON I-70 AT CAMEO

For those traveling eastbound or westbound on Interstate 70 yesterday, they likely encountered traffic backups due to intermittent closures in both directions due to a rock mitigation project being conducted near the Cameo exit, (Exit 45), with closures in both directions between mile markers 45 and 49 (the Powderhorn Mountain Resort exit). Most of the rock mitigation work was completed by Tuesday night and officials of the Colorado Department of Transportation said it is likely the westbound lanes would not be closed again and just the one eastbound lane would remain closed today between mile markers 45 and 49.

EPA "ENSURES" SUPERFUND CLEAN UP

The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it will “ensure” Sunnyside Gold Corp. carries out cleanup activities and pays costs associated with the Superfund site around Silverton, even though the company said last week it refuses to do the work. Sunnyside Gold has worked with state and federal agencies for years to clean up mine sites around Silverton, but said last week it was done.

PINE RIVER TRAIL CLOSED

The U.S. Forest Service announced this week a portion of the popular Pine River Trail was closed as a result of high water and flooding which caused the trail to give way. The closure of the trail is about 9 miles from the trailhead, north of Vallecito Reservoir. In its press release, the USFS said the closure was necessary "…for public safety and the safety of work crews during completion of repairs to the approximately 100 feet of damaged trail." The closure began Monday and will remain in effect until Sept. 30, unless rescinded earlier.

MINTURN COUNCIL FACES MONUMENTAL WATER DECISION

The Minturn Town Council will hold a meeting tonight to discuss its water situation. The town has made decisions to allow growth from Maloit Park to Dowd Junction, and now more water is needed if development is to proceed. Under consideration is a proposal for a Battle Mountain development with up to 712 homes and for the development, the developer is proposing a three-way arrangement with the town and the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District to pipe water from Dowd Junction to Minturn.

WANT TO MAKE MONEY…GO TO MED SCHOOL

Bloomberg's Work Wise gives perspective on which professions make the most money. Actually, it is no contest, 4 of the top 5 paying jobs in the U.S. are within the worlds of medicine and dentistry, topped by general practitioners, with an annual median salary of $201,100. Tech jobs barely make the Top 10, with computer and information systems managers at No.10 at $142,530.

• Software developers were at No. 36 at $110,000
• Lawyers? With an annual median salary of $120,901, they rank No. 24

For the worst paying jobs:

• Gaming Dealer: $20,120
• Fast food and food service worker: $21,250
• Shampooer: $21,640
• Waiter: $21,780

CONSERVATION EASEMENT TAX CREDIT PROGRAM

The conservation easement tax credit program for Colorado is extended and the credit cap raised. Previously the program was set to end on July 1, 2019, and has now been extended to July 1, 2026. The Dept. of Regulatory Agencies Conservation Division is working together with the Dept. of Law and the Dept. of Revenue to develop proposed statutes and regulations relating to the certification of easements. Beginning January 1, 2020, a property owner must execute a disclosure form stating that the easement is being granted in perpetuity, and submit the form with the tax credit application. The credit caps at $5 million (up from $1.5 million) per donation.