releases: http://tipton.house.gov/press-release/house-committee-advances-tipton%E2%80%99s-hermosa-creek-bill
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://tipton.house.gov/press-release/house-committee-advances-tipton%E2%80%99s-hermosa-creek-bill | House Committee Advances Tiptons Hermosa Creek Bill | 2014-09-18 | 2014 | 2014-09 | Republican | House | CO | Scott Tipton | T000470 | tipton.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON—Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources advanced with bipartisan support Congressman Scott Tipton’s (CO-03) legislation to protect the Hermosa Creek Watershed during a markup. The bill seeks to protect the Hermosa Creek Watershed as well as protect multiple use of the land. In order to move the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act through the House Natural Resources Committee, Congressman Tipton proposed an amendment to ensure that the stakeholders’ agreed upon intent for the legislation is followed and that there is no ambiguity for future misinterpretation. A major factor behind the need for the clarification amendment came about when, after the conclusion of the community stakeholder process and introduction of the bill in the House, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the imminent closure of the Molas Pass Wilderness Study Area (WSA) adjacent to Hermosa to all motorized usage, based on changes in BLM management of WSA areas. The BLM subsequently released a final Resource Management Plan for the area identifying Molas Pass as currently closed to motorized usage under all alternatives, and committed to permanent closure of the Molas Pass area to dispersed snowmobile usage and permitted grooming. "The minor amendments were supported by stakeholders who helped craft the original bill, and in no way have changed the outcome of the legislation’s goals agreed upon by all of those who have been engaged throughout this entire process. The amendments ensure balanced protections for both the land and responsible multiple use of the land, as agreed upon by all community stakeholders from the onset. All of the major wilderness and conservation provisions remain intact—in fact, the acreage of protected areas actually increased by 499,” said Tipton. “Ultimately, because of how critical this issue is to the economic health and future of communities in the region, it is important to do everything possible to move it through the House of Representatives, and we are hopeful that Senator Bennet is able to do the same in the Senate. Today’s markup is not the end of the process or conversation, nor is House passage. Once we have bills passed through both the House and Senate, should there be any differences, we can come together in conference to work them out and get this signed into law for the people of Southwest Colorado.” It’s important to note that leading up to the bill’s introduction, the portion of the legislation that was community-driven pertained to the protection of the Hermosa Creek Watershed area. Under the amended version of the bill, all of the major wilderness and conservation provisions remain intact. The bill designates 37,735 acres of wilderness (an increase of 499 acres from the original version), and 68,289 acres under special management protections. “We applaud Congressman Tipton’s leadership on this bill and his willingness to continue to work with the community to ensure that the end product fully meets the goals agreed upon by the coalition,” said Scott Jones, Vice President of the Colorado Snowmobile Association. “The revised bill is critical to the protection of snowmobile usage on Molas pass as the original version of the legislation, drafted in May of 2013 fails to address management changes arbitrarily made by the BLM in their planning process and not released to the public until September of 2013. This amended bill is a win-win for conservationists, recreationalists, the businesses and the entire community and we remain fully supportive. “I commend Congressman Tipton on his hard work to advance this important legislation. Carefully weighing the needs of his constituents and the potential impacts of inaction, he brokered a compromise that delivers economic certainty for the Silverton community while protecting both recreation and wilderness. His balanced proposal ensures that both conservation and recreation advocates win. Congressman Tipton has worked overtime to facilitate moving this bill forward on behalf of the people he represents,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |