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| February 05, 2008 |
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Mining officials meet with local reps
DENVER -- Representatives from Powertech USA and the Colorado Mining Association were meeting Feb. 5 with Colorado Reps. John Kefalas and Randy Fischer to review House Bill 1161, which Kefalas and Fischer have proposed to require mining companies to return groundwater to its pre-mining condition.
The bill is still before the House Agriculture Committee and has not yet been introduced into the General Assembly. Reps. Ray Rose and Wes McKinley and Sen. Scott Renfroe were also scheduled to attend the meeting.
Mining officials are hoping to offer possible amendments to the bill, according to a press statement.
"Industry experts have expressed serious concerns about the broad nature of the bill, calling for sweeping changes to the regulation process," said John Hall, a spokesman for Powertech USA. "They contend a sufficient process is already in place on the federal, state and local level."
Powertech USA, a subsidiary of Canadian-based Powertech Uranium, is proposing to mine uranium on about 5,700 acres in western Weld County where the company has purchased mineral rights and some property. Neighbors of the project and others who oppose uranium mining have called on Kefalas and Fischer to make sure company activities don't pollute groundwater supplies in the area.
HB 1161 as introduced would also require companies to provide evidence of five successfully cleaned mines before a mining permit is approved. Powertech is asking that the bill instead allow mining companies to give a "comprehensive history" of mining techniques and the risks involved in using them.
The House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider the bill and any possible amendments at a hearing on Wednesday. |
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Homes sales looking up in Larimer, down in Weld
LOVELAND -- The Group Inc. Real Estate anticipates a year-over-year increase in home sales for Larimer County, but not for much of Weld.
At its 2008 Annual Real Estate Forecast, Group Chairman Chuck McNeal presented the company's estimates for home sales in the coming year. Fort Collins is anticipated to see a 2 percent increase with 3,685 sales. Loveland is also expected to see an increase -- up 1 percent to 1,800. The anticipated home sales for 2008 still do not reach the 2006 actual sales numbers in the Larimer County communities.
McNeal said The Group anticipates a slight year-over-year decline in home sales for Greeley and surrounding communities. The Greeley/Evans home sales market is expected to decrease about 4 percent to 1,636. Smaller communities -- including Johnstown, Milliken, Mead, Ault, Eaton, Kersey and LaSalle -- will see a decrease of about 10 percent to 596 home sales. The Windsor/Severance market is expected to see an increase in home sales, up to 673 from 660 in 2007.
Overall, the Northern Colorado communities that The Group tracks are expected to see 8,350 home sales in 2008. In 2007, the actual sales for those communities were 8,419.
Despite some expected declines, The Group forecast was optimistic. McNeal pointed to the market appreciation rates rebounding to "equilibrium" after about five years of what is considered below-average growth. In the past, he pointed out, longer amounts of time spent below normal appreciation are often followed by greater spikes in appreciation. He explained that the question is not if it will happen, but when.
"It's not going to happen right away," he said. "The next six months might feel like the last six months."
Overall, McNeal pointed to positive indicators, such as declining vacancy rates, to push the real estate market into an upswing. |
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No-Till Conference in Greeley
GREELEY -- The Colorado Conservation Tillage Association and the National Sunflower Association is hosting the 20th annual High Plains No-Till Conference at Island Grove Regional Park Events Center in Greeley Feb. 5 and 6.
The focus of the conference is on conservation farming methods and trends and current crop, water, soil and energy issues. Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp will provide the welcome to the conference and present a breakout session on "Wind Energy -- From the Farmer's Perspective."
Nationally known commentator John Phipps, host of the U.S. Farm Report, will be the keynote speaker both days. Farmers and agribusiness professionals from throughout the region are invited to attend and the conference is also open to the public.
Presenters will include experts from land grant universities and research stations in Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas. Panels and workshops on a variety of topics are also scheduled. For more information, visit www.HighPlainsNoTill.com. |
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national news
SEC forms office to pay back wronged investors
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Securities and Exchange Commission said on Tuesday it has created a new office in the agency to quickly distribute financial penalties to wronged investors.
Stocks tumble on recession signs
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Tuesday after data showed the vast services sector contracted in January, the latest sign pointing to a U.S. recession.
Bond insurer trials threaten banks as Ross circles
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Commercial and investment banks could see their credit ratings cut if the bond insurers which hedge some of their assets were themselves downgraded, Standard & Poor's said on Tuesday, as billionaire investor Wilbur Ross mulled whether to invest $1 billion or more in the sector.
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