Since taking office, President Trump’s actions and proposals have put southwest Colorado’s environment at risk. The president’s new budget makes it clear that he will continue this assault in the coming year.
President Trump has announced that he is reconsidering the national monument status for the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument outside Cortez; proposed cuts to national park budgets that already have a backlog of $203 million in Colorado, including $57 million at Mesa Verde; proposed deep funding cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency programs charged with cleaning up sites like the Bonita Peak Mining District; and is working to overturn the Clean Water Rule, which provides protections for the drinking water of 3.7 million Coloradans.
In short, President Trump’s environmental policies endanger citizens here in southwest Colorado and across the state. Our congressional delegation must stand united so we can stop him before it’s too late.
I love Colorado’s national parks, monuments and public spaces, and Southwest Colorado’s wealth of special places sets it apart from the rest of the state. Unfortunately, local treasures like Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument and Yucca House National Monument are suffering from underfunding and a combined $57 million of maintenance backlogs. Despite this severe underfunding, the President has proposed massive cuts to the Department of Interior’s budget, which houses the parks department.
Beyond the budget, President Trump and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke are reconsidering the status of a national monument in Durango’s backyard: Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. With more than 6,000 Puebloan cliff dwellings, kivas and rock paintings spread across its 176,000 acres, Canyons of the Ancients boasts the highest concentration of archeological sites in the nation. I cannot understand why the president is reconsidering this area’s national monument status.
Additionally, the president’s budget eliminates $330 million in funding for Superfund cleanup. Colorado is home to 25 of the worst toxic waste sites around the country, including the newly designated Bonita Peak Mining District, but lack of funding could mean we’re stuck with these toxic sites for a long time.
The air we breathe is also being threatened. Durango experienced 94 days with elevated smog levels in 2015. Smog pollution causes health impacts such as coughing and throat irritation as well as asthma and permanent damage to the lung tissues. Sadly, President Trump has proposed rolling back vehicle emissions standards and stopped the Clean Power Plan, policies that would have reduced air pollution.
Even clean water is under attack. President Trump has proposed eliminating the Clean Water Rule, which protects 73,000 miles of rivers and streams in Colorado.
Finally, when it comes to one of the biggest challenges of our time – climate change – President Trump’s proposals take us backwards, not forwards. He has proposed to roll back investments in clean energy research and greenlighted dirty energy projects like the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Failing to act on climate means failing to stand up for our families’ health. It means rising sea levels, more powerful storms, and droughts and other extreme weather events becoming more disruptive.
From our air to our public lands, from our water to climate change, President Trump’s plans and policies move us in the wrong direction.
On the environment and public health, President Trump has positioned himself at odds with Colorado and our values.
We call on our Colorado congressional delegation to join us in standing against President Trump’s environmental agenda. Together, we can stop his proposals before it’s too late.
Garrett Garner-Wells is state director of Environment Colorado. Reach him at ggarnerwells@environmentcolorado.org or (303) 573-3871.
