Press Release- Jun 29, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2007
Contact:
Cody Wertz (Sen. Salazar), 303.350.0032
Evan Dreyer (Gov. Ritter), 720.350.8370
SEN. SALAZAR, GOV. RITTER TO FLY OVER ROAN PLATEAU FOR ENERGY, WILDLIFE BRIEFING
RIFLE -- With energy development and environmental protection on the Roan Plateau as key concerns, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar and Gov. Bill Ritter will fly over the Plateau on Tuesday and receive an aerial briefing from natural resource and wildlife officials.
Following the fly-over, Sen. Salazar, Gov. Ritter and Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Harris Sherman will be available to answer questions from the media.
WHO: Sen. Salazar, Gov. Ritter and DNR Executive Director Harris Sherman
WHAT: Media availability following 90-minute aerial tour of Roan Plateau
WHEN: Approximately 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 3, 2007
WHERE: Garfield County Airport. PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION ON AIRPORT GROUNDS: DBS Helicopters, 375 County Road 352, No. 3060, Rifle. After turning into the airport, look for DBS Helicopters sign. Pull up to gate and call box for entry.
MEDIA: A media helicopter will be flying earlier Tuesday morning to obtain aerial photographs of the Roan Plateau. Pool photographs will be available through the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Rocky Mountain News and KJCT News 8 Grand Junction. Contact information for the Rocky photo desk: 303.954.5382 or photoed@rockymountainnews.com. Contact information for KJCT, assignment editor Kalani Pe'a: 970.245.8888 or kpea@kjct8.com.
In a May 14 letter, Gov. Ritter requested that Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne grant Colorado an additional 120 days to review the Roan Plateau Management Resource Plan for oil and gas drilling atop the Roan Plateau. Secretary Kempthorne denied the request. Both Sen. Salazar and Gov. Ritter have expressed their extreme displeasure with the Secretary 's decision and are pursuing other options.