from Steve Green, Adventure Rider and huge driving force behind getting the roads opened back up.
Hi All,
Reference: Rollins Pass Road and the Wagon Road
I sent this letter today. (It might look a bit wonky since I cut and pasted it into the email.)
After our meeting in Idaho Springs on the 12th I felt it was necessary to go over Boulder Ranger Christine Walsh's head to her superiors. Please feel free to use all or any part of my letter.
Steve
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March 27, 2010
Regional Forester Rick Cables 740 Simms Street
Golden, CO 80401
Dear Mr. Cables,
I am writing you about two different roads over the same pass on the Colorado Front Range. I am referring to the Rollins Pass Road (FR 149) which predominantly follows the old D&SL RR grade and the Wagon Road (aka Boulder Wagon Road) which is the original 150 year old road over this pass. Both of these roads cross the Continental Divide at the same point and are historically and geographically linked. These roads are located within the boundaries or the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
James Peak Wilderness Protection Area Bill states:
PUBLIC LAW 107–216
SEC. 7. OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
(b) ROLLINS PASS ROAD.—If requested by one or more of the
Colorado Counties of Grand, Gilpin, and Boulder, the Secretary
shall provide technical assistance and otherwise cooperate with
respect to repairing the Rollins Pass road in those counties sufficiently
to allow two-wheel-drive vehicles to travel between Colorado
State Highway 119 and U.S. Highway 40. If this road is repaired
to such extent, the Secretary shall close the motorized roads and
trails on Forest Service land indicated on the map entitled ‘‘Rollins
Pass Road Reopening: Attendant Road and Trail Closures’’, dated
September 2001.
Both Grand and Gilpin Counties have requested in writing to the USDA Secretary to re-open Rollins Pass Road the Needle’s Eye Tunnel. The Rollins Pass Restoration Association and many individuals have also written. The Rollins Pass Road and the Needle’s Eye Tunnel remain closed. The USFS Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest Boulder Ranger District has stubbornly stood in the way of reopening this road.
The "attendant" roads (the Wagon Road) was closed by the USFS in spite of a well known understanding that it was to remain open so long as the Needle’s Eye Tunnel was closed.
The wilderness bill specifically recognizes and mandates the Wagon Road as a motor vehicle maintenance easement for the natural gas pipeline that parallels this road.
JAMES PEAK WILDERNESS BILL
PUBLIC LAW 107–216
"(2) NATURAL GAS PIPELINE.—The Secretary shall allow for
maintenance of rights-of-ways and access roads located within
the Protection Area to the extent necessary to operate the
natural gas pipeline permitted under the Arapaho/Roosevelt
National Forest master permit numbered 4138.01 in a manner
that avoids negative impacts on public safety and allows for
compliance with Federal pipeline safety requirements. Such
maintenance may include vegetation management, road maintenance,
ground stabilization, and motorized vehicle access. "
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Order No. 10-00-03 Motor Vehicle Travel and Developed Trail Restrictions
Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests (A&RNF) dated June 10, 1999 closed both the Wagon Road and a section of the Rollins Pass Road.
Can one law say "closed" and another say "open" for roads in the NF ?
Which law should be observed ?
Why has the USFS closed the Wagon Road in spite of a contradictory law stating it should remain open ?
Why has the USFS closed a section of the Rollins Pass Road in spite of contradictory laws stating it should be re-opened ?
Why has the USFS not followed the law pertaining to Rollins Pass Road as enacted by the Congress of the United States ?
Why has the USFS not acted upon the request of the Gilpin and Grand County Commissioners to re-open Rollins Pass Road ?
Your kind attention to this matter and answers to the above questions are greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Steve Green
Cc: Senator Udall, Grand and Gilpin County Commissioners