ACTION 22 CURRENT POLICY STATEMENTS
AGRICULTURE, PUBLIC LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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Supports the concept of a willing seller and a willing buyer and not eminent
domain in acquiring agricultural lands.
Supports the designation of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site as a
unit of the National Park Service.
Supports the re-designation of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument as a
national park to preserve this rare and beautiful geological site as well as the
important ecological area surrounding the sand dunes for the benefit of present
and future generations of citizens of the San Luis Valley, of Southern Colorado,
the State of Colorado and the United States.
Supports placing priorities on water or property that enhances, not diminishes,
the ability to produce foods and food products in the agricultural industry.
Supports proposals which enhance the economics of agriculture, including
incentives for value-added production and ways to assist young entrepreneurs
pursuing careers in production agriculture.
Supports programs for voluntary preservation of agricultural land and water in
exchange for financial incentives.
Supports agricultural programs and partnerships that reward stewardship.
Believes that state and federal income tax credits should be extended to
businesses whose activities protect agricultural lands and their productivity.
Supports voluntary agricultural enterprise zones so long as all affected property
owners and the affected county government agree to the zone’s creation.
Supports programs that develop and sustain renewable energy resources from
agricultural properties.
Supports federal subsidies for hay and alfalfa crops.
Supports controlling the growth and spread of the Tamarisk plant and the
restoration of riparian lands.
Opposes stringent mining reclamation standards.
Supports treating the actual contamination of the mine site rather than just the
treatment of the water leaving the mine site.
Supports a state procurement preference for Colorado producers of agricultural
products and urges Coloradans, its businesses and entities to buy Colorado
products first.
Supports the establishment and funding of an independent commission within
the Department of Agriculture, to review current agricultural laws and state
statutes on interstate agricultural policy to determine if there are limitations
and/or obstacles to the growth and economy of the agricultural industry.
The regulation of hazardous chemicals should be considered in light of current
applicable science and technology.
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Supports the safe use of hazardous chemicals for industrial purposes, subject to
the laws and regulations controlling their use.
Will not consider supporting the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site
until the US Army provides sufficient detailed information to Action 22 counties**
regarding its plans and needs for the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver
Site. (** Membership in the 22 county area -- not “county governments”)
Action 22 supports the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed
Management Strategic plan to curb the introduction, prevent their establishment,
stop the spread and restore lands.
Desires a re-evaluation of criteria for allowing the controlled burning of federal
and public lands.
Supports legislation directing the Division of Wildlife to implement a youth hunting
program to introduce Colorado youth to the great tradition of hunting in order to
continue that tradition in future generations.
Action 22 supports efforts to increase funding of predator control programs, and
opposes all efforts to ban trapping and other legitimate predator control in
Colorado.
Supports re-authorization of the Endangered Species Act, with amendments: to
subject findings to the same reviews and appeals as other federal agency
decisions, to subject findings to scientific peer review, to analyze the economic
impact of decisions, and to require an advanced definition of recovery with
specific goals.
Opposes any attempt to weaken or restrict counties “1041” land use powers for
regulating development, including laws giving local government “standing” to sue
each other.
opposes legislation to abolish the US Geological Survey.
Supports effective forest management:
o Assuring a sustainable harvest of forest products
o Establishing a self-sustaining Forest Health Fund for the State
o Re-establishing adequate forest processing infrastructure
o Developing a diversified forest products market and encouraging woody
biomass industry to supply a reliable source of renewable energy
o Encouraging the woody biomass industry to supply a reliable source of
renewable energy by removing a requirement for a full permit review that
is a disincentive for power companies that may want to switch to
cogeneration using woody biomass
o Providing financial assistance to accomplish above goals.