11/28/2023 For Immediate Release Contact: Gary Wockner, Save The Poudre, 970-218-8310 Fort Collins, CO: Yesterday, Save The Poudre was informed that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has "invited" the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) to apply for a massive loan of U.S. taxpayer money to try and bail out the $2.25 billion NISP boondoggle (see page 4 on the EPA's website here). NISP -- the massive proposed Poudre River dam project which has limped along for 20 years in permitting and in court -- was originally proposed to cost $140 million in 2004, and now is proposed to cost $2.25 billion (see our previous press release here about the cost of NISP). Two years ago, NISP sent a "letter of interest" to the EPA, asking for a $484 million loan from the U.S. taxpayer through the EPA's "Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act" (WIFIA) program to bailout the project. After NISP sent its letter of interest, Save The Poudre sent lengthy comments to the EPA about how the project should not receive a taxpayer loan (our comment letter to EPA is posted here). The EPA completely ignored Save The Poudre's comments and has now invited NISP to apply for a loan. "As our comments made clear, the EPA should be investigating NISP for the criminal violation of lying in its letter of interest, not asking NISP to apply for a loan," said Gary Wockner of Save The Poudre. "NISP purposely used 'falsification and misrepresentation' in its letter about the environmental impacts of NISP which is a criminal violation." In addition to ignoring Save The Poudre's comments, the EPA has also ignored the City of Fort Collins. As our 12/4/2021 press release points out, the City of Fort Collins has grave concerns about the impact of NISP on the Poudre River's water quality and the City's Natural Areas. To this day, the Fort Collins City Council has voted to be 100% opposed to NISP. "If the Biden Administration moves this loan forward, they will have effectively turned the EPA into the 'Environmental Destruction Agency,'" said Wockner. "NISP is lying to the federal government to try and get taxpayer money to bailout a massive river-destruction scheme which violates every ethical standard of the WIFIA program and what the EPA should be doing." This press release is posed here. ***end***
PRESS RELEASE: NISP Record of Decision Issued; Save The Poudre Says, “We’ll See You In Court”
12/9/2022
For Immediate Release
Contact: Gary Wockner, Save The Poudre, 970-218-8310
NISP Record of Decision Issued; Save The Poudre Says, “We’ll See You In Court”
Fort Collins, CO: Today, after nearly 20 years, the Army Corps of Engineers issued the 404 Permit and Record of Decision for the proposed $2 billion “Northern Integrated Supply Project” (NISP) near Fort Collins, CO. The permit is posted here: https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/3241655/us-army-corps-of-engineers-issues-section-404-permit-authorizing-fill-discharge/
Save The Poudre response:
“We’ve fought this river-destroying project for nearly 20 years, girding for this final battle. Our attorneys’ pens are sharpened and we will sue to stop this project and protect the Poudre River as soon as possible. We’ve given the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (“Northern”) every chance to find a compromise solution, but instead they’ve chosen to compromise the Cache la Poudre River. Northern proposes to spend $2 billion on a project that has one massive environmental impact in Larimer County — further draining and destroying the Cache la Poudre River through Fort Collins. We are happy to keep a dialogue open with Northern Water as the lawsuit plays out, but for now it’s a court battle they want, and it’s a court battle we will give them.”
Save The Poudre is also in state court against NISP, suing the former Larimer County Commissioners who gave a 1041 permit to NISP. That lawsuit is just beginning its briefing schedule after the beginning of 2023 and will play out in 2023. Federal court battles generally last 2 – 3 years for the first round in federal district court.
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