News
Thank you from Christo
February 7th, 2012 — OTR Project Team Update
Following last week’s public hearings, Christo and the OTR team want to thank our many supporters for encouraging Fremont County to approve the Over The River Temporary Use Permit.
Hundreds of you took the time to write supportive letters and participate in the public process. It was an absolute pleasure to hear so many of you articulate the cultural and community benefits associated with Over The River. Christo and the team greatly enjoyed listening to you share your personal experiences and connections to this temporary work of art and the beautiful Arkansas River Valley landscape.
At the hearing on Feb. 2, Fremont County extended the public comment period until this Thursday, Feb. 9. This means you still have time to express your support and urge Fremont County to approve the Over The River permit via email (planning@fremontco.com) or U.S. mail (Fremont County Planning and Zoning Department, 615 Macon Avenue, Room 210, Cañon City, CO 81212). If you need ideas about what to include in your comment, click here.
Your support is deeply appreciated by Christo and the entire OTR team. We will continue to keep you informed as the Over The River permitting process moves forward. Thank you!
Update on OTR Legal Proceedings
February 7th, 2012 — OTR Project Team UpdateMany of you heard about the lawsuit filed last week against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by a group opposed to Over The River. The suit challenges the findings of the BLM’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analysis of Over The River and adherence to National Environmental Policy Act guidelines during the EIS process.
The analysis conducted by the BLM over the past three years has been exhaustive and comprehensive. The EIS considered extensive expert analysis on dozens of issues and thousands of public comments before federal approval was issued. The Record of Decision includes a comprehensive mitigation plan with more than 100 measures to avoid or minimize impacts on traffic, safety and wildlife as a result of the project.
For all these reasons, Christo and the OTR team are confident that the BLM’s thorough EIS analysis will withstand legal scrutiny. It is important to note that these legal proceedings allow work on the project to move forward and the team continues work to obtain the remaining permits so that installation can begin this summer. For a summary of the administrative appeal and two lawsuits, click here.
We thought you might also be interested in the following editorial from The Colorado Springs Gazette:
February 01, 2012
TOWN HALL: DU students try to stop Christo
The Gazette
WAYNE LAUGESEN
FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
A group of student lawyers at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law are suing on behalf of a group called “Rags Over the Arkansas River,” in an effort to stop world-renowned artist Christo from stretching fabric over parts of the Arkansas to create a fabulous, temporary art display that will go down in history. Plaintiffs claim the U.S. Bureau of Land Management violated federal environmental laws when it issued a decision last year allowing Christo’s “Over the River” project.
The lawsuit, a project of the law school’s Environmental Law Clinic, ought to be withdrawn or laughed out of court. The student lawyers of record are Mason Brown and Justine Shepherd, overseen by professor Michael Harris.
The $50 million project, funded by Christo, will span 5.9 miles of the 42-mile Bighorn Sheep Canyon. Materials used for the project will be recycled. BLM approval came after the drafting and re-drafting of a painstaking and lengthy environmental impact statement. Other hurdles involve pending approvals from two counties, the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Department of Transportation. Construction is expected to begin this year, with the final work on display for two weeks in August 2014.
It will bring attention and money to Colorado, as people travel here from around the world to see it. Art is good. It enriches humanity and gives glory to God’s creation. Art celebrates humanity’s role in nature.
The only thing more creative than Christo’s proposed display are the mostly absurd obstacles opponents have contrived to throw in his path. …
Read the complete editorial on The Gazette website.
Final OTR Public Hearing Reminder
January 30th, 2012 — OTR Project Team Update
Christo is in Colorado this week for two very important public hearings. Fremont County is holding the meetings to gather input on the Over The River application for a Temporary Use Permit. This is one of your last opportunities to help make this temporary work of art a reality!
February 1, 2012
Fremont County Administration Building
9am to 12pm, break for lunch and continuing from 1:30pm to 3:30pm
615 Macon Avenue, Cañon City
February 2, 2012
Cotopaxi School
5pm to 8:30pm
345 County Road 12, Cotopaxi
The Fremont Center for the Arts and Christo are hosting a gathering of supporters before the public meeting on February 1st. Please join us as we distribute free OTR t-shirts, stickers and provide a few words of encouragement before heading over to the meeting.
Pre-Meeting Supporter Rally
February 1, 2012
Fremont Center for the Arts (FCA)
8am to 8:45am
505 Macon Avenue, Cañon City
At 8:45am we’ll head over to the public hearing, one block away. If you can’t attend the morning rally, the FCA will be open and staff will be distributing shirts, stickers and public hearing info all day. Friends of Over The River will be providing shirts, stickers and info outside the main doors of the Cotopaxi School on February 2nd at 4:45pm, before the public hearing starts at 5pm.
If you’re unable to make it to a meeting, you can submit a comment to Fremont County via email (planning@fremontco.com) or U.S. mail (Fremont County Planning and Zoning Department, 615 Macon Avenue, Room 210, Cañon City, CO 81212).
If you need ideas about what to include in your comment, you can review some key points on the Over The River website. However, the only way to get a free OTR t-shirt and sticker is by coming to Fremont County this week! It’s important for the Fremont County Commissioners to hear you voice your support – please try to join us!
Christo is looking forward to seeing many supporters this week at the public meetings in Fremont County. We’ll see you there!