[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REINTRODUCTION OF THE COLORADO NORTHERN FRONT RANGE MOUNTAIN BACKDROP 
                          PROTECTION STUDY ACT

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 7, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today I am again introducing 
the Colorado Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop Protection Study 
Act. I introduced similar bills in the 107th and 108th Congresses, and 
last year the legislation was passed by the House but the Senate did 
not complete action on it before the end of the 109th Congress.
  The bill is intended to help local communities identify ways to 
protect the Front Range Mountain Backdrop in the northern sections of 
the Denver-metro area, especially the region just west of the Rocky 
Flats Environmental Technology site. The Arapaho-Roosevelt National 
Forest includes much of the land in this backdrop area, but there are 
other lands involved as well.
  Rising dramatically from the Great Plains, the Front Range of the 
Rocky Mountains provides a scenic mountain backdrop to many communities 
in the Denver metropolitan area and elsewhere in Colorado. The portion 
of the range within and adjacent to the Arapaho-Roosevelt National 
Forest also includes a diverse array of wildlife habitats and provides 
many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The open-space character of 
this mountain backdrop is an important esthetic and economic asset for 
adjoining communities, making them attractive locations for homes and 
businesses. But rapid population growth in the northern Front Range 
area of Colorado is increasing recreational use of the Arapaho-
Roosevelt National Forest and is also placing increased pressure for 
development of other lands within and adjacent to that national forest.
  We can see this throughout Colorado and especially along the Front 
Range. Homes and shopping centers are sprawling up valleys and along 
highways that feed into the Front Range. This development then spreads 
out along the ridges and mountain tops that make up the backdrop. We 
are in danger of losing to development many of the qualities that have 
helped attract new residents. So, it is important to better understand 
what steps might be taken to avoid or lessen that risk--and this bill 
is designed to help us do just that.
  Already, local governments and other entities have provided important 
protection for portions of this mountain backdrop, especially in the 
northern Denver-metro area. However, some portions of the backdrop in 
this part of Colorado remain unprotected and are at risk of losing 
their open-space qualities. This bill acknowledges the good work of the 
local communities to preserve open spaces along the backdrop and aims 
to assist further efforts along the same lines.
  The bill does not interfere with the authority of local authorities 
regarding land use planning. It also does not infringe on private 
property rights. Instead, it will bring the land protection experience 
of the Forest Service to the table to assist local efforts to protect 
areas that comprise the backdrop. The bill envisions that to the extent 
the Forest Service should be involved with federal lands, it will work 
in collaboration with local communities, the state and private parties.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly believe it is in the national interest for 
the Federal Government to assist local communities to identify ways to 
protect the mountain backdrop in this part of Colorado. The backdrop 
beckoned settlers westward and presented an imposing impediment to 
their forward progress that suggested similar challenges ahead. This 
first exposure to the harshness and humbling majesty of the Rocky 
Mountain West helped define a region. The pioneers' independent spirit 
and respect for nature still lives with us to this day. We need to work 
to preserve it by protecting the mountain backdrop as a cultural and 
natural heritage for ourselves and generations to come. For the 
information of our colleagues, I am attaching a fact sheet about this 
bill.

  Colorado Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop Protection Study Act

       Generally: The bill would help local communities preserve 
     the Front Range Mountain Backdrop in the northern sections of 
     the Denver-metro area in a region generally west of the Rocky 
     Flats Environmental Technology site.
       Front Range Mountain Backdrop: The backdrop consists of the 
     mountainous foothills, the Continental Divide and the peaks 
     in between that create the striking visual backdrop of the 
     Denver-metro area and throughout Colorado. Development in the 
     Denver-metro area is encroaching in the Front Range backdrop 
     area, and thus adversely affecting the esthetic, wildlife, 
     open space and recreational qualities of this geographic 
     feature. Now is the time to shape the future of this part of 
     the Front Range. There is a real but fleeting opportunity to 
     protect both protect Rocky Flats--a ``crown jewel'' of open 
     space and wildlife habitat--and to assist local communities 
     to protect the scenic, wildlife, and other values of the 
     mountain backdrop.
       What the bill does:
       Study and Report: The bill requires the Forest Service to 
     study the ownership patterns of the lands comprising the 
     Front Range Mountain Backdrop in a region generally west of 
     Rocky Flats, identify areas that are open and may be at risk 
     of development, and recommend to Congress how these lands 
     might be protected and how the federal government could help 
     local communities and residents to achieve that goal.
       Lands Covered: The bill identifies the lands in southern 
     Boulder, northern Jefferson and eastern Gilpin Counties in 
     the Second Congressional District; specifically, an area west 
     of Rocky Flats and west of Highway 93, south of Boulder 
     Canyon, east of the Peak-to-Peak Highway, and north of the 
     Golden Gate Canyon State Park road.
       What the bill would not do:
       Affect Local Planning: The bill is designed to complement 
     existing local efforts to preserve open lands in this region 
     west of Rocky Flats. It will not take the place of--nor 
     disrupt--these existing local efforts.
       Affect Private Property Rights: The bill merely authorizes 
     a study. It will not affect any existing private property 
     rights.

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