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Southern Delivery System Permit Approved by Commissioners

Southern Delivery System Permit Approved by Commissioners

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners has voted to approve a special review use permit for Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to build a $1.1 billion water pipeline through Fremont County. The unanimous approval of the permit for the Southern Delivery System (SDS) came with a number of conditions and contingencies attached.

Following a four hour public hearing on February 10th the Commissioners spent another 2 hours at their regular meeting February 24th hammering out some of the final conditions and getting input from local entities which requested the additional time. After CSU detailed the homework its officials accomplished over the past two weeks the Commissioners sought reaction from the Beaver Park Water District and the Penrose Water District. The Commissioners indicated that they want to find ways to make sure Colorado Springs continues to negotiate in good faith towards adopting Memorandums of Understanding with both agencies. Commissioner Ed Norden said however, that many of the water issues being discussed among the parties cannot be written into the conditions tied to the pipeline.

In his motion to approve the permit Norden said he wanted a condition added that would permit the Penrose Water District to construct its own water pipeline in the same SDS easement from the Arkansas River if an agreement cannot be reached to have water belonging to Penrose Water District delivered through the SDS pipeline. The Commissioners also asked that another condition be drawn for consideration on March 10th that CSU provide excavated soil and perhaps construction assistance towards the future building of some stormwater detention ponds between their pipeline easement and Highway 50.

Among conditions listed by the Commissioners in the two week period since the public hearing were:
  • To provide documentation of CSU's commitment to improve Florence's River Park;
  • Install fire hydrants along the pipeline according to recommendations from the BLM, Sheriff, State Forest Service, and Penrose Fire Department;
  • Make sure an updated Environmental Impact Statement is in place if the Highway 115 route becomes the preferred alternative with the Bureau of Reclamation;
  • Consult with water rights owners on the Lester-Attebery ditch regarding final design of the river diversion;
  • To negotiate in good faith with Beaver Park and Penrose Water Districts towards the goal of assuring residents of Penrose that there will be no interruption to domestic and ag water supplies and design the system with compatibility with future modifications of their systems.

A list of the conditions can be inspected at a link on the main web page of Fremont County's web site at www.fremontco.com. However that document is not complete because a separate comprehensive list of commitments made by CSU was also adopted as part of the conditions. Once final action is taken on the resolution March 10th by the Commissioners the entire list of conditions will be published on the website.

After the discussion and a motion was offered to approve the SDS through Fremont County, Commission Chairman Mike Stiehl said "This has taken a turn for the better in my estimation. I feel comfortable that we've identified and for the most part addressed the conditions that have concerned people the most."

Fremont County's Highway 115 route for SDS would cost at least $150 million more than the preferred alternative of piping the water from Pueblo Reservoir, but Springs Utilities officials now have the option to abandon their preferred option if they decide Pueblo County's conditions are too restrictive.