savemountcarbon.com: Steve Holben's request to receive a copy of the EPA "Record of Decision" for the golf course outhouse on top of Mount Carbon goes unmet and the fact that the toilets were not installed within the confines of the golf course property
The Holbens have learned that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers elected not to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Homestead at Fox Hollow Golf Course, and further, because approval for the toilets came months later, never did so for the outhouse either. In addition the outhouse ended up being constructed outside the confines of the golf course. Lakewood resident, Steve Holben, began the Save Mount Carbon crusade in early May, seeking to relocate the golf course outhouse from the summit of the beautiful mountain vista near his home.
(PRWEB) July 17, 2002 - Requests by Steve Holben to receive a copy of the EPA's "Record of Decision" regarding the environmental impact of the golf course outhouse on Mount Carbon in suburban Lakewood, CO, have gone unmet to date. He has, however, received a copy of a management summary from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, dated 9/23/2000 that concludes in its last sentence that the Corps did not think there was a reason to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Homestead at Fox Hollow Golf Course. The document does refer to an "environmental assessment (EA)" but that document was not provided to Steve with the management summary.
Further, as Steve points out, the outhouse was not dealt with at all in the 9/23/2000 communication. A separate letter from the Corps to the City of Lakewood on 12/21/2001 gave Lakewood approval from the Corps to build the restroom facility on the golf course.
"Interestingly, however, the golf course outhouse is not in the golf course, but is located on the crest of Mount Carbon interrupting the historic, 360-degree panoramic view. Also, because there wasn't an EIS prepared for the overall project, issues dealing with a stockpile of human excrement and treatment chemicals at the outhouse - and the nearby proximity to the water supply in Bear Creek Lake - remain a serious concern that simply hasn't been addressed," Steve says.
On July 12, Maggie Holben requested intervention by the EPA to sort all of this information out.
Background information:
Steve and Maggie Holben began the savemountcarbon.com effort in May. Shortly after the Holbens' website went live on May 27, the Sierra Club-Rachel Carson group of Jefferson County rallied to the support of the effort and shared its views with city officials.
In addition, renowned nature photographer and preservationist John Fielder offered these words on the subject: "Colorado views are almost as important as Colorado landscapes. They keep Earth-caring people sane and motivated, and convert Nature-disconnected folks from the dark side. Lakewood leadership: Find a better place for the Mt. Carbon toilets."
The mantra of the savemountcarbon.com effort is: "Toilets don't belong on mountain tops." These are the words of noted historian, Thomas J. Noel, in a May 24th e-mail to Steve. "Dr. Colorado," as Noel has been nicknamed said: "Good luck in your noble effort."
The Denver offices of both Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Senator Wayne Allard have issued Congressional Inquiries to the US Army Corps of Engineers on Maggie's behalf regarding the golf course outhouse structure at the top of the federally controlled Mount Carbon in suburban Denver.
Maggie was first aware of Senator Campbell's inquiry on June 18 when she received a phone call from Brandy Dalton in the Denver office. The June 27th Westword has this to say about Senator Campbell's involvement: "The Holbens have taken their complaint to Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, whose staff sent a letter of 'congressional inquiry' on June 18 to the Army Corps of Engineers, asking how an outhouse wound up blighting federal land. According to Campbell spokeswoman Brandy Dalton, the Corps has thirty business days to respond."
Jeanette Alberg, Senator Allard's area representative, said the following in her letter of June 19 to Maggie: "I have sent a Congressional Inquiry on your behalf to the US Army Corps of Engineers. In particular, the inquiry outlines the problem you have having with the city of Lakewood and questions whether the Army Corps of Engineers has any jurisdiction over the structure's location.
According to Maggie, this effort isn't in any way against the new Homestead at Fox Hollow Golf Course that opened Saturday, June 29th. Or, are the Holbens against proper toileting facilities for the general public.
"Maggie and I are doing this because it is the right thing. Clearly no consideration was given to the sightline impact of the current location, and since these outhouses will be here long after the people responsible for their location are gone, we don't want Lakewood being known as the only community who places toilets on top of scenic vistas.
"As a builder, I am held to the standards of the communities I build in, including respect and consideration for natural amenities such as Mt. Carbon; Therefore I think it is correct to expect the municipality to express the same level of respect and consideration when it builds projects.
"Lakewood truly is a beautiful city and we feel it's very important for us to do our part to preserve the Mount Carbon view," Steve concludes.
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