Federal court OK's Over the River

Huge gains were made last Friday for Over the River champions. A federal judge dismissed charges that the Bureau of Land Management had violated its own rules in approving the project, brought to court by OTR's main opposition group, ROAR.  The Pueblo Chieftain reported that U.S. District Judge William Martinez didn't find the BLM violated any laws, and in his 30-page ruling, wrote: "As long as an agency has complied with the procedural requirements of NEPA, the court should not second-guess that agency's decision. ... BLM engaged in a thorough consideration." ROAR can appeal the decision, and in a release sent from the group, says that it is reviewing its options. Should it decide not to appeal, only one suit still lies between Over the River and the chance to start the process, which is now being heard in the Colorado Court of Appeals. Though the Chieftain article speculated that, given the three years lead-up needed for the project, it could happen as soon as August 2018, Christo's camp won't give a possible date, saying they are waiting for "successful resolution of the legal process before identifying the Over the River exhibition date."...more