Letter to The Honorable Jeff Bingaman, Chairman Committee on Energy & Natural Resources and The Honorable Lisa Murkowski Ranking Member

Letter

Letter to The Honorable Jeff Bingaman, Chairman,Committee on Energy & Natural Resources and The Honorable Lisa Murkowski Ranking Member

Udall, Bennet Request Action to Resolve Crystal Lakes Land Transfer

Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet wrote a letter requesting a hearing as soon as possible on a bill that would correct a faulty land survey and return seven acres of land from the U.S. Forest Service to property owners in the Crystal Lakes subdivision in Larimer County. The homeowners have been waiting for a resolution since 2006, when the Forest Service informed them that because of an error made in 1975, their lots were planned incorrectly, and their property encroached on federal land.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Betsy Markey, passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year. In their letter, Senators Udall and Bennet request that the Chairman and Ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hold a hearing in order to move the bill over the finish line. The Forest Service had asked the landowners to buy their property from the federal government - again. The bill would instead move the boundary of the Roosevelt National Forest and transfer the land to the subdivision at no charge to the residents.

"The property owners of Crystal Lakes have been in limbo for too long, and some of them are facing financial hardship as a result," said Senator Udall, a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "While I believe the mission of the Forest Service, to preserve our natural heritage, is critical, these property owners shouldn't be punished because of a 34-year-old survey error - it just doesn't make sense. I urge the Committee to hold a hearing soon so we can resolve this issue and get these families some relief."

"Crystal Lakes property owners are being asked to buy land they already bought and have been paying taxes on for years," Senator Bennet said. "If it's hard to follow, it's because the situation lacks anything resembling reason or simple common sense. Thankfully, we have a sensible solution that puts in a place a balanced and reasonable approach to move forward and finally get these families some relief."

The following is a copy of the letter sent to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee:

October 8, 2009

The Honorable Jeff Bingaman
Chairman

The Honorable Lisa Murkowski
Ranking Member

Committee on Energy & Natural Resources
United States Senate
Washington, DC Washington, DC

Dear Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Murkowski:

We write to respectfully request your support for a hearing on H.R. 1858, to provide for a boundary adjustment and land conveyances involving Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado, at the earliest date. H.R. 1858 would correct the effects of an erroneous land survey that resulted in approximately 7 acres of the Crystal Lakes Subdivision, located in Larimer County, Colorado, being transferred to the Forest Service.

We thank you for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

Mark Udall

Michael Bennet

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