Public Hearings set for October and November

Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County staff members have released a Draft document entitled Transition Plan for Phasing Out Genetically-Engineered Crops on Boulder County Parks & Open Space Properties, and are actively seeking review and comment from the public and agricultural tenants.

At a public meeting on March 17, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) directed county Parks & Open Space staff to work with local farmers to develop a transition plan for phasing out the use of herbicide-resistant genetically engineered (GE) corn and sugar beets on county-owned agricultural lands.

This draft transition plan is posted on the county’s Cropland Policy webpage, www.BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org/croplandpolicy. Several opportunities for public comment have been scheduled and are listed below.

Written comments on the draft plan will be accepted through Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. by a fillable form on the Cropland Policy webpage, or by postal mail to: Parks & Open Space, Agricultural Resources, 5201 St. Vrain Road, Longmont, CO 80503. Comments will be shared with the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee (POSAC) and the BOCC.

Public Meetings on the draft transition plan will take place on the following dates:

Parks & Open Space Public Open House

Parks & Open Space Headquarters
5201 St. Vrain Rd., Longmont

• Monday, Oct. 24, 6 p.m. - presentation of draft plan;
  public comment to be taken (limit 3 min. per speaker).

POSAC Meetings

Commissioners’ Hearing Room
Boulder County Courthouse, 3rd floor
1325 Pearl St., Boulder

• Thursday,
  Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m. –
  presentation of draft plan; public hearing (limit 3 min. per speaker); deliberation by POSAC.
• Thursday,
  Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m.
  – presentation of revised plan; deliberation and recommendation by POSAC to the
  BOCC; no additional public testimony will be taken at this meeting.

BOCC Hearing

Commissioners’ Hearing Room
Boulder County Courthouse, 3rd floor
1325 Pearl St., Boulder

• Wednesday,
  Nov. 30, 3 p.m. - presentation
  of revised plan; public comment (Limit 3 min. per speaker); deliberation and
  decision.
• Note:
  Online speaker sign-ups for this hearing will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at noon. Individual
  or Pooled Group speakers will be able to sign up through links on the Cropland Policy
  webpage.