Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act

The Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act (HR 3437) designates approximately 30,000 acres of Colorado public land as new wilderness areas or wildlife conservation areas, protecting ecological, recreational, and cultural resources while withdrawing land from mineral leasing. It establishes a pilot program to capture and utilize methane emissions from coal mines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with specific provisions for land management and existing mineral leases. The bill directly affects Federal land managers (Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management), existing mineral leaseholders, and tribal communities with treaty rights. Key provisions include creating specific wilderness areas like the Tenmile Wilderness, establishing the Curecanti National Recreation Area, and allowing continued grazing on designated lands subject to regulations.