BLM Issues Record of Decision for Over The River Comprehensive Federal Environmental Review now Complete
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today issued the Record of Decision (ROD) on Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s proposed temporary work of art, Over The River, following the earlier issuance of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in July. The ROD gives final approval to the artists’ original vision to suspend 5.9 miles of fabric panels in eight separate areas along a 42-mile stretch of the Arkansas River in southern Colorado. It also identifies over 100 measures to mitigate impacts identified in the EIS, including traffic, safety, wildlife and others. The ROD is the final step in the comprehensive environmental review process that the BLM began in February of 2009.
“This is the most significant milestone yet in completing Over The River,” said Christo, “and we can now get to work applying for the few remaining permits that we still need. We are much closer to finally realizing this work of art that Jeanne-Claude and I first envisioned many years ago. Although our team is still reviewing the ROD, I am confident that we can now move forward so we begin construction in the summer of 2012.”
Approvals have already been obtained from the Colorado State Parks Board and the Colorado State Land Board. Permits are still needed from Fremont and Chaffee Counties, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado State Patrol.
The temporary work of art will be displayed between Salida and Cañon City in southern Colorado for two consecutive weeks in August of 2014 at the earliest.
About Over The River Over The River is a temporary work of art by the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Christo plans to suspend 5.9 miles of silvery, luminous fabric panels high above the Arkansas River along a 42-mile stretch of the river between Salida and Cañon City in southern Colorado. Assuming the permitting process moves forward as planned, Christo hopes to exhibit Over The River for two consecutive weeks in August, 2014, at the earliest.
