Colorado Code § 35-72-103

Action by county commissioners - emergency conditions
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(1) (a) When
the board of a county of the state is advised in writing or otherwise informed that soil is blowing
from land in the county; the board is supplied with a description of the land; and it appears that
private property, including crops, grasslands, fences, fencerows, irrigation canals, ditches, or
livestock on adjacent or other land, or roads, barrow ditches, fences or other public property is
being damaged by the blowing soil, the board shall as soon as practicable:
(I) Give notice of the complaint to the owner or occupier of the land from which soil is
blowing; and
(II) Inspect or order the inspection of the land.
(b) If the board finds, after consultation with the local district board of directors, the
state conservation board, or an extension agent with expertise in soil conservation or soil
science, and after consultation with local owners or occupiers, including the owner or occupier
of the land from which soil is blowing, that soil is blowing from the land in sufficient quantity to
be injurious to private property, including crops, grasslands, fences, fencerows, irrigation canals,
ditches, or livestock on adjacent or other land, or to roads, barrow ditches, fences, or other public
property because of soil being blown thereon, the board shall determine what, if anything, can be
done to prevent or materially lessen the blowing of soil from the land. If the board determines,
after the consultation, that the complaint lodged with it falls under article 3.5 of this title, the
board shall not take further action. If the board finds, after the consultation, that an emergency
exists, that the blowing is occurring, that property damage appears to be resulting from the
blowing soil, and that it can be prevented or materially lessened by treatment of the soil, the
board shall issue a citation to the owner as listed upon the records of the county assessor and to
the occupier, if known to the board, specifying the nature of the treatment required and the
extent thereof, the date by which the treatment is to be commenced, and the date it is to be
completed.
(2) Notice of such citation shall be given by personal communication, if possible, and by
mailing a copy thereof by registered mail addressed to each of the persons to whom the citation
is directed at the address as shown on the records of the county assessor; otherwise, service of
such citation shall be made as provided by the Colorado rules of civil procedure for the service
of summons. Such citation shall also be posted in a public place in the county courthouse in the
county in which said land is located. If such treatment is not commenced on or before three days
or within such greater time as may be specified in such citation after the date of such personal
communication, mailing, and posting or the service of notice as provided in this subsection (2),
or if the treatment is not performed in the manner and to the extent specified in the citation and
in a workmanlike manner and with due diligence, or if, prior to the expiration of the date fixed in
said citation, the persons to whom said citation is directed advise the board that they do not
intend to or cannot accomplish the work so directed, the board may cause such treatment to be
performed in accordance with such citation.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any land less than one acre in area.

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