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CANON CITY, COLO. (AP) -- Fremont County commissioners have voted unanimously to approve a permit for the artist Christo's Over The River project, which involves suspending huge fabric panels from cables over parts of the Arkansas River along U.S. 50.

Christo's team already has federal permission to proceed. The Bureau of Land Management is requiring dozens of measures to mitigate impacts to wildlife, traffic and the environment.

Yet opponents say Christo's proposal to suspend 5.9 miles of fabric in certain sections on a 42-mile stretch of the river will still be too disruptive.

Christo's team still needs a permit from Chaffee County to proceed.

The team hopes to start construction next year and exhibit Over the River in August 2015.

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