The ranchers’ brief was a response, in part, to a brief filed by several Colorado counties in support of the fossil fuel companies. “At the same time, proposed federal efforts attempt to shield fossil fuel companies from accountability, leaving local communities and taxpayers to shoulder the financial burden alone. Our community should not bear the rising costs of climate impacts caused by decades of deception from the fossil fuel industry. The group only wants fossil fuel companies to pay a share of costs that have occurred from harms caused by wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events. “It’s the responsibility of fossil fuel companies to support these impacted communities.