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Fact & Fiction and the Bookstore at the University of Montana offer a review of Michael Punke's Last Stand:
George Bird Grinnell, the Battle to Save the Buffalo, and the Birth of the New West.
Continental Divide Trail: Continental Divide Trail Alliance uses volunteer labor to carve out passage through five Western states one section at a time.
Federal panel begins coalbed-methane water study in 5 Western states
The 2005 federal energy bill mandated a study to be completed within a year of the effect coalbed methane drilling operations would have on surface and groundwater in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and North Dakota, and on Tuesday, a panel of the National Academy of Sciences met Tuesday in Denver with federal and local agencies to begin the work.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); 04/09/2008
USFS adopts new rules for forest planning
The new rules for forest management adopted Wednesday by the U.S. Forest Service changes the focus of forest-management policies from indicator species, such as the spotted owl, to provisions that address a variety of wildlife and habitats.
Seattle Times (AP); 04/10/2008
Federal firefighting funding bill gets warm welcome at U.S. House hearing
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, Jack Ward Thomas and five other former U.S. Forest Service chiefs, and Idaho Congressman Bill Sali were among those who testified Thursday in support of the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act, a bill that would create a special fund to fight catastrophic wildfires.
Casper Star-Tribune; 04/11/2008
Alberta releases grizzly bear recovery plan
Biologists said the grizzly bear recovery plan unveiled by Alberta on Friday is a start, but that the province must act quickly to implement programs to keep the grizzly bear population in the province viable.
Edmonton Journal; 04/05/2008
Plum Creek shifts focus from timber to housing in Montana
Jim Lehner, Plum Creek's point man on a controversial plan to rezone 400,000 acres of timber lands in Maine to create that state's largest-ever development, is now in Montana, meeting with local and state officials about the timber company's change in direction to residential development, but Lehner denied that the company has any definite plans for its lands around Whitefish Lake.
Missoulian; 04/10/2008
Group promises former nuclear-plant workers help on claims
The newly formed Colorado-based nonprofit, Cold War Patriots, has created a clearinghouse of information for former nuclear workers and their families to help them navigate the complex federal compensation process.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; 04/07/2008
Montana landowners sue county over power-plant zoning decision
The Montana Environmental Information Center and 61 landowners who own property on or near the site of the proposed coal-fired Highwood Generating Station have sued the Cascade County Commission for rezoning the land for the plant from agriculture to heavy industry.
Great Falls Tribune; 04/11/2008
Wyoming city, cemetery accord puts wastewater to work
Under an agreement signed by Cody and the Riverside Cemetery District, millions of gallons of treated wastewater will be redirected from the Wyoming city's wastewater treatment plant that would otherwise be discharged into the Shoshone River to irrigate cemetery lands.
Billings Gazette; 04/08/2008
Federal gov't gives NW tribes $980M to bow out of salmon fight
Environmental groups and tribes have often banded together to oppose the federal government's management of the Snake and Columbia rivers and the hydroelectric dams on those rivers in the Pacific Northwest, but on Monday federal officials said they'd reached an agreement to pay four tribes $900 million to improve fish habitat and manage hatcheries over the next decade in exchange for the tribes' withdrawal from the litigation.
New York Times; 04/08/2008
- Federal, tribes' $900-million deal gives $540M to new projects
Under a deal announced Monday, the federal government will pay $900 million to four Northwest tribes over the next decade in exchange for the tribes' withdrawal from a lawsuit challenging the operation of hydroelectric dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers, with about $360 million of those funds going to existing projects, and the remainder to fund new projects.
Idaho Statesman (AP); 04/10/2008
Federal panel approves renaming Arizona peak after fallen soldier
On Thursday, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved changing the name of Squaw Peak in Arizona to Piestewa Peak, to honor the first American Indian woman ever to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military; Army Spc. Lori Piestewa died in Iraq in 2003.
Arizona Republic; 04/11/2008
Tribes could play key role in nation's carbon capture effort
Many tribes have what the nation needs for carbon-sequestration projects; large expanses of land, staffing and a commitment to the environment, and some have already ventured into the market, such as the Nez Perce in Idaho who have been trading carbon credits for trees planted on their lands since 2003.
Indian Country Today; 04/11/2008
Wyoming university will offer Shoshone language class this fall
Reba Teran, the language coordinator for the Shoshone Tribal Cultural Center on the Wind River Indian Reservation, will teach an introductory class in Eastern Shoshone language at the University of Wyoming beginning this fall.
Casper Star-Tribune; 04/11/2008
Montana reports 1 wolf killed since state took over management
The lone wolf killed in Montana since the federal government handed over management of the species to Montana, Idaho and Wyoming was removed because it was chasing livestock.
Great Falls Tribune; 04/10/2008
- Wyoming wildlife official said state's wolf management plan is working
There have been 13 wolves killed in Wyoming since the state took over management of the species from the federal government, and a state wildlife official said he's looking forward to the day when management of the species becomes more routine and less newsworthy.
Billings Gazette; 04/11/2008
- Utah activates its wolf-management plan
Now that the gray wolf is off the federal government's endangered species wolf, Utah will put its wolf-management plan in place that allows for two breeding packs with two offspring in the area east of Interstate 84 and I-15 and north of I-80 that's included in the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf recovery area.
Salt Lake Tribune; 04/11/2008
Federal judge halts uranium mining efforts near Grand Canyon
On Friday, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to suspend Britain-based VANE Minerals Group's efforts to drill for uranium on Kaibib National Forest in Arizona near the Grand Canyon.
International Herald Tribune (AP); 04/05/2008
Wyoming study seeks to find how much energy work elk can handle
The University of Wyoming, energy companies and government wildlife officials have teamed up on a $500,000 study of elk in the Powder River Basin to determine how much energy development the elk can tolerate.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); 04/07/2008
Montana wildlife agency says 90 percent of bighorn sheep herd dead
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials said they believed pneumonia, possibly contracted from domestic sheep or goats, caused the "all-age" die-off of the wild bighorn sheep herd in the Elkhorn Mountains that reduced the number of sheep from around 220 animals to just 19.
Helena Independent Record; 04/11/2008
Groups ask Montana governor to halt killing of Yellowstone bison
A coalition of environmental groups and bison advocates appealed Thursday to Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and federal and state agencies to impose a moratorium on the capture and slaughter of bison in the Horse Butte area of Montana.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); 04/11/2008
Colorado should give cistern proposal a trial run
Legislation proposed by Denver Sen. Chris Romer would allow up to 10 new housing developments in Colorado to use cisterns to capture rainwater and use the water to irrigate gardens and lawns and store it for fighting wildfires to see how the process would impact streams and waterways, and the Legislature should pass the bill to give cisterns a trial run.
Grand Junction Sentinel; 04/07/2008
If the mission is salmon recovery, federal deal paves the way
Criticism of the federal government's deal with four tribes to drop their challenge to the Bonneville Power Administration's operation of hydroelectric dams in the Northwest in exchange for $980 million to improve conditions for endangered salmon on the Snake and Columbia rivers was almost immediate, but the bottom line is the deal improves the situation for the fish, keeps clean hydroelectric power steaming, and is forward motion on an issue long stalled.
Tri-City Herald; 04/08/2008
Arizona cities' new rules on dust won't do much if they're not enforced
Pushed by a federal mandate to reduce particulate pollution, Maricopa County and Valley cities have adopted tough new rules on the pollution, but the efforts of those Arizona entities will be just dust in the wind if the new rules aren't enforced.
Arizona Republic; 04/08/2008
All hail the belated study of energy development's effect on water
The federal government's belated study of the effect coalbed methane development may have on water in five Western states and North Dakota may be too little, too late, but at least someday those states will have data to support what residents already know.
Santa Fe New Mexican; 04/10/2008
Wyoming residents deserve study on health impacts of energy work
The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency need to get on the same page and ask the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to complete a Health Impact Assessment of drilling operations in Wyoming's Pinedale Anticline.
Casper Star-Tribune; 04/11/2008
Sen. Clinton discusses health care, guns in Montana interview
Lee Newspapers reporter Charles Johnson interviewed Sen. Hillary Clinton after her appearance Saturday evening at the Montana Democratic Party's annual Mansfield-Metcalf Dinner, where she shared her views on universal health care, energy and gun control.
Missoulian; 04/07/2008
Obama talks issues with Montana reporter
After his appearance at the Montana Democratic Party's annual Mansfield-Metcalf dinner, Sen. Barack Obama sat down with a reporter from the Great Falls Tribune Capitol Bureau and talked about environmental, tribal and energy issues.
Great Falls Tribune; 04/07/2008
- Obama picks up endorsement of a third Montana superdelegate
Jeanne Lemire Dahlman, a national committeewoman from Forsyth, is the third superdelegate from Montana to endorse Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee.
Missoulian; 04/08/2008
- Obama picks up votes of 2 Utah superdelegates
Utah state Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland said Thursday he would cast his superdelegate vote for Barack Obama, and promised that Utah's as-yet-unnamed superdelegate would also vote for the Illinois senator at the Party's convention this summer in Denver.
Salt Lake Tribune; 04/11/2008
N.M. puts new security measures on driver's licenses in place
The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division will begin using biometric technology to compare photos of those seeking driver's licenses in the state to a national database later this month, as part of the state's process to make it harder to counterfeit driver's licenses.
Santa Fe New Mexican; 04/07/2008
Arizona House advances English-learner legislation
Republican House lawmakers said legislation that provides $40 million to teach non-English speaking students the language meets the letter of the law of a court order mandating Arizona adequately fund such programs, but Democratic House lawmakers questioned how the funds were distributed under the bill, which now moves on to the Arizona Senate for a vote.
Arizona Republic; 04/10/2008
Arizona Senate panel advances bill to ban rules on greenhouse gases
In an effort to preclude Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano from issuing mandates on greenhouse gas emissions for the state, the state Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Rural Affairs gave preliminary approval to a bill that would prohibit any state agency from adopting or enforcing any rules governing greenhouse gas emissions.
Arizona Daily Sun; 04/11/2008
Bill would let Colorado water companies bond for forest work
Legislation before the Colorado Senate would allow the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority to issue bonds on behalf of the state's water companies to pay for forest work designed to improve conditions on the state's watershed lands.
Denver Post; 04/11/2008
As state deficit grows, Nevada governor says found money will reduce cuts
Nevada's budget deficit is about $910 million, according to the latest estimates, but Gov. Jim Gibbons said Treasurer Kate Marshall and her staff's discovery of $60 million in unclaimed property funds and bond sale savings will help the state avoid additional layoffs and budget cuts.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; 04/08/2008
Legislative panel begins work on plan to insure all Utahns
Four Utah state senators and seven House lawmakers make up the task force charged with coming up with a plan to provide affordable health insurance coverage to all Utahns by the end of November.
Salt Lake Tribune; 04/10/2008
Colorado-based Frontier Airlines files for bankruptcy protection
Frontier Airlines officials said the announcement from its primary credit card processor that it would begin withholding significant portions of Frontier ticket sales prompted the Denver-based airline to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections late Thursday.
Denver Post; 04/11/2008
USGS survey ups estimates of oil reserves under Montana, N.D.
On Thursday, the United States Geological Survey released a new assessment of the oil reserves of the Bakken Formation, an area of shale and other rock that stretches from eastern Montana east into North Dakota, that said the area could contain 3 billion to 4.3 billion barrels of oil, a 25-fold increase over its 1995 assessment of the area that estimated 151 million barrels of oil could be extracted.
New York Times; 04/11/2008
W.R. Grace announces it will settle all asbestos claims
W.R. Grace & Co. has been in bankruptcy for the past seven years and the company's agreement to settle all present and future personal injury claims arising out of the company's asbestos-related products, including claims brought by residents of Libby, Mont., for the company's operation of a vermiculite mine, is the first step toward the company's reorganization.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; 04/08/2008
As controversy over coal grows, Colo. utility considers going nuclear
Colorado's second-largest utility, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, gets 70 percent of its power from coal-fired power plants, but with controversy over coal and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions heats up, the company is considering building a nuclear power plant in the state.
Denver Post; 04/07/2008
Arizona's growth-dependent economy takes a hit
Arizona's hard-driving economy was built on growth and development, and now that the housing boom has fizzled, the state's economy is one of the nation's hardest hit.
Arizona Republic; 04/07/2008
Natural gas again powers up Alberta economy
Natural gas has emerged from its year-long slump caused by temporary surpluses and the loonie's strong stand against the U.S. dollar, and has set the stage for a strong comeback in Alberta.
Edmonton Journal (Bloomberg); 04/08/2008
Wyoming retains rank as 7th largest oil producer in nation
Oil production in Wyoming increased last year for the second consecutive year, with 54.1 million barrels of oil produced, but with a lack of pipeline capacity keeping a lid on prices, oil producers in the state are still receiving less per-barrel than producers in other states.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); 04/10/2008
Rhetoric roils U.S. Senate hearing on Clean Water Restoration Act
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer is one of several governors that supports Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold's Clean Water Restoration Act, but Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso says the legislation goes too far, and puts nearly every trickle of water in the nation under federal authority.
Billings Gazette; 04/10/2008
Oil companies announce plan to build Alaska pipeline
BP and ConocoPhillips announced Tuesday that they would build a natural-gas pipeline from Alaska's Prudhoe Bay to Canada, a $30-billion project that will take at least a decade to build.
New York Times; 04/09/2008
Federal panel wants to ease compensation process for ill Hanford workers
An advisory panel has recommended to the federal Health and Human Services Department that workers in Hanford's 300 Area from September 1946 through 1961 and workers in the 200 Area from 1949 through 1968 be eligible for compensation if they develop any of a wide range of cancers.
Tri-City Herald; 04/09/2008
U.S. Senate passes bill to address housing market woes
President Bush and House Democrats criticized legislation passed by the U.S. Senate to ease the nation's troubled housing market because they believe the bill doesn't do enough to aid individuals at risk of losing their homes; the bill provides $4 billion for local governments to buy foreclosed properties; a $7,000 tax credit for people who buy foreclosed homes, and $150 million for counseling borrowers.
New York Times; 04/11/2008
Utah land bill gets a rewrite, heads for Senate committee hearing
U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett and U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson's Washington County land use bill failed in 2006, but the bill is back, with more acres in the Utah county designated as wilderness and reduces the number of acres to be sold from 24,300 acres to more than 9,000, and the Senate version may get a committee hearing later this month.
Salt Lake Tribune; 04/10/2008
Idaho senator tries again on Owyhee Canyonlands wilderness bill
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo submitted a new version of his legislation that would protect 517,000 acres of Owyhee Canyonlands in the state as wilderness and would designate 315 miles of river as Wild and Scenic Rivers; the bill would also release 200,000 acres of wilderness study lands back to multiple-use management.
Idaho Statesman; 04/11/2008
Simpson optimistic that Idaho wilderness bill will get a hearing this year
U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act made it through the U.S. House in 2006 but faltered in the U.S. Senate, but the Idaho congressman is optimistic the House Resources Committee is poised to once again take up the consensus legislation that designates 318,765 acres of central Idaho as wilderness.
Idaho Mountain Express; 04/11/2008
Washington wilderness part of public-lands bill passed by U.S. Senate
The U.S. Senate passed a public-lands bill on Thursday that designated 167 square miles in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington state as wilderness; the measure now moves back to the U.S. House for final approval.
Twin Falls Times-News; 04/11/2008
Colorado groups propose deal to keep trail open to mountain bikes
After the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management proposed 51,000 acres of land in southwestern Colorado be classified as wilderness, a decision that would prohibit mountain biking on a portion of the popular Colorado Trail, a coalition of conservation and recreation groups pitched a plan of their own that would classify some of the Hermosa Creek watershed as wilderness, and the remainder as a national conservation area.
Durango Herald; 04/09/2008
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