Oil shale and its not-so-repetitive past: The Center of the American West probes the West's oil shale resources
and the past and future efforts to pull the oil out of its rocky bed
Aug. 6, 2009
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Keeping Safe: On Montana's Blackfeet Reservation, the Po'ka Ranch looks beyond bars and walls to help troubled youth.
June 18, 2009
Fact & Fiction sponsors a review of Richard Manning's Rewilding the West: Restoration in a Prairie Landscape
Aug. 5, 2009
Greater Yellowstone Coalition's 2009 summer outdoor adventures and projects:
- Aug. 22 : Hike to the High Lakes of the Beartooth Plateau, near Cody, Wyo.
Federal appeals court reinstates Clinton-era 'roadless' rule
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision Wednesday that found the Bush administration didn't follow environmental law when it repealed a 2001 ban on road building and logging on about a third of America's national forests, but the decision, which effectively restores the Clinton-era "roadless rule" won't end the legal wrangling over the issue.
Los Angeles Times; 08/06/2009
- Roadless rule appeal still pending in the 10th Circuit Court
The decision Wednesday in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that reinstated the 2001 so-called roadless rule put in place by the Clinton administration is not the final word on federal roadless forest lands, with another appeal pending in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals filed by the state of Wyoming.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); 08/06/2009
Colorado rolls out new roadless plan
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources will take public comment on the state's updated proposed management plan for the federal roadless forest areas that protects 4.2 million acres of land from new roads and logging.
Denver Post; 08/04/2009
SNWA makes surprise move in Las Vegas pipeline matter
Southern Nevada Water Authority chief Pat Mulroy announced Thursday that she will call for an "up-or-down" vote from the SNWA board sometime this month on a proposal to pipe groundwater from rural eastern Nevada to Las Vegas, a move made in response to increasingly vocal opposition to the project.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; 08/07/2009
Rural areas of Arizona work to find reliable water sources
Communities in rural Arizona have historically depended upon a mix of seasonal streams, wells and springs for water, but as those communities continue to grow and water resources become more scarce, those communities are looking for a reliable water resource for the future, and Herb Guenther, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said most will likely train their sights on the Colorado River.
Arizona Republic; 08/03/2009
USGS web site tracks water quality in Colorado basin
The U.S. Geological Survey launched a web site this week that tracks water quality in Colorado's Piceance Basin.
Grand Junction Sentinel; 08/05/2009
Colorado issues first rainwater capture permit
A law that took effect in July allows some Coloradans in rural areas of the state to capture and use rainwater, a practice that was previously illegal until the haw was changed, and a man from Palisade is the first to obtain such a permit.
Denver Post; 08/05/2009
Another Montana resort reportedly headed into foreclosure
Sources say the founder of Moonlight Basin, an exclusive ski-and-golf resort near Big Sky, sent a letter to members indicating that Lehman Bros. had begun foreclosure proceedings against the Montana resort.
NewWest.net; 08/06/2009
Crow Tribe celebrates launch of natural-gas industry on Montana lands
Natural-gas production is expected to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into Crow Nation coffers as the tribe's reservation is on the northern edge of the prolific Powder River Basin in Montana.
Billings Gazette; 08/06/2009
Mining company donates Arizona land for Code Talkers museum
Chevron Mining Inc. recently donated 208 acres of land in Arizona near the Navajo Nation tribal capital of Window Rock for a Navajo Code Talkers museum and veterans center.
RezNet.net (AP); 08/03/2009
BIA hires Crow legal counsel for deputy assistant secretary post
Larry EchoHawk, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, appointed Del Laverdure, the chief legal counsel for the executive branch of the Crow Tribe, as deputy assistant secretary with the Department of Indian Affairs.
Idaho Statesman (AP); 08/05/2009
Idaho FWP official says wolf hunt will go forward, one way or another
At a gathering Monday of attorneys general from Western states, Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Randy Budge said that if the state doesn't set up a wolf hunt this fall, he believes many Idaho hunters will take the matters into their own hands and hunt the wolves illegally.
Idaho Mountain Express; 08/05/2009
Montana wildlife corridor part of Patagonia's national study
Patagonia's Freedom to Roam is a national effort launched by the clothing company to document wildlife in about a dozen critical corridors, and on Aug. 15 and Sept. 19, "citizen scientists" are being sought to hike Montana's MacDonald Pass west of Helena to document wildlife in that corridor.
Helena Independent Record; 08/05/2009
Montana, Idaho, Wyoming lay groundwork for grizzly bear hunts
Although no grizzly bear hunts are currently on the schedule in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, the three states are working on an agreement to coordinate efforts for any such hunts in the future.
Great Falls Tribune; 08/01/2009
Researcher finds American pikas doing well in Montana national park
Lucas Moyer-Horner, a doctoral student from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been leading a research team in Glacier National Park for the past two years, tracking the American pika, a small ratlike mammal related to the rabbit that is disappearing in many high alpine areas of the U.S. but appears to be doing just fine in the Montana park.
Hungry Horse News; 08/06/2009
Idaho OKs 11 plans to keep domestic, bighorn sheep apart
The Idaho Legislature passed a law this past session requiring that if bighorn sheep commingled with domestic sheep on grazing allotments, the wild sheep must be relocated or killed, and set an Aug. 5 deadline for the sheep ranchers to come up with an acceptable plan to keep the sheep apart, and so far the state Fish and Game Department has approved 11 such plans and are continuing to work with two ranchers on others.
Idaho Statesman; 08/07/2009
Federal court clears way for phosphate mine expansion in Idaho
In a ruling issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Mikel Williams found that the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management complied with federal laws when they approved the expansion of the J.R. Simplot Co.'s Smoky Canyon phosphate mine into a roadless area in Idaho near Yellowstone National Park.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); 08/06/2009
U.S. Senate sends Utah land-swap bill to President Obama
Utah Sen. Bob Bennett and U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson have worked for more than four years to get a land-swap bill that would exchange more than 40,000 acres between the federal government and the state's school trust through Congress, and on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed the bill and sent it along to President Obama for action.
Salt Lake Tribune; 08/06/2009
N.M. welcomes EPA's decision on perchlorate levels in water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to reconsider setting limits on perchlorate, a chemical used in rocket fuel, fireworks and military explosives, in water, a decision that New Mexico applauded as the chemical has been found in groundwater monitoring wells near Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and the White Sands Missile Range, and in or near drinking water wells at Kirtland Air Force Base, the Melrose Bombing Range near Clovis and Cannon Air Force Base.
Santa Fe New Mexican; 08/07/2009
N.M. wants AML funds to go toward cleanup of uranium mines
Until a Bush administration decision two years ago, states could use abandoned mine grants to clean up any mine that presented a public health or safety hazard, and now New Mexico is asking Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to reverse that decision and allow those funds to be used to clean up any hardrock mine, especially uranium.
Santa Fe New Mexican (AP); 08/07/2009
Spotlight on wolf-hunt debate moves to Idaho
At its Aug. 17 meeting in Idaho Falls, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission will set a quota for a wolf hunt in the state, and given the worldwide attention that Montana's hunt quota received, Idaho's decision will no doubt rate high in headline fodder as well.
Idaho Statesman; 08/03/2009
Proposed winter plan for Yellowstone provides good balance
The Obama administration's proposal to cut by half the number of snowmobiles allowed into Yellowstone National Park each day is a good one.
Salt Lake Tribune; 08/04/2009
Wyoming, Montana senators score a victory for small ranchers
The federal government's proposed National Animal Identification System unfairly gives corporate farmers and ranchers a break, requiring them to tag only one animal per herd or flock, but requiring small ranchers and farmers to tag all their animals, and Montana Sen. Jon Tester and Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi wisely fought to get funding for this misguided program cut, a victory for small livestock producers who already have enough challenges.
Casper Star-Tribune; 08/06/2009
Federal courts should give lynx lawsuits the boot
The lawsuit filed by snowmobiling groups from Wyoming and Washington state over the federal government's designation of critical habitat for lynx is based on concerns that snowmobiles might eventually be banned from such areas--and now that six environmental groups have asked to join the fray, the already unnecessary, expensive lawsuit seems destined to grow--a situation the court can resolve by kicking the litigation to the curb, and a similar lawsuit filed in Montana should also be tossed.
Casper Star-Tribune; 08/07/2009
Obama administration draws deep from enviro community
High Country News columnist Ray Ring updates the list of folks from the environmental community who have joined the Obama administration.
High Country News; 08/07/2009
Lummis' bill would provide statewide access to Wyoming PBS
U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis wants satellite television subscribers in Wyoming to have access to Wyoming PBS, and has submitted legislation to change federal law to allow subscribers in 16 of Wyoming's 23 counties who currently don't can't receive local PBS programming, as well as other local programs, to get such access.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); 08/04/2009
Arizona sheriff has 90 days to make immigration decision
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has 90 days to decide if he wants to continue with his immigration sweeps in the Arizona county or continue to participate in a federal program that allows such sweeps but detains just those who are in the country illegally who have committed a crime other than being in the country illegally.
Arizona Republic; 08/05/2009
Obama plans town hall meeting in Montana on Aug. 14
The Lee State Bureau has learned that President Obama will make a stop in Bozeman on Aug. 14 to participate in a town hall meeting on health care, and plans to spend the night somewhere in that area of Montana.
Missoulian; 08/06/2009
Western Democrats meet in Idaho
The Democratic National Committee's Western Regional Conference begins today at the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort and Hotel, the first time the regional group has met in Idaho.
Idaho Statesman (AP); 08/06/2009
Interior Sec'y to visit proposed Arizona mine site
At the invitation of Arizona Sen. John McCain, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will visit the site of the proposed massive underground copper mine near Superior on Aug. 21; McCain has put a hold on some Interior Department nominees in an effort to force the Obama administration to take a position on a proposed land swap necessary for the mine to go forward.
Arizona Daily Star; 08/07/2009
Company rolls out plan for Arizona's 2nd major wind farm
Foresight Wind Energy wants to put as many as 330 wind turbines on a cattle ranch about 22 miles southeast of Flagstaff, and if the project is approved, it would be Arizona's second largest wind farm.
Arizona Daily Sun; 08/05/2009
Company puts Wyoming wind-energy project on hold
Citing Wyoming's decision not to allow wind farms in key areas of sage grouse habitat, Horizon Wind Energy officials announced last week that they were putting the planned 500-megawatt Simpson Ridge wind project in Carbon County on indefinite hold.
Casper Star-Tribune; 08/01/2009
B.C. offers ultra-low royalty rate to lure energy development
On Thursday, British Columbia announced a nominal 2 percent royalty rate on new wells drilled between September and next June, a direct response to Alberta's announcement earlier this year that it was lowering its royalty rate to spur development.
Toronto Globe and Mail; 08/07/2009
Oil, natural gas drilling drops in Utah
Last year at this time there were 50 drilling rigs operating in Utah, this year there are 15, and the number of new gas and oil wells drilled the first seven months of this year are down 54 percent from the same period last year.
Salt Lake Tribune; 08/07/2009
Colorado will get $50M of federal electric-car stimulus funds
UQM Technologies Inc. of Frederick will use its $45.1 million slice of the federal government's $2.4-billion plan to stimulate the electric-car industry to further its research in developing batteries and components, and Colorado State University officials said they'll use the school's $5-million share to train technicians in electric-transport programs and educate consumers about electric cars.
Denver Post; 08/06/2009
- Arizona company gets $100M in electric-car stimulus funds
Ecotality Inc., a small Arizona company, will get $99.8 million in federal stimulus funds to roll out 12,800 charging stations for electric cars in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, California and Tennessee.
Arizona Republic; 08/06/2009
Another Wyoming soda ash producer announces layoffs
Just a week after OCI Wyoming, LP announced it was laying off 38 employees at its soda ash plant near Green River, FMC Wyoming, Inc. said it would not restart its Granger facility, ending jobs for 70 employees this fall.
Casper Star-Tribune; 08/04/2009
Montana congressman wants U.S. Mint to make palladium coin
Montana U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg introduced legislation to require the U.S. Treasury to mint a coin made from palladium from Montana's Stillwater Mine, which recently lost its contract with General Motors for the precious metal.
Missoulian (AP); 08/04/2009
Montana governor says GM will talk again with palladium mine
On Thursday, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer announced that General Motors Co. will reopen talks with Stillwater Mining Co. after previously canceling its contract with the Montana mine for palladium platinum.
Missoulian; 08/07/2009
Fierce hail storm strips Alberta farmers' of their crops
The Alberta Financial Services Corp., the province’s crop and hail insurance provider, is bracing for hundreds of claims after a fierce hail storm pounded barley, canola and other crops into the ground Sunday, dealing Alberta farmers another blow in what has been a tough year already.
Calgary Herald; 08/05/2009
Oregon governor poised to veto legislation on wind-energy tax breaks
Oregon legislators passed legislation that ended tax breaks for wind-energy projects, in part because such projects employ few people and send most of the power generated out of state, but Gov. Ted Kulongoski said Friday that he intends to veto the bill.
Portland Oregonian; 07/31/2009
Nobel-winning panel on climate change loses its luster
Two years after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its report linking human activity to global warming--a report that garnered the panel a shared Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore in 2007--the panel appears to have lost its momentum and focus.
New York Times; 08/04/2009
Oregon governor to sign bill today to give all kids health insurance
Gov. Ted Kulongoski is scheduled to sign legislation into law today that will extend health insurance coverage to more than 80,000 children today, making Oregon one of 12 states to providing universal health care to their children.
Portland Oregonian; 08/04/2009
Washington congressman's bill proposes breaching dams for salmon
The bill submitted last week by U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, along with 24 co-sponsors, isn't the first legislation the Washington state congressman has sponsored on salmon recovery, but this version is the first that gives the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to breach the four Lower Snake River dams.
Spokane Spokesman-Review; 08/04/2009
Washington researchers narrow list of culprits in bee colony collapse
Washington State University researchers said they've narrowed the culprits in the mysterious honey bee colony collapse disorder to either pesticide contamination or a resilient pathogen known as nosema ceranae, which affects bees' ability to process food, or a combination of both.
Spokane Spokesman-Review; 08/06/2009
Wild weather whips Utah wildfire season into life
A wildfire believed to have been ignited by lightning Wednesday evening in western Utah was driven by high winds across nearly 22,400 acres on Thursday; the Big Pole Fire is just one of 24 burning in the Beehive State at this time.
Salt Lake Tribune; 08/07/2009
Lightning strikes ignite Oregon's wildfire season
On Monday, more than 6,400 lightning strikes were reported in Oregon, with 122 new wildfires reported that day as well.
Portland Oregonian; 08/04/2009
Colorado wildfire spreads across 3,000 acres
A wildfire ignited by lightning Monday afternoon in northwest Colorado quickly spread across 3,000 acres in less than 24 hours.
Denver Post; 08/05/2009
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