Place-based forest law: Questions, opportunities presented by Montana Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation Act
Sept. 28, 2009
- Montana county officials question Baucus' support of forest bill
County commissioners from Beaverhead and Madison counties said they were surprised by the announcement that Montana Sen. Max Baucus had signed on as a co-sponsor of Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, as Baucus had assured them that he would not support the bill until they were comfortable with the terms of it--and they're not there yet.
Helena Independent Record (AP); 10/29/2009
Fact & Fiction offers a review of two children's books: "You Can be a Nature Detective" and "Bug Feats of Montana"
Oct. 15, 2009
The National Parks Conservation Association and the Big Sky Institute at Montana State University hosts a series of lectures at the Bozeman Public Library on Montana's Changing Climate and You
Nevada water decision gives foes of Utah-Nevada pact hope
The opponents of the water agreement between Nevada and Utah on sharing Snake Valley water said they believed a decision by a Nevada state district court judge that struck down a 2008 decision allowing Southern Nevada Water Authority to pipe water from three valleys in central Lincoln County would make the Snake Valley proposal economically unfeasible.
Salt Lake Tribune; 10/29/2009
Interior funding bill with $30M for Montana projects heads to Obama
Congress passed the $32.2 billion Interior appropriations bill that contains $30.7 million for Montana projects, including $12 million to purchase conservation easements in five areas of the state, including the Blackfoot Valley and the Rocky Mountain Front.
Great Falls Tribune; 10/30/2009
USGS report: Americans using less water
The U.S. Geological Survey released a report on Thursday that said Americans are using less water per capita now then they did in the 1950s, and that California, Texas, Idaho and Illinois together used more than 25 percent of the nation's freshwater supplies in 2005.
Idaho Statesman (AP); 10/30/2009
As cities' thirst grows, Arizona farms increasingly targeted
In Arizona, agricultural interests provide about 1 percent of the state's total annual economic output, yet those lands soak up about 70 percent of the state's water supply, an imbalance that is gaining increased scrutiny as water needs grow. Part of a series.
Arizona Republic; 10/26/2009
- Arizona farmers, planners reach accord on water rights
Farmers in Pinal County have installed systems to stretch their water further, as part of an agreement between irrigators in the Arizona county and the Central Arizona Project where irrigators obtained a set supply of water in exchange for a 2030 expiration date.
Arizona Republic; 10/26/2009
Protests flood in about water rights request for Utah nuclear project
Blue Castle Holdings' proposal to build a nuclear power plant near Green River comes with a request for 29,600 acre-feet of water from Kane County and 24,000 acre-feet per year from San Juan County, and Utah water officials have scheduled a public hearing on those water transfers, which have already drawn hundreds of protests.
Salt Lake Tribune; 10/28/2009
Idaho reservoir levels highest in 10 years
The reservoirs on the Upper Snake River in Idaho are storing more water than they have over the past decade, with two of the three largest reservoirs more than half full.
Twin Falls Times-News; 10/29/2009
Colorado development boasts 'agriburbia'
The Platte River Village near Milliken will have 944 homes surrounded by 108 acres of backyard farms and 152 acres of drip-irrigated community farms, a brainchild of Matthew "Quint" Redmond, who has 13 other Front Range projects in Colorado considering the "agriburbia" concept.
Denver Post; 10/25/2009
Failure of Montana resort may fuel sprawl in Bitterroot Valley
Conservation groups that hailed the foreclosure on Tom Maclay's proposed Bitterroot Resort in Montana may have cheered too soon, as now the 3,000-acre ranch--one of the largest intact parcels between Lolo and Florence--could now sprout sprawl.
Missoula Independent; 10/30/2009
Arizona, N.M. bases vie with Idaho facility for F-35 training mission
The U.S. Air Force released a list of five bases as possible training sites for its next generation of fighter planes, with Arizona's Luke Air Force Base and Tucson International Airport Air Guard Station, as well as Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. and Boise Air Terminal Air Guard Station in Idaho on that list.
Arizona Republic; 10/30/2009
Navajo Nation president put on administrative leave
The Navajo Nation Tribal Council voted to put President Joe Shirley Jr. on paid administrative leave while the Navajo attorney general completes an investigation of seven elected officials and division heads over contracts with OnSat Network Communications and the Shiprock-based Biochemical Decontamination Systems.
Farmington Daily Times; 10/27/2009
More swift foxes released on Montana reservation
The Fort Peck Tribe began reintroducing swift foxes on its Montana lands in 2006, and on Monday, an additional 30 were set free.
Great Falls Tribune; 10/27/2009
BIA declines to recognize Montana's Little Shell Tribe
The chairman of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Montana said Tuesday that the Bureau of Indian Affairs declined to give the tribe federal recognition.
Great Falls Tribune; 10/27/2009
Arizona resort's opening heralds new day for Indian gaming
The opening of the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino on the Gila River Reservation in Arizona today ushers in a new era of Indian gaming in the state, with Las Vegas-style casinos, hotels and restaurants.
Arizona Republic; 10/30/2009
Montana closes wolf hunt in 1 district after quota exceeded
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials shut down wolf hunting in the state's Wolf Management Unit 3, which encompasses most of southern Montana east of Interstate 15, after the 12-wolf quota was met and exceeded by one wolf.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; 10/27/2009
USFS grants 10-year extension on heliskiing permit in Utah
The U.S. Forest Service granted a 10-year extension of a helicopter skiing permit held by Wasatch Powderbird Guides along the central Wasatch Front, including the "Tri-Canyon Area," encompassing the Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood and Mill Creek canyons.
Salt Lake Tribune; 10/29/2009
Wyoming test ground for balancing energy, sage grouse needs
A new study found energy development had a considerable impact on sage grouse numbers and recommended taking aggressive measures to protect sensitive areas from drilling; the three-year study estimated that future energy development could be greatly impacted if sage grouse are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.
New York Times (Greenwire); 10/22/2009
Tree removal effort in Colorado forest affects counties differently
Jan Burke, forest health coordinator for the White River National Forest, said the diverse stands of trees in Colorado's Pitkin and Garfield counties will save those counties from drastic tree removal efforts needed in Eagle and Summit counties, where Forest Service crews have been forced to clear cut some campgrounds to remove hazardous trees killed by bark beetles.
Aspen Times; 10/30/2009
Colorado congressman took right approach on wilderness bill
Colorado U.S. Rep. John Salazar's San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act has several factors in its favor: it's local, doesn't overreach into other congressional districts; has support of local groups and residents; and protects state water rights, among other things.
Grand Junction Sentinel; 10/27/2009
Colorado uranium mill proposal deserves serious consideration
Nuclear power can provide the United States with a clean sources of energy, but it's hypocritical of the nation to import 85 percent of the nuclear fuel to power those plants given the country's uranium resources, and as long as the uranium in Colorado and other states can be mined and milled in an environmentally sound manner, then we should do so.
Denver Post; 10/28/2009
Arizona's senators should consider sponsoring solar roadmap bill
The U.S. House approved legislation last week to create a "Solar Technology Roadmap" that will focus much needed funding on an important renewable energy resource, and while none of Arizona's members of the House supported the bill, Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl should give serious consideration to doing just that.
Arizona Republic; 10/29/2009
Crown of the Continent good testing ground for regional governance
The 10-million acre Crown of the Continent region that sweeps across southern Alberta, British Columbia, and northwestern Montana falls under the jurisdiction of 19 different governments, and would be a wonderful setting to test transboundary cooperation to address land and water issues. A guest column by Matthew McKinney, director of the Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy at the University of Montana.
Planetizen.com; 10/29/2009
Now is not the time to waver on climate change
The results of a recent poll found that the percentage of Americans who believe human activity is contributing to climate change has fallen from 71 percent 18 months ago to just 57 percent today, but the 97 percent of climate scientists haven't changed their minds, and Americans ignore this very real threat at their peril.
Salt Lake Tribune; 10/30/2009
Western Republicans oppose Salazar's order on climate change
Utah U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch and U.S. Reps. Utah Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz, along with 13 other Republican lawmakers from the West charged that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's "Secretarial Order" issued in September that created a Climate Change Response Council and allows Interior agencies to address carbon emissions is an attempt by the administration to do an end run around Congress on climate change.
Salt Lake Tribune; 10/29/2009
Colorado senator urges more nuclear power
During a speech on the U.S. Senate floor on Thursday, Colorado U.S. Sen. Mark Udall called for more nuclear power plants.
Durango Herald; 10/30/2009
Montana delegation supports renewal of conservation incentives
Montana's U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg and Gov. Brian Schweitzer all support legislation that will renew federal conservation tax incentives that expire at the end of this year.
Helena Independent Record; 10/29/2009
Wilson ends speculation, says she won't run for N.M. governor
Heather Wilson, a former congresswoman for New Mexico, had been touted as a front-runner in the Republican Party's gubernatorial primary, but on Thursday Wilson issued a statement saying she had no intention of running for governor.
Santa Fe New Mexican; 10/30/2009
Utah lawmakers envision ways to fix budget shortfall
Utah lawmakers and groups are considering ways to address the state's budget deficit, with groups advocating new revenue sources and lawmakers saying there are still areas where budgets can be cut, negating the need to raise taxes.
Salt Lake Tribune; 10/30/2009
Montana lawmakers told of pension funds' losses
The Montana Board of Investments, which invests retirement monies of public employees in the state, told lawmakers that the state's two major pension funds lost 22 percent of their value over the past year.
Helena Independent Record; 10/30/2009
West's wind farms push transmission grid to near capacity
Wind-energy projects in Oregon and across the American West have pushed transmission lines to near capacity, and power officials said hundreds of miles of new transmission lines are needed to meet renewable-energy mandates, but conservation groups say those projects will carry a hefty environmental price tag.
Portland Oregonian; 10/30/2009
Wyoming ranks 5th in nation in increase in wind-generated power
The American Wind Energy Association said Texas led the nation in the increase in wind-generated power during the third quarter of this year, with 436 new megawatts installed between July and September; Oregon was second with 251 new megawatts; Illinois third; Colorado came in fourth with 174 new megawatts; and Wyoming fifth with 170 added megawatts, putting the total megawatts of wind-generated energy in the Cowboy State at 986, far below No. 1 ranked Texas, which has 8,797 megawatts.
Casper Star-Tribune; 10/26/2009
Wyoming governor: Treat wind energy the same as other sources
Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal said he believes wind energy should be treated just like other energy resources, and that revenues from a tax on wind energy should flow to the counties.
Casper Star-Tribune; 10/29/2009
Nevada collects $90 million in stimulus funds for geothermal work
Nevada will spend its $90 million share of the $338 million in federal stimulus funds marked for geothermal energy research and development on 25 projects in the northern half of the state.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; 10/30/2009
Solar company picks Denver for new plant
German solar manufacturing firm SMA Solar Technology AG had narrowed its choices for a new solar-inverter manufacturing facility down to Denver and Nampa, but in the end Denver's proximity to needed suppliers won the day; the plant will employ 300 workers in Colorado when it's fully operational.
Denver Post; 10/27/2009
Colorado uranium mill clears another hurdle
Canada-based Energy Fuels Inc.'s proposed Piñon Ridge mill in Colorado would be the first new conventional uranium mill in the United States in more than six decades, and after the Montrose County Commission issued a local permit last month, the only hurdle left to clear is approval by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.
Denver Post; 10/27/2009
EPA: Mercury regulations will be set by end of 2011
To resolve a lawsuit filed by environmental groups, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed to develop standards for mercury emissions from coal- and oil-burning power plants by Nov. 16, 2011.
New York Times; 10/26/2009
'Yuppie 911' devices lead to increase of rescue calls in the West
Hikers using GPS technology that overuse the devices to report such emergencies such as "water tasting salty," have lead search and rescue officials in California to rename the personal locator beacons "Yuppie 911," and the incidents of misuse of the devices is a growing problem in western states.
Idaho Statesman (AP); 10/26/2009
Washington waits for Idaho forest's sheep grazing plan
Washington state officials are waiting for the Payette National Forest in Idaho to release its grazing plan developed to keep domestic sheep and bighorn sheep separated.
Yakima Herald-Republic; 10/27/2009
Report details costs of meeting Canada's climate-change goals
A study paid for by the Toronto Dominion Bank and performed by two environmental groups found that Canada's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 can be met, with oil and gas producing provinces being impacted the most.
Toronto Globe and Mail; 10/29/2009
China pours $1.5 billion into Texas wind farm
Two days after U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu warned Congress that the nation was falling behind China on renewable-energy investments, Texas-based Cielo Wind Power LP announced it was teaming up with U.S. Renewable Energy Group and Shenyang Power Group of China on a 36,000-acre wind farm in Texas, with the Chinese banker providing $1.5 billion in funding.
Salt Lake Tribune (AP); 10/30/2009
Obama rolls out $3.4-billion plan for nation's energy grid
At a speech in Florida, President Barack Obama announced the nation will spend $3.4 billion in federal stimulus funds to upgrade the nation's electrical transmission grid.
Washington Post; 10/28/2009
- Colorado cities get smart-grid federal cash
Two Colorado cities will share $24.2 million in federal stimulus funds to install smart-grid meters, with Fort Collins receiving $18.1 million and Pueblo getting $6.1 million.
Denver Post; 10/28/2009
- Idaho Power gets $47M in stimulus funds for 'smart meters'
Idaho Power Co. will use the $47 million in federal stimulus funds it received to complete its plan to replace each and every electricity meters in Idaho's Canyon and Ada counties, as well as in eastern Oregon, with smart meters.
Idaho Statesman; 10/29/2009
- Navajo Nation will get $4.9M in smart-grid funds
New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman said the $4.9-million in federal stimulus funds awarded to the Navajo Nation will not only facilitate renewable energy projects, but will also provide jobs.
Farmington Daily-Times; 10/28/2009
- Nevada utility gets $138M in stimulus funds for 'smart meters'
NV Energy received $138 million of the $3.4 billion federal stimulus program targeted to improve the nation's power grid, and will use the cash to help underwrite its efforts to replace every electric meter in Nevada with a smart meter that will give consumers the ability to direct energy use.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; 10/28/2009
- Wyoming utilities get share of $3.4-billion 'smart' grid funds
Two Wyoming utilities were among the 100 that will share in the $3.4-billion in federal stimulus funds to improve the nation's electrical transmission grid announced by President Obama on Tuesday, with Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power awarded $5 million and Sundance-based Powder River Energy Corp. receiving a $2.5-million grant.
Casper Star-Tribune; 10/28/2009
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