In the Rockies today, the focus is on Montana.
Montana is one of three Western states affected by the federal government's decision Thursday to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list.
The announcement sets the clock ticking on the removal, but conservation groups are preparing to file lawsuits that could delay the actual removal for years.
Thursday's announcement that BP America, Inc. would drop its plans to explore for coalbed methane in southeastern British Columbia where the headwaters of Montana's Flathead River originate thrilled Montana's congressional delegation.
Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester had scheduled a town hall meeting that day to discuss BP's plans, and other mining proposals in that area of B.C. that could have an impact on Montana water quality.
Other mining proposals in the region, including mountaintop removal to get at coal deposits, still pose a threat to the state's water quality, and the Montana delegation promised to continue their efforts to block those projects.
Rockies today
Company scuttles B.C. coalbed methane development plan
Just hours before Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester were to hold a town meeting about coalbed methane and coal development in the headwaters of the Flathead River in British Columbia, the head of BP America Inc., which had planned to develop coalbed methane deposits, announced that it was dropping its exploration plans.
Missoulian; Feb. 22
Nevada earthquake displaces 40 families
The earthquake that rumbled through northeastern Nevada on Thursday morning damaged the high school making it unsafe for students, left 40 families displaced, and destroyed historic buildings in Wells.
Salt Lake Tribune; Feb. 22
USFWS removes federal protections for wolves in 3 Western states
As expected, the Bush administration announced that wolf populations in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming had reached sustainable levels and would no longer need federal endangered species protection, and just as anticipated, a coalition of conservation groups disagreed with that action and promised to see the government in court.
New York Times; Feb. 22
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Idaho game dept. sends wolf plan to wildlife commission for action
After the federal government announced that it would remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game submitted its wolf management plan that would allow the hunting of wolves to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission for approval.
Twin Falls Times News (AP); Feb. 22
Fifth company enters fray to extract oil from Colorado shale
Schlumberger, the international oilfield and information services company, recently put a parcel of land near De Beque under contract, and purchased technology developed by Raytheon that uses microwaves to extract oil embedded in shale, brining the total number of companies in Colorado tackling oil-shale development to five.
Denver Post; Feb. 22
Arizona homebuilders to auction off luxury homes
Home builders in Arizona stuck with unsold homes are resorting to auctioning off the houses, with Scottsdale-based Cachet Homes auctioning of 28 luxury homes on Sunday, the first live auction by a homebuilder ever in Maricopa County.
Arizona Republic; Feb. 22
LeMond, Blixseth reach deal on Yellowstone Club dispute
Attorneys for Tim Blixseth, the billionaire who is developing the exclusive Yellowstone Club in Montana near Big Sky, said the final payment of $20 million to settle a business dispute with former cycling star Greg LeMond and his family members, will now allow Blixseth to concentrate on the sale of the property.
Montana Standard; Feb. 22
Opinion
Reform of 1872 mining law must give states more power
International mining companies are using the General Mining Law of 1872 to drill exploratory uranium mines near the Grand Canyon, in the Four Corners region where the landscape is a grim testament to past uranium mining efforts, and in Idaho near the Salmon River, and Congress should act immediately to overhaul this 136-year-old law to give states more power to say no to such projects if Washington D.C. won't.
Idaho Mountain Express; Feb. 22
Beyond the region
HHS Secretary: Patients need to shop around for the best deal
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt is back in Utah, shopping around his idea for a "value-based" health care system that would allow patients to find the best deal for their medical needs, and the government's role in collecting and publishing data that will enable patients easy access to the information they need to make those decisions.
Salt Lake Tribune; Feb. 22
Congress mulls federal aid for troubled mortgage market
Some of the nation's largest banks are prodding the Bush administration and Congress to do something to help homeowners in danger of losing their homes, with a federal mortgage guarantee program one of the options touted.
New York Times; Feb. 22
Report: Home prices in Canada nearly doubled between 1997, 2007
Re/Max reported that in the decade between 1997 and 2007, the average home prices in Canada nearly doubled, and that the market in Edmonton led the country in housing price appreciation.
Toronto Financial Post; Feb. 22
Insiders say meat inspectors stretched too thin to guard food supply
U.S. Department of Agriculture officials acknowledged that there is a shortage of inspectors available to ensure no sick cattle are slaughtered, and industry critics said a decision in the 1990s to put slaughterhouses in charge of making such calls when inspectors aren't available increases the chance of sick animals entering the food chain.
Salt Lake Tribune (AP); Feb. 22
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