In the Rockies today, a federal agency rethinks its decision on critical habitat for Canada lynx, Wyoming lawmakers are told the world is watching the state's efforts on developing clean-coal technology, and fines for violations in Colorado's national forest jump up.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday it wants to expand its designation of critical habitat for Canada lynx by nearly 41,000 square miles.
The new designation includes an additional 21,000 square miles in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, and, for the first time, areas around Yellowstone National Park.
But, to Colorado's dismay, the federal agency again declined to designate any lands in that state, despite ongoing efforts to reintroduce the species there.
In Wyoming, the European Union ambassador to the United States told lawmakers that the world is watching the state's efforts on developing clean-coal technology.
And, finally, in Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service has dramatically raised the amounts it will fine off-road vehicle riders who ride in designated wilderness areas.
Rockies today
USFWS proposes expansion of critical habitat for lynx in 6 states
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday that it now wants to designate 42,753 square miles in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Minnesota and Maine as critical habitat for the threatened Canada lynx, more than 20 times the 1,841 square miles in three states the agency designated as critical habitat for the species in 2006.
Billings Gazette; Feb. 29
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Critical habitat designation for lynx again leaves Colorado out
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said Colorado's lynx reintroduction efforts have yet to reach a "biologically sustainable" level, and for that reason no lands in the state were included in the federal agency's proposal to expand its designation of critical habitat for the endangered species.
Denver Post; Feb. 29
EU official says world is watching Wyoming's clean-coal efforts
The European Union ambassador to the United States told Wyoming lawmakers that the world is watching the state's work on developing clean-coal technology.
Billings Gazette (AP); Feb. 29
USFS increases fines for scofflaws in Colorado
Fines for violating U.S. Forest Service rules in Colorado's national forests increased dramatically this month, with the fine for operating a motorized vehicle in a designated wilderness area increasing from $75 to $500, and the fine for wandering off a designated road increased from $75 to $250.
Aspen Daily News; Feb. 27
Texas company reports huge natural gas find in B.C.
Houston-based EOG Resources reported Thursday the exploratory wells drilled in its Horn River properties in the extreme northeast corner of British Columbia indicate the area may hold as much as six trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Calgary Herald; Feb. 29
Arizona employers satisfied with federal E-Verify program
Arizona and Colorado are two of five states that require employers to check workers' employment eligibility using the federal Web-based program that combines immigration and Social Security Administration information, and Arizona employers said they are happy with the service provided by E-Verify.
Christian Science Monitor; Feb. 29
Report: 1 in nearly 100 adults in the United States is incarcerated
According to a new report issued by the Pew Center on the States, which compared the number of people in prison and local jails to the total number of adults in the United States, nearly 1 in 100 adults is behind bars; a graphic with the story shows Montana and Wyoming lead the nation in decreases in incarceration rates.
New York Times; Feb. 29
Opinion
Montana senators' effort on guns in national parks misguided
Montana's U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, along with Wyoming's Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, and Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo are among the 51 senators urging the Interior Department to revamp its policy about loaded guns in national parks, but the only thing wrong with the current policy which allows gun owners to transport unloaded, stored guns in parks, is that 2008 is an election year.
Billings Gazette; Feb. 29
Wyoming counties deserve authority over large-lot subdivisions
County governments in Wyoming need to deal with the impact that 40-acre ranchette developments have on roads, schools and public services, and those local officials deserve the authority to regulate land developments up to 140 acres that Senate File 11 would give them.
Casper Star-Tribune; Feb. 29
Studies prompt questions about USFS assumptions about forest health
Recent research suggests that many of the assumptions upon which the U.S. Forest Service is basing management decisions, such as that proposed for the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest in Montana, may not accurately depict historical conditions of our national forests. A guest column for NewWest.net by George Wuerthner.
NewWest.net; Feb. 27
Beyond the region
California sues USFS over roadless plan
California filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service on Thursday over the federal agency's plan to open up half a million acres of roadless lands in four of the state's largest national forests to road construction and oil drilling.
Los Angeles Times; Feb. 29
More distressed homeowners just walk away from troubled mortgages
Economists and industry analysts say Americans' attitude about home ownership and foreclosure have changed, with more homeowners willing to just walk away from homes threatened by foreclosure, and one company in California will help them do so for just $995.
New York Times; Feb. 29
Oil prices surge to highest level ever
Economic analysts said investors using oil as a hedge against the declining U.S. dollar helped push the price of oil to $102.59 per barrel, and said it's likely the price of oil could hit $105 per barrel within days, and $110 a barrel sometime later this year.
Toronto Financial Post; Feb. 29
Loonie continues its rise against U.S. dollar
Analysts said new reports that the U.S. economy is not only facing the risk of recession, but also stagflation -- a stagnant economy and rising inflation -- helped push the value of the loonie to nearly $1.03US.
Calgary Herald; Feb. 29
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President Bush 'surprised' about $4-a-gallon gasoline predictions
During a news conference Thursday, President Bush was taken aback by a reporter's question that included a mention that the price of gasoline could soon hit $4 a gallon, saying that he had not heard that price estimate, but in some parts of California and Hawaii, the price of gasoline is already higher than $4 a gallon.
Los Angeles Times; Feb. 29
USDA pledges to improve oversight at slaughterhouses
At a hearing before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday, U.S. Department of Agriculture Edward T. Schafer promised his agency would step up surprise inspections of slaughterhouses and is contemplating using video cameras to monitor cattle slated for slaughter.
New York Times; Feb. 29
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