In the Rockies today, forest management, public lands in Utah and Plum Creek lands in Montana are in the news.
The U.S. Forest Service adopted new forest-management policies on Wednesday.
The Associated Press reports the U.S. Forest Service's new forest-management policies shift the focus from protecting "indicator" species to provisions that address a variety of wildlife types and habitats.
Conservation groups vowed to return to court to fight the new policy.
In Utah, Sen. Bob Bennett rolled out a new version of federal legislation to sell some federal lands in Washington County and designate others as wilderness; a slightly different version of the legislation failed in 2006.
And in Montana, Plum Creek Timber officials won't confirm that they're planning to develop lands around Whitefish Lake, but the company has moved the man who's led the effort to develop 400,000 acres of the timber company's land in Maine to Whitefish.
Today in On the Bookshelf, we offer readers a review of Thomas Punke's "Last Stand," chronicling the efforts of George Bird Grinnell to save the American bison in the years following the Civil War.
Rockies today
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); April 10
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; April 10
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; April 10
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; April 10
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); April 10
Burned waste from Utah Air Force base contained uranium
Hill Air Force Base officials said technicians had finally completed a review of items burned by Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District personnel last year, and discovered some of the items contained a small amount of depleted uranium, which is 40 percent less radioactive than uranium, but still 40 times more radioactive than Class A waste which is usually disposed of deep underground.
Salt Lake Tribune; April 10
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; April 10
Colorado senator pledges to work with governor on Roan Plateau plan
In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Colorado U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard said he believed Gov. Bill Ritter's plan to conduct energy operations on Roan Plateau in phases makes sense and said he would work with Ritter to come up with a plan acceptable to both energy companies and the state.
Denver Post; April 10
Opinion
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; April 10
Government's $900M deal with tribes buys mostly time
The federal government's agreement with four Northwest tribes that ends their opposition to hydroelectric dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers will provide funds to improve fish habitat and salmon hatchery improvements, but it doesn't derail environmental groups' efforts to get the dams removed, nor does it settle the Nez Perce salmon-restoration claims, but it does buy the government a decade to work on the issue.
Twin Falls Times-News; April 10
Democrats can crow about green convention, but party lacks conviction
The Democratic Party is doing much to tout how environmentally friendly its national convention in Denver is going to be, but the projected $120 million the party is going to spend on the convention is still larger than the $77 million Congress spends each year on solar energy, and the $50 million taxpayers are spending on security for the August party is far more than Congress spends on wind energy. A column by Susan Greene.
Denver Post; April 10
Beyond the region
Reservists' claims against employers climb
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) passed in 1994 gives workers who are civilian volunteers in the nation's military the right to get their jobs back after serving their time in the military, and between 2004 and 2004, 16,000 claims were filed by reservists against their employers.
Christian Science Monitor; April 10
Oil prices spike to $112 a barrel
A supply squeeze in the United States sent oil prices to a record $112 a barrel on Wednesday, before falling to $110.87 at market's close.
Calgary Herald; April 10
Snowfall this winter in Spokane second highest recorded
Spokane received 89.5 inches of snowfall during the winter of 2007-08, second only to the winter of 1949-50, when 93.5 inches fell.
Seattle Times (AP); April 10
Former milltown in California seeks new boom in water
After the lumber mill in McCloud closed, the California town lost so many of its families that it cannot even field a high school football team, and the town's hopes for the nation's largest water-bottling plant to be built by Nestle have been stymied by opposition from scientists, anglers and even some locals.
Seattle Times (AP); April 10
In depth
American Airlines cancels all Thursday flights in, out of Salt Lake City
Concerns about wiring in its MD-80 jets prompted American Airlines to cancel 1,000 flights on Wednesday, scrambling the travel plans for 100,000 passengers, and the airline's plan to cancel more flights today include all of its scheduled flights in and out of Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah.
Salt Lake Tribune; April 10
American Airlines' cancellations affects 9 Albuquerque flights
Officials at Albuquerque's airport said American Airlines cancellations of 1,000 flights on Wednesday affected nine flights in and out of the New Mexico airport and said they anticipated additional cancellations on Thursday.
Santa Fe New Mexican (AP); April 10
Canceled American Airline flights tangle travel plans in Denver
Nineteen American Airline flights in and out of Denver International Airport were canceled on Wednesday, and more were expected to be canceled today after airline officials said 900 flights were to be canceled as safety inspections of the airline's MD-80 jets continued.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; April 10
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