In the Rockies today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that bull trout would remain on the federal list of threatened species.
The agency also said additional studies would be done to determine if additional protections are needed for some populations of the species, which is found in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Washington and Oregon.
Also in the news today, a wildfire moves closer to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona; an increase in seismic activity in northern Nevada prompts a warning from scientists to residents to be prepared for more, possibly stronger, earthquakes; and Alberta officials are investigating why hundreds of ducks were allowed to land on a pond of toxic oilsands waste.
And in Beyond the region, Washington state may soon have a new wilderness area, if President Bush signs legislation passed by the U.S. House.
Rockies today
USFWS: Bull trout should retain threatened species protections
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services announced Tuesday that bull trout populations in the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Nevada should remain listed as a threatened species, and some populations may be studied for further protection.
Twin Falls Times-News (AP); April 30
Alberta investigates oilsands firm for not keeping ducks off toxic pond
Personnel from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Environment were working with Syncrude employees to rescue hundreds of ducks that landed on Syncrude's tailings pond, although Alberta officials conceded that most of the waterfowl that landed on the toxic pond would die.
Edmonton Journal; April 30
N.M. senators' bill would create fund to settle tribal water claims
Tribes have had varying degrees of success in getting water rights settlements approved by Congress, and New Mexico Sens. Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman have sponsored legislation that would create a permanent trust fund to be used to settle tribal water claims.
Indian Country Today; April 28
Arizona uses 'road ecology' to save wildlife from traffic
Overpasses, underpasses and collars for wildlife that trigger lights to warn motorists of approaching animals are all part of Arizona's effort to reduce vehicle-animal collisions.
Arizona Republic; April 30
Wildfire near Grand Canyon rages across 2,000 acres
A Kaibib National Forest official said a wildfire burning near Tusayan was burning in several directions and could move into Grand Canyon National Park sometime today.
Arizona Republic (AP); April 30
Gale-force winds hamper wildfire-fighting efforts in Nevada
High winds pushed a wildfire south of Reno across 1,200 acres on Tuesday, and forced the closure of a five-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 395 for nearly two hours.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; April 30
Quake experts urge Nevada residents to be prepared
The area of Nevada just west of Reno has experienced more than 600 earthquakes of magnitude 1.0 or higher over the past several weeks, and earthquake experts said that given the vigorous seismic activity in the area, residents should park their cars in driveways for a quick getaway, secure water heaters and have food and water on hand.
Reno Gazette-Journal; April 30
Idaho's field-burning plan gets tentative approval from U.S. EPA
Idaho's revamped air-quality protection plan that allows field burning in the northern part of the state and still keeps the state in compliance with the federal Clean Air Act was published in the Federal Register Tuesday, opening a 30-day comment period on the revised plan.
Twin Falls Times-News (AP); April 30
Opinion
Arizona guest-worker bill will ease labor woes, force Congress to act
Arizona businesses have been trying for more than a decade to find a legal way to hire foreign, seasonal workers, and Senate Bill 1508 will create such a program, and since it will need federal approval, the legislation puts a boot in Uncle Sam's fanny to get something done.
Arizona Republic; April 30
Idaho should allow some state workers to telecommute
With the rising price of fuel and increasing traffic congestion in Idaho's Treasure Valley, Idaho should seriously consider Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's proposal to allow 10 to 15 percent of state workers to work from home a few days a week.
Twin Falls Times-News; April 30
Plum Creek's plans could substantially change Montana's landscape
Plum Creek owns 58 percent of the private land in Missoula County, and if even a fraction of those lands are opened up for development it would have a considerable impact on the Montana county's real estate market and economy, and the specter of that should move county zoning laws up the legislative agenda in 2009.
Great Falls Tribune; April 30
Beyond the region
U.S. House OKs massive land bill that includes new Wash. wilderness area
The U.S. House approved sweeping legislation that designates 106,000 acres of low-elevation, old-growth forest near Seattle as wilderness, expands Idaho's Minidoka Internment National Monument, and advances water projects across the country.
Billings Gazette (AP); April 30
Federal judge says polar bear decision must be made by May 15
A federal district court judge in California ordered the Interior Department to make a decision on whether to provide the polar bear protection under the Endangered Species Act by May 15.
New York Times; April 30
To curb energy prices, president says open ANWR to drilling
President Bush said Tuesday that in order to reduce gasoline and fuel prices, the nation's supply of oil must be increased, and said in order to do that, restrictions on oil refineries must be lifted, as well as restrictions on drilling in areas of the nation such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Washington Post; April 30
Program to ease path for jumbo mortgages not working as hoped
The economic stimulus package passed in February contained a provision designed to make it easier for people with good credit to borrow more than $417,00 to buy homes in areas such as Jackson Hole, Wyo., or Edwards, Colo., but the program isn't working as hoped with loans either not available or with a much higher interest rate than expected.
New York Times; April 30
In depth
Convergence of fuel, food economies linked to global food crisis
Nearly a quarter of the corn crop grown in the United States this year will go to create biofuel, and the price of that corn is nearly double what it was a couple of years ago, which is driving up the costs of feeding cattle, hogs and chicken, and the costs of food items that contain corn syrup or cornstarch.
Washington Post; April 30
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Shortage of fertilizer component of global food shortages
Fertilizer has enabled farmers across the globe to increase the output of their farms, but a shortage of fertilizer has been building over the past five years, and this year companies are restricting sales due to a supply shortage.
New York Times; April 30
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