Today, in Headwaters News' Western Perspective, we offer a summary of the Colorado College's 2008 State of the Rockies Report.
This is the fifth such report the college has done on the eight-state Rocky Mountain West region.
The 2008 Report did a county-by-county analysis on renewable energy potential, affordable housing and "wildness."
The annual report is issued in conjunction with a companion conference, and this year's conference featured a keynote speech by former Interior Secretary Gale Norton.
We invite you to read the column and send
us your comments. (0)
In our "On the Bookshelf" column today, we offer a review of Missoula author Dorothy Hinshaw Patent's When the Wolves returned: Restoring Nature's Balance in Yellowstone.
The book, written for young readers, tracks the wolf population from the days it was hunted to extinction to the present.
Patent, along with Dan and Cassie Hartman, the father-and-daughter team who illustrated the book, will be signing copies of the book at Fact and Fiction in downtown Missoula, Mont., on Sunday, May 11 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., in conjunction with the International Wildlife Film Festival that kicks off this weekend in Missoula.
Rockies today
Senate committee approves Wyoming conservation bills
On Wednesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act, which would put 387 miles of waterways in the Snake River drainage under the protection of the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the Wyoming Range Legacy Act, which would prohibit further energy leasing on the Wyoming Range and would allow conservation groups to buy existing leases to retire them; the measures must still be approved by the full Senate and the House.
Jackson Hole News & Guide; May 8
Enviro groups' lawsuit alleges federal wolf goals far too low
In a lawsuit filed last month against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, environmental groups said that the federal agency's original wolf recovery goals of 300 wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, with at least 30 breeding pairs spread among the three states, was far too small for genetic diversity, and said science supports the need for at least 2,000 to 5,000 wolves in the Northern Rockies.
Casper Star-Tribune; May 8
Montana county asks USFS to halt road talks with Plum Creek
The Missoula County Commission has asked the U.S. Forest Service to release documents that provide the underpinnings of discussions between the federal agency and Plum Creek Timber Co. on road easements across federal lands and to not hold any more talks with the timber company until the county has had a chance to review the paperwork, but Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey has already said the documents won't be released, and the county is preparing to head to court.
Missoulian; May 8
Small town in Wyoming has big-city air problem
Boulder, a town of 75 people in Wyoming's Sublette County, has air pollution thick enough to prompt safety warnings from the state, and reducing the levels of ozone in the air to acceptable federal levels may cost energy developers and taxpayers millions of dollars.
Casper Star-Tribune; May 8
Nevada, N.M. senators unveil Democrats' oil bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with N.M. Sen. Jeff Bingaman standing by his side, rolled out the Democrats' plan to address high energy prices that includes a 25 percent tax on oil companies' profits above what is "reasonable," and redirects about $17 billion in tax breaks from oil companies to fund renewable energy research; New Mexico's Republican Sen. Pete Domenici dismissed the legislation as a "do-nothing" package. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal; May 8
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Shell Oil exec criticizes lack of access to U.S. resources
At a speech before a national conference of states' attorneys general in Idaho, John Hofmeister, the president of Shell Oil Co., said the United States' reliance on foreign oil is exacerbated by a lack of access to domestic resources; Hofmeister also criticized Americans' addiction to energy consumption, and the federal government's inaction on addressing greenhouse gas emissions.
Idaho Statesman (Spokane Spokesman Review); May 8
Canada company plans pipeline across Eastern Montana
TransCanada Corp.'s plan to build a 36-inch underground oil pipeline that will stretch from Alberta, through portions of Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and terminate in Texas, must be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Billings Gazette; May 8
Opinion
Alberta has a much more serious problem than 500 dead ducks
Alberta's system to protect battered women and neglected children is bust, with 27,000 turned away from emergency shelters, a situation made worse by the province's booming economy that is luring much-needed social workers away from shelters and homes.
Edmonton Journal; May 8
Suggestion that white-tailed prairie dogs endangered laughable
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is going to spend the next two years studying white-tailed prairie dogs in Colorado, Wyoming and other western states to see if the burrowing rodents deserve federal protection, a new review prompted by allegations that the original decision not to list the species was tainted by politics--and there's hope that science will once again prevail and find that this prolific species is doing just fine.
Grand Junction Sentinel; May 8
Beyond the region
President Bush signs bill creating Wild Sky wilderness in Washington state
The Wild Sky wilderness, created by legislation signed into law by President Bush today, is the first wilderness area designated in Washington state in nearly 25 years.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; May 8
Stocks tumble as oil prices climb to new high
The price of light, sweet crude oil hit $123.93 in after-hours trading on Wednesday, the value of the U.S. dollar moved upward, and gold prices fell, as did stock prices.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 8
In depth
Utah superdelegates' votes may be key in Democratic presidential race
Five of Utah's six superdelegates have already endorsed their choice of Democratic presidential candidates, but U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson said he won't endorse his choice until after the last primary is held June 3.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 8
N.M. superdelegates steadfast in support of Clinton
Six of New Mexico's 12 superdelegates have endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton to be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, and at least two said the results of primaries in Indiana and North Carolina earlier this week would not change their vote. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal; May 8
Idaho superdelegate says he'll decide in June
Three of four of the superdelegates of the Idaho Democratic Party have backed Sen. Barack Obama to be the party's presidential nominee, but Keith Roark, the state party's chairman, said he'll make his decision in early June; a fifth superdelegate will be chosen at the party's state convention in June.
Twin Falls Times-News; May 8
Three Colorado Democratic superdelegates remain uncommitted
Colorado superdelegates U.S. Rep. John Salazar, his brother U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, and U.S. Rep. Mark Udall have yet to say whom they support for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, and all said they would wait to do so until after the nation's final primary on June 3.
Denver Post; May 8
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