In the Rockies today, Montana and New Mexico voters head to the polls, and nuclear waste and water are again in the news in Nevada.
The hotly contested race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination is shining the national spotlight on Montana, where voters will cast their votes in one of the nation's last presidential primaries today.
New Mexico voters head to the polls today as well, although only the Republicans will cast their votes for their presidential pick, as Democrats held a presidential caucus in February.
But today's primary in the Land of Enchantment is remarkable for its scope and breadth, with two Republicans vying to be the nominee for the state's open U.S. Senate seat and contested party races for all three open congressional seats as well.
In Nevada, the federal government's effort to create a nuclear waste repository in Yucca Mountain, takes a step forward today.
The Department of Energy will deliver a truckload of documents to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's headquarters today that represent the DOE's application to build the waste dump.
And Las Vegas' quest for water moved forward as well, as the Southern Nevada Water Authority asked the state to grant a hearing "as soon as possible" on SNWA's nine applications to pump groundwater in the Snake Valley south to Las Vegas.
Rockies today
Bush administration plans to truck Yucca Mountain application in today
The Energy Department told members of Congress and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that it intends to deliver the truckload of documents that make up its application to build a national nuclear waste repository in Nevada's Yucca Mountain to the agency's headquarters in Rockville, Md., today, starting the clock on the NRC's three-year review process.
Deseret News (AP); June 3
Las Vegas asks state to hold hearing on Snake Valley water project
The Southern Nevada Water Authority asked Nevada State Engineer Tracy Taylor to hold a hearing on SNWA's application to pipe groundwater from White Pine County's Snake Valley to Las Vegas "as soon as possible."
Deseret News (AP); June 3
Presidential primary just one of many crucial races in Montana today
While the Democratic presidential primary race may be the headliner in today's vote in Montana, there are plenty of other contested races at issue as well.
Missoulian; June 3
N.M. voters head to the polls today in 'unprecedented primary'
When U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici decided to retire, all three of New Mexico's U.S. House members decided to run for that open seat, setting off a scramble for their three positions, with six Democrats and two Republicans facing off in today's primary for the 3rd Congressional District seat.
Santa Fe New Mexican; June 3
Report: Utah mine disaster happened in an instant
A team of University of Utah researchers who spent months gathering data on the Crandall Canyon mine collapse released their findings on Monday that said the collapse happened very quickly, destroyed more than 50 square acres of the underground mine and was not caused by an earthquake.
Salt Lake Tribune; June 3
Governor: Carbon rules needed before Montana taps into coal reserves
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer said development of the state's coal reserves, the largest in the United States, will have to wait until the nation has a carbon law.
Reuters; June 3
Oil exec: Move afoot in U.S. to shun oil from Alberta oilsands
ConocoPhillips vice-president John Lowe said that efforts in the United States to spurn oil pulled from Alberta's oilsands was mounting, but he also said demand from other countries for the mined crude would keep such opposition from having much of an impact on the province's economy.
Edmonton Journal; June 3
Opinion
Utah needs to get serious about protecting petroglyphs
Utah's Nine Mile Canyon needs to be designated a National Historic District to protect the ancient rock art that lines the canyon, and if that means shutting down drilling operations until energy companies can find a way to keep the work from scouring the petroglyphs from the face of the earth, then so be it.
Deseret News; June 3
Wyoming GOP's platform a real head-scratcher
The state platform nailed together by Wyoming Republicans late last week opposes the designation of any waterway in the state as a "wild and scenic river," despite the fact the late Republican Sen. Craig Thomas championed an effort to get 387 miles of the Snake River designated as such, and despite that both Republican Sens. John Barrasso and Mike Enzi support the legislation.
Casper Star-Tribune; June 3
If USFS, Plum Creek deal is good for Montana, why the secrecy?
It appears Plum Creek Timber Co. may be getting some taxpayer-funded benefit from negotiations with the Forest Service over road easements, and money from the Farm Bill may be used to buy some of the company's lands in Montana, so why isn't the public entitled to some information in exchange for all that tax money?
Missoulian; June 1
Beyond the region
U.S. Senate votes to begin debate on climate-change bill
The U.S. Senate voted 74-14 on Monday to open debate on federal legislation to restrict greenhouse gas emissions, but supporters of the bill admitted that the legislation faces a certain filibuster by Republican senators.
Salt Lake Tribune (AP); June 3
Inspector General: NASA appointees distorted climate change reports
After James E. Hansen, the director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, reported in 2006 that he had been censored by NASA press officials for campaigning publicly about the need to impose limits on greenhouse gas emissions, 14 U.S. senators demanded an investigation, and Monday the Inspector General found that while no effort was made to impede research done at NASA, between 2004 and 2006, NASA's public affairs office did manage the release of information that infringed on the public's right to know.
Washington Post; June 3
Washington state ready for wolves if, when they arrive
Washington state's Department of Fish & Wildlife Commission is reviewing a conservation plan to manage wolves when they return to Eastern Washington.
Idaho Statesman (Tri-City Herald); June 3
Washington state dedicates its new federal wilderness area
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and Sen. Patty Murray helped unveil the sign Friday at the dedication ceremony for the Wild Sky Wilderness on the banks of the North Fork of the Skykomish River, Washington state's newest federal wilderness area.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; June 3
Hanford contractor uses website to introduce itself
Washington River Protection Solutions has created a website designed to introduce the new contractor on the Hanford nuclear complex in Washington state to Hanford workers and the Tri-Cities.
Tri-City Herald; June 3
High price of gold has new prospectors coming out of the woodwork
With the price of gold hovering near $900 an ounce, the demand for prospecting gear has gone through the roof and membership in gold-prospecting clubs and associations has skyrocketed as well, but the odds of finding the precious metal remains about the same it did 150 years ago.
The Economist; June 3
Rampant use of water is sucking Spain dry
Water transfers from northern Spain and illegal wells helped drive lush golf communities, developments with a pool in every back yard and farmers' decision to plant water-intensive crops in southeast Spain, but a long period of drought now has farmers and cities fighting over an ever-dwindling supply of water, and northern Spain is running out of water as well.
New York Times; June 3
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