In the Rockies today, a record-breaking coal deal in British Columbia, and a Wyoming-California transmission line gets a new developer.
In what is being heralded as the largest coal deal ever, Vancouver-based Teck Cominco bought Fording Canadian Coal for $14.1 billion.
An affiliate of the Anschutz Corp., owned by Denver billionaire Phillip Anschutz, will take over the development of the TransWest Express Project, a 900-mile transmission line that will carry wind-generated power from Wyoming to Nevada, California and Arizona.
And in our In-depth section, we provide coverage of wildfires burning in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and California.
Rockies today
B.C. coal giant gobbles up partner in $14.1-billion deal
Under an agreement inked in the wee hours Tuesday morning, Vancouver-based Teck Cominco agreed to pay $14.1 billion for Fording Canadian Coal, making the deal the largest coal deal on record.
Vancouver Sun; July 30
Colo. billionaire joins project to build Wyo.-Calif. transmission line
Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz's corporation will develop the $3 billion TransWest Express Project, a 900-mile, 3,000-megawatt high-voltage transmission line to carry wind-generated power from Wyoming to Las Vegas, California and Arizona.
Denver Post; July 30
Colorado groups want wilderness designation for Hermosa Creek area
Hunter and angler groups want Colorado's congressional delegation to push for a wilderness designation on 51,000 acres in the La Plata Mountains, as the West Hermosa Creek Wilderness.
Grand Junction Sentinel; July 30
Arizona considers curb on ATV use on state lands
Some Arizona counties are under a federal mandate to reduce the amount of particulate in the air, and the Arizona State Land Board is considering restrictions or complete closures of some areas to off-road vehicles in an effort to reduce the amount of particulate pollution.
Arizona Republic; July 30
Group protests Montana leases in Yellowstone River's bed
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition is protesting the proposed leasing of 28 leases located in and along the Yellowstone and Boulder rivers in Montana's Park and Sweet Grass counties, but the director of the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said the sale of such leases have occurred in the past and there's no law that can prohibit such a sale.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; July 30
USFWS decision on Arizona snake could snarl development plans
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that it would study the Tucson shovel-nosed snake, whose habitat covers about 1.3 million acres of Arizona that stretches between Tucson and Phoenix.
Tucson Citizen; July 30
USFS pulls ad depicting Smokey the Bear admonishing ATV riders
Idaho-based The BlueRibbon Coalition, which advocates for off-road vehicle access to public lands, applauded the U.S. Forest Service's decision to pull an ad that showed Smokey the Bear warning all-terrain vehicle riders that sparks from their ATVs could start a forest fire.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (AP); July 30
Seven-Up Pete Venture asks U.S. high court to review Montana case
The company that owns the McDonald Gold project near Lincoln sued the state of Montana, alleging that the state's voter-passed ban on cyanide heap-leach mines was an illegal "taking" of the property, but in April the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals tossed the case, and ruled that Montana is immune from federal takings lawsuits, and now the Seven-Up Pete Venture is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.
Missoulian (AP); July 30
Opinion
Conditions ripe for Smurfit-Stone to shutter W. Montana plant
Smurfit-Stone lost about $31 million dollars during the last quarter, and top company officials announced in a telephone conference with investors Tuesday morning that it would shut down 11 of its least-profitable plants by mid-2009, and with the cost of raw materials, high shipping costs and the lack of raw fiber available to the plant in Frenchtown, it's nearly certain that the Western Montana plant will be one of the 11.
NewWest.net; July 30
Beyond the region
USDA decides not to open CRP lands to crop production
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced Tuesday that, given the nation's improved crop forecast for corn and soybeans, lands set aside in the federal Conservation Reserve Program would not be opened up for crop production, a move heralded by wildlife and conservation groups, but criticized by bakers and pork producers, whose industries have been hit hard by much-higher wheat and feed prices.
New York Times; July 30
Alaska senator indicted for not reporting gifts from oil company
U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, who is the Senate's longest-serving Republican, was indicted by a federal grand jury for not reporting more than $250,000 in gifts from VECO Corporation, once one of Alaska’s largest oil field contractors, including an extensive remodel on his home.
New York Times; July 30
President signs housing relief bill
On Wednesday morning, President Bush signed the massive housing bill passed to give hundreds of thousands of struggling homeowners mortgage aid and to stabilize financial markets.
Washington Post (AP); July 30
Massive chunk breaks off storied Arctic ice shelf
The Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, the Arctic's largest remaining ice shelf and the starting point explorers have used for years, lost a 3.38-mile chuck of ice, the largest since 2005, an indication that climate change is making drastic changes to the Arctic's shoreline.
Toronto Globe & Mail; July 29
In depth
Firefighters prepare for a wild day on Montana fire line
The Cascade Fire has burned nearly 6,000 acres near Red Lodge, and with stronger winds and lower humidity in the forecast, firefighters are preparing for a tough time, and residents of the Montana town were put on notice to be ready to evacuate if the fire moved out of the West Fork canyon toward town.
Billings Gazette; July 30
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Montana wildfire leaves historic buildings in rubble
The Cascade Fire burned five homes on he national historic registry in Montana's Camp Senia near Red Lodge in ruins, but fire crews were able to save 20 other structures.
Billings Gazette; July 30
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Firefighter hit by falling tree on Montana fire line
A firefighter working the Harley Creek fire west of Neihart in Montana was hurt by a falling snag on Tuesday; the man's identity nor condition is unknown although his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Great Falls Tribune; July 30
Wyoming wildfires burn beetle-killed trees
Another wildfire is burning through beetle-killed timber in Wyoming, this one just 19 miles from Pinedale in the Bridger-Teton National Forest; the Gunbarrel Fire west of Cody is now estimated to have burned 1,500 acres.
Casper Star-Tribune; July 30
E. Idaho officials said wildfires may have been intentionally set
The Niebaur Fire that burned 12 square miles last week in Eastern Idaho was just the latest in a series of wildfires in that area of the state that law enforcement officials believe were intentionally set.
Idaho Statesman (AP); July 30
Fire burns nearly 48 square miles near California's Yosemite park
Despite smoke-shrouded views caused by a wildfire burning just 12 miles away, tourists are still touring Yosemite National Park in California.
USA Today; July 30
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