In the Rockies today, a new decision in the fight over undeveloped stretches of federal forest lands.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Clarence Brimmer upheld Wyoming's request for a permanent injunction against the Clinton-era mandate against new roads in undeveloped areas of federal forests.
Brimmer tossed the rule in 2003, and while that decision made its way farther up the U.S. court system, a new rule was put in place by the Bush administration.
That policy was appealed, and in 2006, a San Francisco federal magistrate, Judge Elizabeth D. LaPorte, tossed the Bush administration policy, and reinstated the original Clinton-era rule.
In his ruling Tuesday, Brimmer took personal exception to LaPorte's decision, saying he was "disturbed and, frankly, shocked," since Brimmer believes he outranks LaPorte.
Also, in the Rockies today, Plum Creek gets flak from some shareholders about its private talks with U.S. Forest Service officials on road easements in Montana.
Rockies today
Federal judge in Wyoming again tosses Clinton-era 'roadless' rule
U.S. District Court Judge Clarence Brimmer again ruled that the ban on building new roads in undeveloped areas of U.S. Forest Service lands put in place by then-President Bill Clinton violated two national environmental laws and prohibited forest managers from doing their jobs, and he had some choice words for the magistrate judge in San Francisco who tossed an alternative law in 2006.
New York Times; Aug. 13
Arizona utility will pay $400M to curb coal-plant emissions
As part of a settlement with the federal government, Arizona's Salt River Project will install more than $400 million of pollution controls at its coal-fired Coronado Generating Station, one of six the utility operates in Arizona.
Arizona Republic; Aug. 13
Wyoming researchers say CWD not a big concern for elk herds
Wyoming Game and Fish scientists said they're not sure when chronic-wasting disease, a slow, degenerative disease that kills deer and elk, will get to the 20 state-run elk feed grounds in the northwest corner of Wyoming, and since the disease affects elk differently, they're unsure how it will affect those elk herds, but hunters and outfitters are more concerned that the disease will decimate herds and impact the local economy. Second in a series.
Jackson Hole News & Guide; Aug. 13
Report: Western states lead nation in decrease in miles driven
According to a new Federal Highway Administration report, the number of miles driven by U.S. residents fell by 12.2 billion miles in June, compared to the same month a year ago, and that some of the biggest drops in driving occurred in popular vacation states, with a 7.7 percent decrease reported in Idaho, a 6.9 percent in Washington, a 6.8 percent in Wyoming and 6.7 percent in Nevada.
Spokane Spokesman-Review (AP); Aug. 13
Colorado begins study of high-speed rail along I-25, I-70 corridors
The Colorado Department of Transportation launched its $1.5 million study of a proposal to build high-speed rail lines along the Interstate 25 corridor to link Wyoming and New Mexico, and another rail line along Interstate 70 to link Denver to mountain communities to the West.
Denver Post; Aug. 13
Plum Creek shareholders blast back-room deals with USFS
Trillium Asset Management, a Boston-based investment firm, and Seattle-based Newground investment firm sent a letter to Plum Creek Timber Co. on Aug. 1, asking the company to abandon deals struck in private with the U.S. Forest Service over road easements, saying that the short-term gains of such deals would not offset what could be long-term losses.
Missoulian; Aug. 13
Landowner donates $3.9M to protect Montana valley
Roger Lang owns a 19,000-acre ranch in southern Madison County, 95 percent of which is currently covered by a conservation easement, and now the former Silicon Valley executive donated $3.9 million to the Trust for Public Land to protect more of the Montana valley from development.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; Aug. 13
Opinion
Endangered Species Act changes should be made by Congress
The 35-year-old Endangered Species Act probably does need to be changed a bit, but Congress needs to do it, and the Bush administration should dump its effort to circumvent Congress and let lawmakers do their jobs and make whatever changes are needed.
Casper Star-Tribune; Aug. 13
New Mexico should make political nonprofits name their backers
Three Albuquerque Democrats have cried foul over election tactics by political nonprofits that they said cost them primary races, and it's time New Mexico made groups that engage in campaigning guised as "educating" voters to come clean about who's paying for all that education.
Santa Fe New Mexican; Aug. 13
Beyond the region
Federal fisheries scientists name 3 pesticides that threaten salmon
A panel of federal fisheries scientists said chloripyrifos, also known by trade names that include Dursban and Lorsban; diazinon, which is also known as Knox Out, Spectracide and other brand names; and malathion are increasing the likelihood that more than 2 dozen salmon species could become extinct.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Aug. 13
Spotted owls continue to decrease despite ESA protections
Fourteen years after logging was banned in most old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest to protect the northern spotted owl which was listed as endangered in 1991, the number of the owls continues to decline, and some researchers said barred owls that are moving into spotted owl territory are to blame.
Seattle Times; Aug. 13
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USFWS cuts spotted owl critical habitat designation by 23 percent
The number of northern spotted owls in the Pacific Northwest continues to drop about 4 percent per year, but on Tuesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it was reducing the federal forest lands in Oregon, Washington and northern California designated as critical habitat for the owl by 23 percent.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (AP); Aug. 13
USDA sharply revises corn, soybean production estimates
The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that this year's corn crop could be the second largest in history, and the soybean crop could be the fourth largest.
Salt Lake Tribune; Aug. 13
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