In the Rockies today, wolverines, ancient rock art, and a change in attitude about mining in Colorado's historic mining towns are at the top of the page.
Environmental groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take another look at protecting wolverine populations in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Washington.
The federal wildlife agency declined to list the species as endangered and cited healthy populations of the elusive member of the weasel family in Canada as the reason for doing so.
In Utah, a top federal historical preservation agency is questioning the Bureau of Land Management's approval of hundreds of new natural-gas wells in the petroglyph-rich Nine Mile Canyon.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation rarely intervenes in antiquity evaluations by federal agencies, but BLM officials said they'll address the panel's concerns.
And in Colorado and throughout the Rocky Mountain West, historic mining towns that have long celebrated their extractive past, are now finding themselves on the other side of the shovel as mining again gears up.
In Cripple Creek, residents are not happy about the prospect of a strip mine on a ridge overlooking the Colorado town.
Rockies today
Groups file lawsuit seeking protection of wolverines in 4 Western states
Defenders of Wildlife and eight other groups filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Montana asking that wolverine populations in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington be protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Helena Independent Record (AP); Oct. 1
Federal panel questions BLM's drilling plan in Utah's Nine Mile Canyon
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation sent letters this week to the Bureau of Land Management in Washington, D.C. and Utah, that questioned whether the agency had adequately evaluated the effect drilling hundreds of natural-gas wells in Utah's petroglyph-rich Nine Mile Canyon would have on the ancient art.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 1
West's historic mining towns grapple with new surge of activity
Cripple Creek was founded by miners, and residents embrace its history by parlaying it as tourist attractions, but the plan to strip mine a prominent ridge above the Colorado town was opposed by those same residents, and the scenario of celebrating past mining and fighting future such efforts is being repeated across the Rocky Mountain West.
Los Angeles Times; Oct. 1
Developer halts Idaho project
The developer of Sweetwater Community, the largest development ever proposed in Idaho's Blaine County, pulled the plug on the project, citing the nation's financial crunch and falling housing market, and putting the future of 40 units of affordable housing in Hailey contained within the 421-unit project in question.
Idaho Mountain Express; Oct. 1
Nevada senator: EPA's radiation standards for Yucca Mountain 'weak'
The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday that it had set radiation standards for a nuclear waste repository proposed for Nevada's Yucca Mountain, but Sen. Harry Reid said the standard was too weak and would only serve to bolster the state's opposition to the project.
Deseret News; Oct. 1
N.M. county rolls out proposed oil, gas drilling regulations
Santa Fe County released its proposed regulations on oil and gas drilling operations in the New Mexico County, setting the clock ticking on the formal public-hearing process.
Santa Fe New Mexican; Oct. 1
Investors' appetite for gold brightens up Nevada's economy
Gold mining is Nevada's second largest export industry, and as investors seek a safe haven for their money, the state is getting a financial boost.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; Oct. 1
Opinion
Western Climate Initiative's goals too little, too late
The initiative rolled out last week by seven Western states, including Utah, along with four Canadian provinces to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 15 percent by 2020 is a weak goal that won't force real change.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 1
Foundation of current financial crisis laid decades ago
Federal legislation passed in 1977 and 1985, when Democrats controlled both the White House and Congress, laid the foundation for the risky loans that have now laid the nation's financial industry low, and repeated warnings of the instability of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were dismissed by Democrat Barney Frank since 2000, and Republicans who have controlled either the White House or Congress over the past 14 years, did little to get legislation sponsored by Sen. John McCain that would have addressed the problems through Congress.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; Oct. 1
Hysteria mustn't drive bad bailout bill through Congress
Idaho's congressmen were divided on the $700-billion bailout bill that failed in the U.S. House on Monday, but it's hard to tell whether Rep. Mike Simpson's approval of the bill or Rep. Bill Sali's opposition of the legislation was correct, as only time will tell.
Twin Falls Times-News; Oct. 1
Beyond the region
Nation's economic woes find their way to central Oregon
Central Oregon was once the fastest-growing region in the state, but construction has screeched to a halt and agencies and churches are being overwhelmed with requests for aid from idled workers.
Portland Oregonian; Oct. 1
Oregon biologists build a better cougar trap
Wildlife biologists in Oregon built a live cougar trap they plan to deploy to areas where the big cats have killed livestock or pets, and said they'll humanely kill the cougars caught.
Portland Oregonian (Mail Tribune); Oct. 1
In depth
U.S. Senate to vote on tweaked bailout plan tonight
Most members of the U.S. Senate have indicated they support legislation crafted to provide help to the nation's financial industry, and said they would vote tonight on the bill that has been revised to address concerns expressed by U.S. House Republicans who oppose the measure.
Washington Post; Oct. 1
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In Nevada speech, Obama asks public to support bailout plan
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was in Nevada on Tuesday, where he told the 10,000 who gathered in Reno to hear him that Congress must do something to aid the nation's failing financial industry.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; Oct. 1
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Idaho senator says action needed to rescue financial industry
Sen. Mike Crapo said he would not have voted for the U.S. House bill crafted to rescue the nation's financial industry that failed to pass on Monday, but the Idaho Republican said action is needed but that he also believes that there is time to create the right financial fix.
Idaho Statesman; Oct. 1
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