In the Rockies today, a Western governor gets serious about off-road offenders, national park managers scramble to put together a winter-use plan, and financial-rescue legislation passed by the U.S. Senate contains some goodies for the Rocky Mountain West.
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said he would increase the state's efforts to rein in errant off-road vehicle use after he got an on-the-ground look at damage caused by scofflaws near Moab.
The managers of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are crafting a winter use plan for the parks that they hope they can get in place in time for the parks' Dec. 15 winter-season opening.
And on the financial-rescue front, the U.S. Senate added measures to the financial-rescue bill that would extend payments to timber counties in the Northwest hit hard by a decrease in logging on federal lands and would provide tax incentives for solar, wind and other renewable-energy projects.
In our In-depth section, we offer an array of articles on how Rocky Mountain West lawmakers voted on the Senate-passed legislation.
Rockies today
Utah governor sets state officers on trail of errant OHV riders
At a meeting with the Salt Lake Tribune editorial board on Wednesday, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said his recent tour of an area near Moab with David Bonderman, a major funder of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, gave him a firsthand look at the damage done by scofflaw off-road vehicle riders, and Huntsman order the state Department of Natural Resources to increase enforcement efforts on state lands and order public service announcements encouraging off-road riders to stay on trails.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 2
NPS works quickly to craft winter plan for Yellowstone, Grand Teton
After a federal judge set aside the winter travel plan for Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks last month, the parks' managers are working to get a new winter travel plan drafted to be released by early November, for what Al Nash, a Yellowstone spokesman, said will likely be a 15-day public comment plan, in order to get the plan in place for the Dec. 15 opening of the parks' winter season.
Billings Gazette; Oct. 2
Nevada panel gives utility green light on new gas-fired power plant
The Nevada Public Utilities Commission approved the plan of NV Energy, formerly known as Nevada Power Co. and Sierra Pacific Power Co., to build a new gas-fired power plant north of Las Vegas, approved its purchase of the existing gas-fired Bighorn Power Plant at Primm for $510 million, and authorized NV Energy to spend up to $130 million to kickstart the delayed Ely Energy Center, a $5 billion coal-fired plant in Eastern Nevada.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; Oct. 2
U.S. Senate passes $700-billion financial rescue legislation
The package of legislation designed to shore up the nation's financial industry that the U.S. Senate passed on Wednesday differed a bit from the bill that failed in the U.S. House earlier this week in that it increased temporarily the amount of bank deposits covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from $100,000 to $250,000, contained tax breaks for businesses and individuals, and was attached to legislation requiring insurers to treat mental health problems like general health problems.
New York Times; Oct. 2
Protection of Utah fish focus of promised lawsuit
The Confederated Tribe of Goshutes, along with the Great Basin chapter of Trout Unlimited and Wild Utah Project, said Southern Nevada Water Authority's plan to ship Snake Valley groundwater to provide water to Las Vegas, puts the least chub, a small minnow found only in six places in Utah's Bonneville Basin, including three in the Snake Valley, in danger and put the Interior Department on notice that they intend to file a lawsuit to force a review of the tiny fish's status.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 2
Opinion
Kudos to the USFS for fuel-clearing controlled burn in N.M. watershed
Controlled burns by the U.S. Forest Service sometimes do burn out of control, as the Cerro Grande Fire of 2000 in New Mexico did, but the one done conducted in Santa Fe's watershed went just right, and although there were complaints about the smoke, those too will pass and Santa Fe will have a much healthier, less fire-prone watershed.
Santa Fe New Mexican; Oct. 1
Beyond the region
Washington state companies win Hanford clean-up contracts
Washington Closure Hanford, the company that holds the contract to clean up contamination left behind after decades of nuclear work on the Washington state nuclear complex, selected three Tri-City companies to perform segments of the work.
Tri-City Herald; Oct. 2
Washington gubernatorial candidates meet for third debate
At the third of five debates planned between Washington Democratic incumbent Gov. Chris Gregoire and Republican challenger Dino Rossi, the candidates laid out their positions on the economy, health care, education and the state's budget.
Yakima Herald; Oct. 2
Wreckage of Steve Fossett's plane discovered in California
No human remains were found within the wreckage of adventurer Steve Fossett's plane near Mammoth Lakes in Madera County, Calif., although investigators said it was unlikely he could have survived the crash, based on the severity of the crash.
Nevada Appeal (Carson City); Oct. 2
USFWS to review status of marbled murrelet
The marbled murrelet, a seabird that flies miles inland to nest in old-growth forests, has long been a species in contention between the timber industry and conservation groups, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday that it will undertake a new, yearlong study of the species found in Oregon, Washington and California, as well as Alaska and British Columbia.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Oct. 2
In depth
McCain, Kyl on the 'aye' side of financial rescue bill
Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl both voted in favor of legislation crafted to shore up the nation's faltering financial industry.
Arizona Republic; Oct. 2
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Utah senators among the 74 who approved financial rescue legislation
While Sen. Bob Bennett has supported a bailout plan for the nation's financial industry from the outset, his Utah counterpart, Sen. Orrin Hatch, said he reluctantly voted for the bill.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 2
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Northwest senators divide vote on financial rescue legislation
Northwest senators crossed party lines in their support of or opposition to legislation passed by the U.S. Senate Wednesday to rescue the nation's financial industry with Democrat Patty Murray of Washington state joining Republicans Larry Craig of Idaho and Gordon Smith of Oregon in support of the bailout, while Republican Mike Crapo of Idaho cast an opposing vote along with Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Washington's Maria Cantwell.
Twin Falls Times-News (AP); Oct. 2
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Colorado's Allard votes against financial bill, Salazar in support
Colorado's senators split their votes on the financial rescue package passed by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, with retiring Republican Sen. Wayne Allred voting with the minority against the measure, and Democrat Sen. Ken Salazar voting in favor.
Grand Junction Sentinel; Oct. 2
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Wyoming's senators vote against financial bailout package
Wyoming Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso were two of the 25 U.S. Senators who voted against the financial rescue package that passed on Wednesday night.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); Oct. 2
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Nevada senators united in support of financial rescue bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and U.S. Sen. John Ensign both voted in favor of legislation passed by the U.S. Senate to rescue the nation's financial industry.
Reno Gazette-Journal; Oct. 2
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One Montana senator votes for financial bill, the other against
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said he voted against the $700 billion financial rescue legislation because it contained no measures to prevent future failures, and his Montana counterpart, Sen. Max Baucus, who was one of the primary negotiators on the bill, supported the measure, which passed the Senate on a 74-25 vote.
Missoulian; Oct. 2
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Candidates for Arizona's 1st Congressional District seat oppose plan
At a debate Wednesday at Northern Arizona University, the four candidates for Arizona's open 1st Congressional District seat, said they would have voted against legislation to bailout the nation's financial industry.
Arizona Daily Sun; Oct. 2
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