In the Rockies today, the Environmental Protection Agency is told to review its decision on a Utah coal-fired power plant, which could have implications for a plant under development in Montana.
An appeals board told the EPA to review its decision issued last year that awarded a license for a coal-fired power plant in Utah without addressing the plant's greenhouse-gas emissions.
The board stopped short of requiring the EPA to set limits on carbon dioxide, and industry officials and environmental groups disagreed on how the decision would affect new power plants, including the Highwood Generating Station in Montana.
And in our In-depth section, new job losses reported in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada, and workers at two Idaho technology companies get a holiday furlough.
Rockies today
EPA appeals board orders new review of Utah coal-fired power plant
Utah air-quality officials said Thursday's decision by the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Appeals Board appeared to direct the EPA to find a better reason for not regulating greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants or set a nationwide policy on regulating such emissions, and Utah officials said if the EPA decides to regulate such emissions, three projects in Utah could be affected.
Salt Lake Tribune; Nov. 14
EPA board's decision could affect Montana coal-fired plant
Montana groups said a decision issued Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Appeals Board that ordered the EPA to consider whether the Clean Air Act requires the agency to limit carbon-dioxide emissions has implications for the Highwood Generating Station under development in Great Falls, but the attorney for Southern Montana Generation & Transmission Cooperative, the company that is developing the plant, disputed that contention.
Great Falls Tribune; Nov. 14
Alberta bans weed-and-feed lawn products
Alberta Environment Department officials said the chemical 2, 4-D used in popular granular weed-and-feed lawn products is contaminating the province's waterways and imposed a ban on the products effective Jan. 1, 2010.
Edmonton Journal; Nov. 14
Moab mayor says BLM's Utah lease sale endangers water supply
The Bureau of Land Management's Dec. 19 auction of energy leases in Utah contains a 600-acre parcel in Grand County just beyond Moab's city limits, and atop the 10,000-acre aquifer from which the city and county draws their drinking water, posing what Moab Mayor Dave Sakrison said is an unacceptable risk to the aquifer and Sakrison wants the parcel pulled off the auction.
Salt Lake Tribune; Nov. 14
Political, policy changes alter Northwest salmon debate
The election of Idaho Republican Sen.-elect Jim Risch and Oregon Democrat Sen.-elect Jeff Merkley, both of whom have said they support a collaborative management plan for the Columbia and Snake rivers, and the Bush administration's announced support of the removal of four dams on the Klamath River in Oregon and California, will significantly change the salmon debate in the Northwest. An analysis.
Idaho Statesman; Nov. 14
Montana community rallies for stewardship project
At a meeting Thursday evening in Seeley Lake, loggers, environmentalists, outfitters and government officials all spoke in support of the Blackfoot-Clearwater Stewardship Project, which is seeking federal funding for special logging projects, a co-generation plant to burn biomass to create electricity and heat, and add 87,000 acres to Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Missoulian; Nov. 14
N.M. farmers don't like being guinea pigs for water management
New Mexico State Engineer John D'Antonio is trying out a new water management model in the Mimbres River basin because the water in that basin has all been allocated, but farmers in the basin, who aren't happy with the new model, said they believe it's an attempt to move water from agricultural uses to development.
Santa Fe New Mexican; Nov. 14
Nevada water official: Leave Colorado River Compact as is
Under the 1922 Colorado River Water Compact, Nevada gets just 300,000 acre-feet of the water each year, but that's just fine with Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager Pat Mulroy, who said any attempt to rewrite the agreement would probably end up giving Nevada less, not more, of the water.
Las Vegas Sun; Nov. 14
Opinion
Congress should pass Wyoming public-lands bills yet this year
Wyoming Sens. John Barrasso and Mike Enzi should do what they can to get the Wyoming Legacy Act and the Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act through the lame-duck session of Congress that begins Monday.
Casper Star-Tribune; Nov. 13
Beyond the region
Forest Capital clears lands in NE Washington state for new trees
Forest Capital purchased 2.2 million acres of Boise Cascade's timber holdings in several states, including 270,000 acres in three counties in northeastern Washington state, and the company is clearcutting the land, killing the underlying brush with aerial spraying, and plants to replant the land with seedlings.
Spokane Spokesman-Review; Nov. 14
Wildfire destroys dozens of homes in wealthy California community
A wind-driven wildfire burned across 1,500 acres in California, destroying more than 80 homes in the wealthy Montecito neighborhood in Santa Barbara County.
Los Angeles Times; Nov. 14
Advisers press EPA to reconsider perchlorate decision
Scientific advisers to the federal Environmental Protection Agency are urging the agency reconsider its October decision not to regulate perchlorate, a chemical in rocket fuel that is present in the water in 35 states.
Washington Post; Nov. 14
Economic crisis leaves companies holding unused renewable tax credits
Congress finally passed an extension of the popular renewable energy tax credit this fall and President Bush signed it into law last month, but the economic meltdown has dried up financing for the very projects that could have used the tax credits.
Las Vegas Sun; Nov. 14
In depth
Eclipse Aviation can't make payroll for 1,400 N.M. workers
Eclipse Aviation told its workers at its Albuquerque facility on Thursday that the jet maker could not make its payroll, but that its cashflow problems were temporary, a position echoed by the New Mexico State Investment Council, which has a $19-million equity stake in the company.
Santa Fe New Mexican (AP); Nov. 14
Freeport McMoRan lays off mine workers in N.M., Arizona
Mining giant Freeport McMoRan announced Wednesday that it was laying off 94 workers, about 10 percent of its work force at its Chino mine in New Mexico, and 40 workers at its Arizona mine near Miami. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal (AP); Nov. 14
Micron, HP plan holiday furloughs for Idaho workers
Micron is asking its workers worldwide, including those in Idaho, to take 12 days off in December and January, and Hewlett-Packard announced it was closing down its offices across the nation, including its Boise plant, from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3 to save money.
Idaho Statesman; Nov. 14
Slot-machine maker to cut hundreds of jobs in Nevada
Officials of International Game Technology, the world's largest manufacturer of gaming systems and slot machines, announced Thursday that it would cut 300 jobs in Reno, either by buying out or laying off the Nevada workers.
Reno Gazette-Journal; Nov. 14
Sun Microsystems job cuts could hit Colorado facility
Sun Microsystems Inc. announced it would cut between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs over the next year, or about 18 percent of its work force over the next year, but officials did not indicate how those job cuts would affect its facility in Colorado.
Denver Post (AP); Nov. 14
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