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In the Rockies today, Utah researchers are happily delving into the cause of hundreds of earthquakes reported in Yellowstone National Park since Dec. 26.
While such "swarms" aren't uncommon, the latest has been the second most intense in the 137-year-old park's history.
Those researchers are working to dispel rumors and phony warnings to flee that are circulating on the Internet.
The U.S. Geological Survey is taking a tougher stance against the owner of a Web site that warned the earthquakes could cause the release of poison gas.
The USGS is seeking the registered owner of the Web site for possible federal charges as the site illegally used the USGS logo.
Also in the news, Plum Creek Timber Co. laid off more workers in Montana and told its contractors to curtail logging operations until demand for wood products increases again.
Rockies today
Avalanche season off to a wicked, early start in the West
There have been 23 avalanche deaths reported in North America since Dec. 14, 13 of those in the United States, and what's most troubling to ski resorts and safety officials, three of those deaths occurred in three separate incidents in-bounds at resorts in Wyoming, Utah and California.
New York Times; Jan. 9
Higher temperatures exacerbate drought in SW United States
U.S. Geological Survey scientists studying the current drought in the Southwest United States said that a higher mean temperature makes this drought different, and that the region will soon revert back to grasslands as trees that moved in during relatively wetter times die off.
Christian Science Monitor; Jan. 9
Plum Creek lays off hundreds in Montana
Plum Creek Timber Co. announced Thursday that it would permanently close its sawmill in Fortine, eliminating 74 jobs there; cut 36 jobs at its mill in Pablo and 35 jobs at its mill in Columbia Falls; the company also announced temporary shutdowns of its mills in Kalispell and Columbia Falls until March.
Flathead Beacon; Jan. 9
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Plum Creek asks Montana loggers to cut back
Citing dwindling sales and demand, Plum Creek Timber Co. said it asked logging contractors to scale back operations in Montana and said approximately 50 percent of those contractors would temporarily be impacted by its request.
Kalispell Daily Inter-Lake; Jan. 9
USGS takes on Web site operator over Yellowstone warnings
The U.S. Geological Survey is pursuing legal action against the registered owner of a Web site that illegally uses the agency's logo and warns people to evacuate Yellowstone National Park because recent seismic activity could release poisonous gas, which has raised concerns that Yellowstone Park officials are trying to allay.
Billings Gazette; Jan. 9
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Yellowstone 'quakes intrigue Utah U. seismologists
At least nine University of Utah seismologists and researchers are toiling around the clock to figure out what caused hundreds of tremors in Yellowstone National Park since Dec. 26.
Salt Lake Tribune; Jan. 9
Montana governor asks EPA to make Superior a Superfund site
Superior may get federal help in determining the extent of contamination left behind by decades of mining after Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to put the Flat Creek/Iron Mountain mine site on its list of sites needing remediation.
Missoulian; Jan. 9
Rey says USFS cabin-land leases will go up just a bit in 2009
Montana Sen. Jon Tester, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, along with Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Ron Wyden of Oregon asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide some relief to owners of cabins on U.S. Forest Service leases who are facing huge increases in leasing costs, and on Thursday USDA Undersecretary Mark Rey said the cost of those leases will go up only modestly this year.
Missoulian; Jan. 9
Opinion
New Mexico needs ATV rules that will work in the woods
As New Mexico lawmakers begin crafting new regulations on off-road vehicle use, they must envision just how those rules will be enforced deep in the woods. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal; Jan. 9
Shell Oil's Colorado water request proves thoughtful process
Shell Oil executives said their decision on commercial oil-shale development in northwest Colorado is still a decade away, but Shell's request for a portion of the Yampa River's water underscores the meticulous process the company is using to determine if those resources can, and should, be developed.
Grand Junction Sentinel; Jan. 9
Beyond the region
Credit crisis stalls renewable energy projects, plants
Six months ago, Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley, GE Capital and Wells Fargo were heavily invested in renewable-energy projects, but now they're dealing with their own financial problems and the tax benefits for funding renewable projects aren't as attractive for them, which has stalled wind- and solar-energy projects, and now the industries that make wind turbines and other renewable-energy components are laying off workers.
Washington Post; Jan. 9
Unemployment in U.S. hit 16-year high in December
Employers slashed 524,000 U.S. jobs in December, sending unemployment rates to 7.2 percent.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; Jan. 9
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Canada lost 34,400 jobs in December
The construction sector bore the brunt of December job losses in Canada, pushing the national unemployment rate up to 6.6 percent.
Toronto Globe and Mail; Jan. 9
Canadian mayors say housing, transit priorities
In preparation for their meeting in Ottawa next week, Canada's big-city mayors have developed their wish lists for infrastructure projects, with most agreeing that housing and transit needs are at the top of their lists.
Toronto Globe and Mail; Jan. 9
Flooding stalls transportation across Washington state
A state of emergency was declared in Washington state on Thursday, where flooding had effectively shut down nearly all interstate trucking.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Jan. 9
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| "We are ahead of pace for putting logs into the mills' inventories right now and we simply need to slow down on log deliveries."
Tom Ray, vice president of Plum Creek Timber Co.'s Montana operations, asking logging contractors to curtail operations.
- Kalispell Daily Inter Lake
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Dismal job market swells ranks of Utah teachers
Colorado residents return home after wildfire contained
Wyoming coal production set a new record in 2007
Colorado governor delivers somber State of State address
Idaho congressman snags top GOP spot on House committee
Montana senator says USFS will scrap road-easement plan
Hamilton will have first senior housing co-op in Montana
Visits to Yellowstone National Park down a bit in 2008
Colorado senators team up on public-lands bills
Idaho governor, lawmakers say economy will force new cuts
Las Vegas reports strong home sales in December
Semitool lays off 200 workers in Montana, other sites
More Idaho school districts consider 4-day weeks
N.M.'s freshman senator gets committee assignments
Lozier Corp. will close Utah plant
Bill would tweak Montana's law on electric cars
N.M. senator again introduces package of water-rights bills
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Exclusively
on Headwaters:
NewVoices/NewWest:
Culture
Clash: Can the federal No Child Left Behind Act coexist with Montana's
Indian Education for All?
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Regional Conferences
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Jan. 9-10: "Realizing Montana's Energy Future," Helena, Mont.
Jan 16: "Our Idaho Lands – Pathways for Restoration and Conservation," Boise, Idaho. Read a preview.
Jan. 21-22: Driving the Development of Large-Scale Solar Energy Projects, Las Vegas, Nev.
April 5-7: Colorado College's 2009 State of the Rockies Conference, Colorado Springs, Colo.
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Headwaters
News is a program of the Center
for the Rocky Mountain West at the University
of Montana. |
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