In the Rockies today, a new study details the effect higher temperatures and drought are having on undisturbed stands of forests in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, British Columbia, Oregon, Washington and California.
The study, which will be published today in the journal Science, found that tree mortality in the 76 stands of forests had more than doubled over the past few decades.
The forests examined had trees that were older than 200 years, and some were more than 1,000 years old.
Also in the news, protests over education funding cuts in Arizona and Nevada; the Environmental Protection Agency will take another look at the air-quality permit for the Desert Rock Power Plant on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, and Montana lawmakers get a look at a mobile biomass generator.
Rockies today
Western forests hit with double whammy of heat, drought
The results of a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey, which will be released in Friday’s issue of the journal Science, found that rising temperatures and attendant drought are doubling the rate at which trees in forests in the West are dying, and that the capacity of those forests to absorb carbon dioxide is decreasing as well.
Toronto Globe and Mail; Jan. 23
EPA appeals board will review permit for N.M.'s Desert Rock plant
On Thursday, the Environmental Appeals Board granted a new review of the air-quality permit granted to the Desert Rock Power Plant, a proposed coal-fired power plant on the Navajo Nation near Farmington, N.M.
Farmington Daily-Times (AP); Jan. 23
Record-breaking crowd attends Ariz. Board of Regents' meeting
A proposal to cut $600 million in funding attracted the largest-ever crowd at an Arizona Board of Regents meeting on Thursday, with most of the 900 or so attendees speaking out against the proposal.
Arizona Republic; Jan. 23
Thousands rally in Las Vegas against Nevada education cuts
Gov. Jim Gibbons appeared to be the target of choice of the thousands of protesters who gathered on the University of Nevada-Las Vegas campus to express their outrage at what they believe are devastating cuts to the state's education budgets.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; Jan. 23
Groups oppose last-minute changes in oil-shale leases
Colorado officials and environmental groups are protesting changes announced by the outgoing Bush administration on Jan. 16 to oil-shale leases on 160-acre parcels in Colorado and Utah revised a provision in original leases that said any regulations in effect when commercial development of the leases begins would apply to incorporate commercial oil-shale regulations proposed in November that lock in royalty rates at 5 percent during the first five years of production.
Grand Junction Sentinel (AP); Jan. 23
Groups appeal BLM's coalbed methane plan for Wyoming basin
A coalition of environmental groups have appealed a Wyoming district court decision on the Bureau of Land Management's Powder River Basin Oil and Gas Environmental Impact Statement that cleared the way for up to 51,000 coalbed methane wells in the Wyoming basin.
Casper Star-Tribune; Jan. 23
Air-quality issues cloud Idaho capital's economy
Temperature inversions in Idaho's Treasure Valley trap vehicle emissions and other pollutants and push the valley close to federal air-pollution limits, and with a limited public transit system, Boise and other cities in the valley are working to fund more public transportation and reduce traffic to avoid federal regulation of air quality.
New York Times; Jan. 23
Montana lawmakers get a preview of mobile biomass generator
University of Montana researchers Brian Kern and Paul Williamson took their semi trailer-sized downdraft gasifier to Helena on Thursday to give lawmakers a look at the mobile biomass power generator that turns wood chips and other organic materials into electricity.
Great Falls Tribune; Jan. 23
Opinion
There are better ways to address Utah's budget woes
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and the Legislature are considering deep cuts to public services to address the Beehive State's budget shortfall, but those cuts are simply too deep and impose too great a burden on already struggling Utahns and a better plan would be to give all state employees a pay cut to keep everyone employed, with top bosses taking the deepest cuts.
Salt Lake Tribune; Jan. 23
East Coast events dirty up 'clean coal's' image
The spill of a billion gallons of toxic coal ash sludge in Tennessee and an order from a federal district court judge in North Carolina that four coal-fired power plants clean up their emissions have smacked the image of clean coal.
New York Times; Jan. 23
Beyond the region
Idaho, Washington support Spokane River study
A University of Washington geology professor has applied for a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study and develop a model for public input and regional decision making on managing the Spokane River's 2,400-square mile watershed.
Spokane Spokesman-Review; Jan. 23
Drought concerns curb California farmers' planting plans
Some of the nation's largest farmers in California's Central Valley said they would reduce acres planted in tomatoes and other produce over concerns that drought would drastically reduce federal water supplies.
Las Vegas Sun (AP); Jan. 23
Memo outlines Canada's plan to limit environmental reviews
An internal memo from a Canadian official indicates the federal government's plan to eliminate the need for environmental assessments of any construction project worth $10 million or less or in cases where provinces are doing such an assessment, a process the NDP says clearly indicates the government's position that economic development and environmental protection cannot co-exist.
Toronto Globe and Mail; Jan. 23
Home construction rates lowest since 1959
The number of housing units built in the United States in 2008 was 550,000, the lowest number since the Commerce Department began keeping records in 1959.
New York Times; Jan. 23
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