Today in Headwaters News' Western Perspective, Martin Nie, who is Associate Professor of Natural Resource Policy in the College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana, writes about his interview last month of former Undersecretary of Agriculture Mark Rey.
Rey agreed to answer Nie's questions and to have the complete transcript of his interview posted on Headwaters News' web site.
Nie questioned Rey about his eight years in office during President George W. Bush's two terms in office, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, and the continuing debate over management of federal roadless forest lands, including the petition process in Colorado and Idaho.
Rey also expounded on two issues that caused much more debate than he thought they would going into the process: The decision to ground air tankers in 2004 and the U.S. Forest Service's negotiations with Plum Creek Timber Co. over road easements in Montana.
We invite you to read Nie's column, the transcript of Nie's interview with Mr. Rey, and provide us with your comments.
Rockies today
U.S. House panel sets hearing on Northern Rockies wilderness bill
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will hear this year's version of the the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA), a perennial piece of legislation that would designate as wilderness millions of acres of land in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, as well as hundreds of thousands of acres in Washington and Oregon, on May 5.
NewWest.net; April 21
DOE tests systems to remove uranium-mining waste near Moab
The Department of Energy began testing Monday the system that will use railcars to carry tons of waste left behind after decades of uranium milling operations at the Atlas mill on the banks of the Colorado River near Moab, Utah.
Salt Lake Tribune; April 22
Colorado probes origin of methane in drinking water wells
Nearly three dozen residents of small farming communities northeast of Denver have asked the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission or the companies that have drilled natural gas wells in that area of the state to test their drinking water wells for natural gas to determine if the methane is seeping into the wells naturally or as a result of drilling operations.
Denver Post; April 22
Yellowstone Club bankruptcy trial begins today in Montana
Lawyers for Tim Blixseth, the founder of the exclusive Yellowstone Club in Montana, investment banker Credit Suisse, and a committee of creditors will appear before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ralph B. Kirscher in Missoula today, to hash out who's responsible for the club's financial failure.
NewWest.net; April 21
Cities with worst foreclosure problems in 3 Western states, Florida
A new report said the 26 cities in the nation that have the highest number of foreclosures are concentrated in Nevada, California, Arizona and Florida, with Las Vegas in the No. 1 spot; outside of the top 26 were Boise City in Idaho ranked 27th and Greeley, Colo., ranked 29th.
Deseret News (AP); April 22
Wyoming documents first wolf kill in Laramie Mountains in decades
Federal agents are searching for two wolves responsible for killing a calf on private land in Wyoming southeast of Casper, the first documented case of a wolf kill in that area of the state in more than 60 years.
Casper Star-Tribune; April 22
Anshutz sells Colorado Ski Train to Canadian company
The Ski Train operated by a subsidiary of the Anshutz company that shuttled skiers from Denver to Winter Park for nearly seven decades is no longer, having been sold to a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway Co., which plans to move the train to Canada.
Denver Post; April 22
Opinion
Idaho will pay for its boom-time hubris
When the Idaho Legislature unanimously passed legislation in 2005 that kept unemployment tax rates artificially low, the state's economy was booming and lawmakers, business and labor groups all bought into the concept that the state was recession proof, a costly conceit now that the state's unemployment fund will reportedly run dry early next year.
Idaho Statesman; April 22
Earth Day celebrates 39th year
President Richard M. Nixon isn't often remembered for his role in environmental protection, but he was in office when the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, and when Congress pushed through laws to clean up the nation's air and water and to protect endangered species.
Salt Lake Tribune; April 22
Beyond the Region
EPA releases proposed rule on cement kilns' mercury emissions
Cement kilns are the nation's fourth-largest producer of mercury emissions, and on Tuesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a rule proposing to cut that industry's mercury emissions by 81 percent and its sulfur dioxide emissions by 90 percent.
Washington Post; April 22
Oregon, California governors ask for salmon-disaster declaration
For the third time in four years, the governors of Oregon and California are seeking a federal declaration of a failure of the West Coast salmon fishery, a declaration that would open the way for Congress to send aid to salmon fishermen.
Portland Oregonian (AP); April 22
Federal biologists ask for controls on 3 pesticides to protect salmon
The National Marine Fisheries Service said the three pesticides, carbaryl, carbofuran and methomyl, can kill salmon outright but their biggest harm to the fish is that if they're allowed to get to the water, they kill aquatic insects upon which salmon feed.
Seattle Times; April 22
Obama nominates Nike exec to head up volunteer program
On Tuesday, President Obama nominated Oregonian Maria Eitel, president of the Nike Foundation, to head up the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Portland Oregonian; April 22
Hundreds attend meeting on Wash. county's proposed OHV rules
More than 300 people packed the Yakima Convention Center on Tuesday to sound off on Yakima County's proposed off-road vehicle rules, with both proponents and opponents of the rules using property rights as the basis of their arguments for and against the Washington county's proposed rules during the 2 1/2-hour meeting.
Yakima Herald; April 22
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