In the Rockies today, a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision issued Wednesday reinstated the Clinton-era roadless rule, finding that the Bush administration's 2005 decision to give states considerable input into management of federal roadless lands was made without a requisite extensive environmental review.
The decision won't however, put the issue to bed, as another case filed by the state of Wyoming is making its way through the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Today in Headwaters News' Western Perspective, Patty Limerick and Jason L. Hanson of the Center of the American West examine the history of oil shale development in the West, and how new technologies--and new environmental laws and concerns about water--could affect future efforts.
The column is based upon the Center's report issued earlier this year, "What Every Westerner Should Know About Oil Shale: A Guide to Shale Country."
We invite you to read the column and join the debate.
Rockies today
Federal appeals court reinstates Clinton-era 'roadless' rule
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision Wednesday that found the Bush administration didn't follow environmental law when it repealed a 2001 ban on road building and logging on about a third of America's national forests, but the decision, which effectively restores the Clinton-era "roadless rule" won't end the legal wrangling over the issue.
Los Angeles Times; Aug. 6
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Roadless rule appeal still pending in the 10th Circuit Court
The decision Wednesday in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that reinstated the 2001 so-called roadless rule put in place by the Clinton administration is not the final word on federal roadless forest lands, with another appeal pending in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals filed by the state of Wyoming.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); Aug. 6
Federal court clears way for phosphate mine expansion in Idaho
In a ruling issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Mikel Williams found that the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management complied with federal laws when they approved the expansion of the J.R. Simplot Co.'s Smoky Canyon phosphate mine into a roadless area in Idaho near Yellowstone National Park.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); Aug. 6
DOE poised to send 14,800 barrels of depleted uranium to Utah
Utah state regulators are considering a moratorium on the importation of depleted uranium for disposal at EnergySolutions' Tooele County facility, even as the U.S. Department of Energy prepares to ship 14,800 barrels of the waste that becomes hotter as it decays to the site over the next 13 months.
Salt Lake Tribune; Aug. 6
Crow Tribe celebrates launch of natural-gas industry on Montana lands
Natural-gas production is expected to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into Crow Nation coffers as the tribe's reservation is on the northern edge of the prolific Powder River Basin in Montana.
Billings Gazette; Aug. 6
Another Montana resort reportedly headed into foreclosure
Sources say the founder of Moonlight Basin, an exclusive ski-and-golf resort near Big Sky, sent a letter to members indicating that Lehman Bros. had begun foreclosure proceedings against the Montana resort.
NewWest.net; Aug. 6
U.S. Senate sends Utah land-swap bill to President Obama
Utah Sen. Bob Bennett and U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson have worked for more than four years to get a land-swap bill that would exchange more than 40,000 acres between the federal government and the state's school trust through Congress, and on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed the bill and sent it along to President Obama for action.
Salt Lake Tribune; Aug. 6
Opinion
Wyoming, Montana senators score a victory for small ranchers
The federal government's proposed National Animal Identification System unfairly gives corporate farmers and ranchers a break, requiring them to tag only one animal per herd or flock, but requiring small ranchers and farmers to tag all their animals, and Montana Sen. Jon Tester and Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi wisely fought to get funding for this misguided program cut, a victory for small livestock producers who already have enough challenges.
Casper Star-Tribune; Aug. 6
Beyond the region
Washington researchers narrow list of culprits in bee colony collapse
Washington State University researchers said they've narrowed the culprits in the mysterious honey bee colony collapse disorder to either pesticide contamination or a resilient pathogen known as nosema ceranae, which affects bees' ability to process food, or a combination of both.
Spokane Spokesman-Review; Aug. 6
Fire shuts down Washington state nuclear power plant
Columbia Generating Station in Washington state was shut down automatically after a small fire broke out in the Richland plant; the state's only commercial nuclear power plant will remain offline until the investigation into the fire is complete and repairs are made.
Spokane Spokesman-Review (AP); Aug. 6
Heat wave shatters records in Washington state
Last week was one of the hottest ever recorded in Washington state, setting a new record for the highest temperature in Seattle with a 103-degree day.
USA Today; Aug. 6
Washington state shuts down Pasco biofuel plant
The Washington Department of Ecology issued a cease-and-desist order against Green Power Inc. at the Port of Pasco on Wednesday, because the biofuel manufacturing plant lacks the necessary air-quality permit to operate the facility.
Tri-City Herald; Aug. 6
In depth
Arizona company gets $100M in electric-car stimulus funds
Ecotality Inc., a small Arizona company, will get $99.8 million in federal stimulus funds to roll out 12,800 charging stations for electric cars in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, California and Tennessee.
Arizona Republic; Aug. 6
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Colorado will get $50M of federal electric-car stimulus funds
UQM Technologies Inc. of Frederick will use its $45.1 million slice of the federal government's $2.4-billion plan to stimulate the electric-car industry to further its research in developing batteries and components, and Colorado State University officials said they'll use the school's $5-million share to train technicians in electric-transport programs and educate consumers about electric cars.
Denver Post; Aug. 6
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Federal electric-car funds deliver charge to Oregon's economy
Oregon will get a nearly $40 million chunk of the $2.4-billion package of federal funds designed to fire up the electric-car industry in the nation, and Oregon and Washington are among the five states named as test markets for electric cars manufactured by Electric Transportation Engineering Corp., known as eTec.
Portland Oregonian; Aug. 6
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