In the Rockies today, coal, copper, wild horses and salmon are in the news.
In Montana, where the state owns large tracts of coal reserves, Arch Coal's recent purchase of coal leases adjacent to the state's holdings will increase pressure on Montana to open those tracts up for mining.
A decision by a federal bankruptcy judge in Texas on Friday returns ownership of Asarco, the nation's third-largest copper producer, to Americas Mining Corp., a Grupo Mexico subsidiary.
The Bureau of Land Management's refusal to put its plan to remove 30,000 wild horses from western ranges on hold earned the promise of a lawsuit from the Equine Welfare Alliance.
And, finally, researchers in Idaho and other Northwestern states are learning more about salmon as they swim inward from the coast, thanks to high-tech antennas installed by Bonneville Power Administration on stretches of rivers in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Rockies today
Company's coal lease in SE Montana puts pressure on state
Arch Coal's lease with Great Northern Properties for coal tracts in southeastern Montana puts pressure on the state to lease adjacent coal tracts.
Great Falls Tribune (AP); Nov. 14
Wild horses advocates head to court over BLM roundup plan
After the Bureau of Land Management declined the request of the Equine Welfare Alliance to halt its plan to remove 30,000 wild horses from Western ranges over the next three years, the group that represents more than 60 organizations said it is reviewing its legal options.
Salt Lake Tribune (AP); Nov. 16
Antennas help track salmon from Pacific coast into Idaho
Bonneville Power Administration bought large antennas, including one of the South Fork of the Salmon River in a rugged corner of Idaho wilderness, to help researchers track salmon from the West Coast through rivers and streams in Oregon, Washington and central Idaho.
Idaho Statesman (AP); Nov. 16
Idaho, anglers take advantage of record run of steelhead
A record 316,000 steelhead made it up the Snake River and over the Lower Granite Dam into rivers and streams in Idaho and Oregon, and the Idaho Fish and Game Department trapped a number of the salmon for tribes and to relocate them to other streams to improve fishing.
Spokane Spokesman-Review; Nov. 16
Report: Montana's carbon dioxide emissions up 36 percent
A new report released by Environment America said that carbon dioxide emissions in Montana increased 36 percent from 1990 to 2007.
Missoulian; Nov. 16
Colorado highway project could end gold-panning business
A sheaf of Colorado agencies are in agreement with a plan to spend federal stimulus funds on Highway 119 that would build a wildlife bridge over the highway to keep bighorn sheep out of traffic, end congestion on the road to casinos in Black Hawk, build a mine-tailings treatment plant to restore life to long-dead North Clear Creek water, and improve cellphone coverage, but it would also mean the end of a gold-panning business, and the owner of that business doesn't want to go.
Denver Post; Nov. 16
Federal judge goes with Grupo Mexico's plan for Asarco
On Friday, a federal bankruptcy judge in Texas returned control of copper miner Asarco to Americas Mining Corp., a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico; the $2.2-billion plan to pay Asarco's creditors should be done by mid-December.
Denver Post (AP); Nov. 16
Opinion
Ted Turner's plan for Yellowstone bison is a good one
The proposal to send dozens of bison from Yellowstone National Park now held in quarantine to Ted Turner's Flying D Ranch in Montana appears to meet the long-term requirements of the relocation program, and it would be a shame if the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission bowed to public pressure and nixed the plan.
Casper Star-Tribune; Nov. 16
Jarvis' appointment of Idaho scientist to NPS post a good call
Jon Jarvis, the new chief of the National Park Service, appointed University of Idaho's Gary Machlis to serve as the agency's first science adviser, a wise move given Machlis' track record of conservation. A column by Rocky Barker.
Idaho Statesman; Nov. 16
Utah Legislature needs to put an end to 'double-dippers'
Under Utah law, state workers can retire early and then go back to work for another state agency, while drawing a pension and a paycheck, a situation that could cost Utah taxpayers an estimated $900 million over the next decade, and it's time the Legislature put an end to the double dipping.
Salt Lake Tribune; Nov. 16
Beyond the region
'Green jobs' a bright spot in nation's economy
A primer on defining a "green job," how to train for them and how to get one.
Los Angeles Times; Nov. 16
New Alaska governor takes up fight over polar bear status
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, like his predecessor former Gov. Sarah Palin, is fighting the federal government's decision to protect the polar bear as a threatened species.
Seattle Times (AP); Nov. 16
Gold prices continue to march higher
Gold prices climbed to a new record high of $1,130 an ounce early Monday in Europe.
Toronto Globe and Mail; Nov. 16
'Pineapple Express' brings flood warnings to southern B.C. coast
The Fraser Valley in British Columbia is under flood warnings after heavy rains and melting snow sent rivers raging.
Vancouver Sun; Nov. 16
Most stimulus projects in Canada won't get environmental analysis
A new report by Canwest News Service said that nearly 90 percent of the federally funded stimulus projects in Canada won't get a federal environmental assessment, although some may still be subject to such an assessment by the provinces in which they're built.
Toronto National Post (Canwest); Nov. 16
In depth
Study: Water shortage looms for Wyoming city
A new study of water resources in Sheridan said if the city in northern Wyoming doesn't secure additional water rights or storage, the city could face a water shortage by 2054.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); Nov. 16
Idaho city begins work on water-conservation plan
At its meeting last week, the Sun Valley City Council considered an amendment to the Idaho city's zoning plan that would restrict irrigation in new developments to half an acre or 50 percent of the lot, whichever is smaller.
Twin Falls Times-News; Nov. 16
Nevada city previews water-use regulations
The Jackpot Advisory Board and Elko County Public Works Director Lynn Forsberg reviewed the Nevada city's proposed water-conservation plan at a meeting last week, and the board is expected to adopt water-use rules at its meeting in December.
Twin Falls Times-News (AP); Nov. 16
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