In the Rockies today, Montana ends its wolf hunt early; a federal judge shoots down a Utah man's defense on illegal bids for energy leases; and the Colorado Attorney General's opinion on taxing medical marijuana could have far-ranging effects.
In Montana, hunters were just three wolves away from filling the 75-wolf quota set by the state for its first ever wolf hunt, ending the season a couple of weeks early.
In Colorado, a federal district judge ruled that Tim DeChristopher, a University of Utah student who bid and won energy leases last December with no intention of paying for or developing those leases, could not use a "choice of evils" defense.
DeChristopher had argued that the illegality of the bids was a much smaller threat than the environmental risk of allowing the leases to be sold and developed.
And another decision coming out of Colorado could have considerable impact on a number of states that allow the sale and use of medicinal marijuana.
John Suthers' opinion that the sales of medical marijuana could be taxed could send some additional revenue flowing into the state's coffers, and the medical-marijuana industry appeared willing to pay such a tax.
Rockies today
Federal agencies buy key parcels in Colorado, Montana, Nevada
Using $11.7 million of money appropriated under the the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, the Bureau of Land Management picked up a key parcel of private land in the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument in Colorado; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bought a parcel in Montana's Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge; and in Nevada, the U.S. Forest Service secured one parcel in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and another in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.
NewWest.net; Nov. 17
Federal judge nixes Utah bidder's 'choice of evils' defense
Tim DeChristopher, a University of Utah student who bid more than $1.8 million to win federal oil and gas leases in Utah with no intention of paying for or developing them, cannot use a "choice of evils" defense, the federal judge presiding over the case ruled on Monday.
New York Times; Nov. 17
Groups sue to stop uranium mine near Grand Canyon
The Center for Biological Diversity, Grand Canyon Trust and Sierra Club filed a lawsuit Monday against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, alleging that the agency's reliance on a 21-year-old document that allowed a uranium mine north of the Grand Canyon in Arizona to be reopened violated a slate of federal regulations.
Arizona Daily Sun; Nov. 17
Montana ends wolf hunt 2 weeks early
As of Monday afternoon, hunters had killed 72 wolves, just three wolves shy of the 75 allowed to be taken in Montana's first ever wolf hunting season, and state officials shut down the hunt as of Monday evening.
Kalispell Daily Inter Lake; Nov. 17
Idaho governor, ranchers dispute slickspot peppergrass listing
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to list slickspot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum), a rare flowering plant found in southwest Idaho's desert and other areas of the state, as threatened on Dec. 7, a decision that is being fought by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, and the Idaho ranchers who helped develop the state's "candidate species conservation plan" for the plant that received federal approval.
Idaho Statesman; Nov. 17
Colorado AG: State can tax medical marijuana
The impact of Colorado Attorney General John Suthers' opinion that medical marijuana could be subject to state sales tax may resonate far beyond the state's borders.
Denver Post; Nov. 17
Colorado county votes to donate water to river
At a meeting Monday in Denver, the Colorado Water Conservation Board approved a deal that would allow Pitkin County to donate 4.2 cubic feet per second of water rights the Colorado county holds on Maroon Creek to CWCB, to augment in-stream flows of the Roaring Fork River.
Aspen Times; Nov. 17
Opinion
Utah must soften blow of resumption of food tax
Given Utah's financial situation, the sales tax on groceries must be restored, but if, and only if, the state can come up with a plan to soften the impact of such a tax on the state's low-income residents.
Salt Lake Tribune; Nov. 17
Beyond the region
Review of 'green power' programs finds uneven results
About 2 percent of Americans participate in programs run by utilities to draw power from renewable energy resources, an indication that Americans support renewable energy in principle but not in pocketbook, due in part to just how the money raised by those programs is used.
New York Times; Nov. 17
Group wants federal funds to charge up electric cars' range
A coalition of companies that includes Nissan, FedEx, PG&E and NRG Energy issued a report Monday that asks for $124 billion in federal government incentives over eight years that includes $13.5 billion to build charging stations for electric cars to address "range anxiety" for potential buyers of the cars.
Washington Post; Nov. 17
California company joins vertical-axis wind energy drive
There are currently about 20 companies in the United States that are making or developing vertical-axis wind turbines that churn out electricity using a merry-go-round like movement, including California-based Green Wave Energy Corp.
Los Angeles Times; Nov. 17
Seattle restaurants serve up Alaska salmon with enviro warning
Thirteen Seattle restaurants will serve up wild Alaska salmon with an environmental warning offered by Trout Unlimited about the effect a proposed copper, gold and molybdenum mine in southwest Alaska will have on Bristol Bay salmon.
Seattle Times; Nov. 17
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