Interior agencies showing marked shift in leasing policies
From Land Letter
Nov. 19, 2009
Contrary to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s pledge that the Obama administration is not “anti-oil and gas,” energy producers say evidence is mounting that federal agencies intend to curtail energy development on public lands, especially in the fossil fuel-rich West.
Read full article: Interior agencies showing marked shift in leasing policies
Grizzlies’ ‘threatened’ status breeds confusion among agencies
From Land Letter
Nov. 19, 2009
A recent court ruling restoring Endangered Species Act protection to 600 grizzly bears in Yellowstone has led to a confusing patchwork of regulation and a sense of “disillusionment” among many people who worked for years to restore the bear to one of its best-known habitats, federal officials say.
Read full article: Grizzlies’ ‘threatened’ status breeds confusion among agencies
Investors should be wary of Alaska’s Pebble Mine — report
From Land Letter
Nov. 5, 2009
A new investor advisory released last week by environmentalists raises questions about the risks associated with the Pebble Mine Project in southwest Alaska, detailing a growing list of regulatory, legal, engineering and political challenges as the project’s developers work to secure permits for the sprawling gold and copper mine.
Read full article: Investors should be wary of Alaska’s Pebble Mine — report
BLM pulls parcels from Colo. lease sale
From Land Letter
Nov. 5, 2009
The Bureau of Land Management has pulled thousands of acres of Colorado public lands from its planned oil and gas lease sale next week, including acreage near the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, habitat for Colorado River cutthroat trout and what would have been the first geothermal parcel offered by the agency in Colorado.
Read full article: BLM pulls parcels from Colo. lease sale
Interior to engage universities, private sector in ecosystem-scale protection — Jarvis
From Land Letter
Nov. 5, 2009
The Interior Department has initiated a “landscape conservation cooperative” program aimed at preserving important large and diffuse wildlife habitat areas, including migration corridors in important ecosystems, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said yesterday.
Read full article: Interior to engage universities, private sector in ecosystem-scale protection — Jarvis
Beetle-ravaged trees will fuel Colo. biomass plant
From Land Letter
Oct. 29, 2009
WOODLAND PARK, Colo. — While the invasive bark beetle has become a major nemesis in Western forests, rendering millions of trees dead or dying, an innovative project in this small, southern Colorado city aims to convert the carcasses of beetle-infested trees into something useful — renewable energy.
Read full article: Beetle-ravaged trees will fuel Colo. biomass plant
Economic model cites benefits of ‘quiet’ recreation
From Land Letter
Oct. 29, 2009
A new economic model developed at Oregon State University has found that “quiet recreation” — including hunting, fishing and camping — provides more economic benefits than motorized recreation to communities dependent upon public lands tourism.
Read full article: Economic model cites benefits of ‘quiet’ recreation
‘Hidden Gems’ proposal could hamper military training, officials say
From Land Letter
Oct. 22, 2009
A proposal to designate hundreds of thousands of additional acres of public lands on Colorado’s Western Slope as wilderness has garnered opposition from some unusual quarters: the Pentagon.
The reason? Military officials are concerned that the proposal could place helicopter training areas used to prepare pilots for conditions like Afghanistan off-limits.
Read full article: ‘Hidden Gems’ proposal could hamper military training, officials say
Experts pin hopes on cutting, burning to save West’s dying aspen
From Land Letter/nytimes.com
Oct. 15, 2009
Nothing signifies fall in the Rocky Mountains like the golden leaves of its aspen trees. And each spring, the return of the aspens’ green leaves shimmering in the wind is a welcome sight, particularly after a long winter.
But for the last decade, these majestic, white-barked trees have been fading away, victims of what scientists have dubbed “sudden aspen decline,” or SAD.
Read full article: Experts pin hopes on cutting, burning to save West’s dying aspen
Research effort examines the effects of fire on birds, small mammals
From Land Letter
Oct. 15, 2009
The Forest Service is studying how fires affect wildlife populations in ponderosa pine forests in eight Western states with hopes the results will lead to better management of both species and their habitats.
Read full article: Research effort examines the effects of fire on birds, small mammals
Wyo. contamination issue spurs calls for greater federal oversight
From Land Letter
Oct. 8, 2009
When a gas well blew out in the small community of Clark in northwestern Wyoming three years ago, it resulted in a 10-million-cubic-foot plume of groundwater contamination — more than 100 Olympic-size swimming pools’ worth. The plumes have continued to migrate since then, but how cleanup will proceed remains undecided, and some local residents are growing concerned that the contamination will never be adequately addressed.
Read full article: Wyo. contamination issue spurs calls for greater federal oversight
Wyo. lease sale includes Adobe Town parcels, sage grouse habitat
From Land Letter
Oct. 8, 2009
The Bureau of Land Management last week auctioned off parcels of Wyoming’s ecologically important Adobe Town, as well as 29,000 acres of “core” sagebrush habitat that is considered vital to the survival of the sage grouse, to oil and gas developers.
Read full article: Wyo. lease sale includes Adobe Town parcels, sage grouse habitat
Growth management critical to meeting demand in West
From Land Letter
Oct. 1, 2009
DENVER — Solving the West’s entrenched water supply problems will require greater cooperation among states and local governments, as well as better integration of planning efforts as the region continues to grow.
Read full article: Growth management critical to meeting demand in West
Front Range pipeline plan could be scaled back
From Land Letter
Sept. 24, 2009
Colorado entrepreneur Aaron Million remains committed to his controversial proposal to pipe water more than 500 miles from southwest Wyoming to the Front Range of Colorado, although even he acknowledges the plan may have to be scaled back to ensure there is enough water in the Green River Basin to meet the needs of other interests such as recreation and endangered species.
Read full article: Front Range pipeline plan could be scaled back
New phosphate mine proposed for southern Idaho
From Land Letter
Sept. 24, 2009
Monsanto Co. and several agricultural producers in Idaho are hopeful that the company’s proposed mine could be the start of a new chapter on phosphate mining for the Blackfoot River, which has been plagued by selenium pollution for decades.
Read full article: New phosphate mine proposed for southern Idaho
Enviro groups escalate campaign to block Canadian tar sands development
From Land Letter
Sept. 17, 2009
An international coalition of environmental groups this week escalated a campaign to oppose Canada’s tar sands, arguing that the “dirty oil” that comes from the tar sands could derail the Obama administration’s efforts to increase renewable energy production.
Read full article: Enviro groups escalate campaign to block Canadian tar sands development
Federal court blocks drilling in Colo.’s Baca wildlife refuge
From Land Letter
Sept. 10, 2009
A federal judge has handed down a decision blocking oil and gas drilling in Colorado’s Baca National Wildlife Refuge, eliciting cheers from environmental groups and some residents in the San Luis Valley that were fighting the development.
Read full article: Federal court blocks drilling in Colo.’s Baca wildlife refuge
Timber sale upheld for Alaska’s Tongass
From Land Letter
Sept. 10, 2009
Forest Service officials want to move ahead with a timber sale in southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest that could produce 73 million board feet of timber, despite concerns that the logging would interfere with one of the primary wildlife corridors on Prince of Wales Island.
Read full article: Timber sale upheld for Alaska’s Tongass
Changes predicted for iconic parks in face of warming atmosphere
From Land Letter
Aug. 27, 2009
ESTES PARK, Colo. — Climate change threatens the very existence of some of America’s most treasured national parks and could dramatically alter the landscapes and ecosystems for which others are famous, unless steps are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the consequences of global warming.
Read full article: Changes predicted for iconic parks in face of warming atmosphere
BLM challenged over plan to drill 3,200 wells atop Roan Plateau
From Land Letter
Aug. 27, 2009
A Denver-based energy company could drill as many as 3,200 wells atop western Colorado’s Roan Plateau, more than 15 times the number of wells the federal government used in its evaluation of the environmental impacts of drilling there, according to documents filed in court last week by environmental groups.
Read full article: BLM challenged over plan to drill 3,200 wells atop Roan Plateau
Snake Valley to Las Vegas: ‘Hands off our water’
From Land Letter
Aug. 27, 2009
Residents of Utah and Nevada’s Snake Valley are expected to turn out in force today to oppose a proposed deal they say sells out their communities to help quench the thirst of a city 300 miles away.
Read full article: Snake Valley to Las Vegas: ‘Hands off our water’
Canadian firm eyes Wyo. for uranium production
From Land Letter
Aug. 20, 2009
Hoping to take advantage of the recent resurgence in uranium prices, one of the world’s largest uranium producers is seeking federal approval of a proposed in-situ uranium recovery project in southern Wyoming.
Read full article: Canadian firm eyes Wyo. for uranium production
BLM management team wins Senate confirmation
From Land Letter
Aug. 13, 2009
Two of the Obama administration’s highest-ranking public lands managers won Senate confirmation last week, overcoming opposition from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who has clashed with the Obama administration over a hardrock mining bill.
Read full article: BLM management team wins Senate confirmation
Colo. determined to push ahead with state roadless rule
From Land Letter
Aug. 13, 2009
Last week’s federal appeals court decision reinstating the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule will not keep Colorado from moving forward with its own roadless measure, state officials said this week, though some believe the state’s effort has been undermined by the latest court ruling.
Read full article: Colo. determined to push ahead with state roadless rule
Reid declares storage proposal ‘dead’
From Land Letter
Aug. 13, 2009
DENVER — After decades of battles over the proposed storage of nuclear waste at Nevada’s Yucca Mountain, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says the fight is finally over.
Read full article: Reid declares storage proposal ‘dead’
Colo. consumption expected to triple by midcentury — study
From Land Letter
Aug. 13, 2009
Colorado will likely triple its water consumption by 2050 due to a growing population, expanding economy and environmental needs, according to a new study by the state water planning agency.
Read full article: Colo. consumption expected to triple by midcentury — study
Damage, pollution from wildfires could surge as western U.S. warms — study
From Land Letter
Aug. 6, 2009
Wildfires in the western United States could scorch about 50 percent more land by 2055 than they do now, causing a sharp decline in the region’s air quality, a new study predicts.
Read full article: Damage, pollution from wildfires could surge as western U.S. warms — study
