News
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Drilling leases slowed by paper jam
Assistant Interior Secretary Rebecca Watson blames environmental protests for hobbling gas drilling in the Rocky Mountains, but much of the delay comes from problems with the industry’s applications
by Patrick Farrell, Aug 22, 2005 -
Feds oppose state's effort to empowerlandowners
Wyoming’s new "split-estate" law, designed to give private landowners more control over energy development on their property, hits a big obstacle – the Bush administration
by Kerry Brophy, Aug 22, 2005 -
Congress and Indians spar over lost money
Sen. John McCain proposes a way to settle the long-running scandal over missing Indian trust-account funds, but Blackfoot banker Elouise Cobell remains wary
by Daniel Kraker, Aug 22, 2005 -
Follow-up
Judge Dee Benson reconsiders the Norton-Leavitt 2003 wilderness settlement; New Mexico’s Otero Mesa back on the oil and gas auction block; former NOAA administrator James Lecky accused of doctoring science in controversial biological opinion
by Matt Jenkins, Aug 22, 2005 -
Bedrock environmental law takes a beating
Congressman Richard Pombo’s task force tears into the National Environmental Policy Act
by Laura Paskus, Aug 22, 2005 -
Birds get a break from blades
More than half the windmills on California’s Altamont Pass will shut down for two months this winter so migrating birds can pass safely through the area
by Patrick Farrell, Aug 08, 2005 -
Domenici clobbers cooperation on the RioGrande
New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici says he wants to give more money to the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program – if the program will trim its membership and put itself under federal authority
by Patrick Farrell, Aug 08, 2005 -
Horn hunters face hard times
The rising popularity of Viagra has cut into the profits of Western antler-hunters, including Wyoming Boy Scouts
by Andrew Slaton and Ray Ring, Aug 08, 2005 -
Primrose focus of legal dustup
Environmentalists and ORV groups accuse the BLM of dragging its feet over implementing a plan to protect an endangered flower in California’s Clear Creek Management Area
by Patrick Farrell, Aug 08, 2005 -
The Great Salt Lake's dirty little secret
Utah’s Great Salt Lake is loaded with mercury, and scientists are trying to figure out whether Nevada’s gold mines are part of the problem
by Patrick Farrell, Aug 08, 2005 -
Follow-up
Mexican wolf dies during checkup; another fish kill on the Klamath; Bush nominates H. Dale Hall to be new head of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
by Laura Paskus, Aug 08, 2005 -
Industry embeds its own in the BLM
Energy and mining companies are paying the salaries of workers at Bureau of Land Management offices around the West
by Tony Barboza, Aug 08, 2005 -
Follow-up
Arizona’s San Pedro River dries up; Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility is having trouble disposing of rockets; Bush nominates industry lawyer Granta Nakayama to head EPA’s enforcement division
by Laura Paskus, Jul 25, 2005 -
New grazing rules ride on doctored science
The Bureau of Land Management rewrote a scientific report critical of its new grazing rules, and two veteran scientists have quit the agency in protest
by Tony Davis, Jul 25, 2005 -
Soaring home prices spur changes to environmental law
With housing prices on the rise in the state, the California Environmental Quality Act is under attack
by Tony Barboza, Jun 13, 2005 -
How low will Vegas go for water?
Patricia Mulroy of the Southern Nevada Water Authority has ambitious plans for getting yet more water for Las Vegas from intake pipes in Lake Mead
by Matt Jenkins, Jun 13, 2005 -
Pueblo happily hangs on to mustard gas
The aging chemical weapons stored at the Army’s Pueblo Chemical Depot will stay in Colorado and be destroyed on site
by Patrick Farrell, Jun 13, 2005 -
Rural residents split over coalbed methane
In Montana’s Powder River County, the group Citizens for Resource Development wants to encourage coalbed methane drilling, while next door in Rosebud County, the Northern Plains Resource Council is fighting hard against it
by Ed Kemmick, Jun 13, 2005 -
Navajos put more than 17 million acres off-limits
The Navajo Nation has banned uranium mining on the reservation, but that may not stop an already-approved mining project
by Laura Paskus, Jun 13, 2005 -
Uranium miners go back underground
With prices rising and government support, uranium mining is booming in western Colorado
by J.M. McCord, Jun 13, 2005
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