The Environmental Protection Agency is developing the
first emission standards for off-road motors, including
snowmobiles.
Items by Ray Ring
In West Yellowstone, Mont., where snowmobile tourism is a
mainstay of the economy, locals are split between fierce supporters
of the industry and those who favor a little more quiet and a
measure of control.
A "Time" magazine column about satellite radio that
described the New Jersey Turnpike as "the middle of nowhere"
provides unintentional humor to Westerners who know the real
meaning of nowhere.
The Bush administration picks Wyoming resident Paul
Hoffman to run the BLM as assistant secretary of the Interior for
fish, wildlife and parks.
Environmentalists adopt the conservative strategy of
working to derail the nomination of federal judges whom they fear
could harm their cause.
A federal judge rules that the Burn Area Recovery Plan,
which would log Montana's Bitterroot National Forest, must be put
on hold until the Forest Service gives the public a chance to
appeal.
The Northern Plains Resource Council is unique among
Montana environmental groups in that it was founded by cattle
ranchers, who still make up half the membership.
In his own words, Libby, Mont., accountant Wayne Hirst
talks about how Montana environmentalists went wrong.
In his own words, activist Bob Decker talks about
Montana's environmental groups and the struggle they face in their
state.
Back in the '70s, Montana led the way in progressive
environmental legislation, but now with its economy faltering,
those laws are being eviscerated, and environmentalists need to
find a new strategy.
Alberta, Canada, ranchers are frustrated by the
government's lack of oversight of the proliferating sour-gas plants
that some say harm health and livestock.
The Boulder-White Clouds wilderness bill tries to give
something to everybody, as a list of some of its provisions
reveals
Environmentalists, farmers and state and federal agencies
try to find some kind of consensus even as each reaches for a share
of the overused Platte River as it flows from Colorado, through
Wyoming and across Nebraska.
The Sunnyside Mine near Silverton, Colo., is an unusual
example of a community working together with miners and
environmentalists to find a strategy to heal the damage.
Some say the often-picturesque ruins of mining create a
historical landscape that has value whether there is pollution or
not.
The story of Colorado's Summitville Mine is a story of
spectacular failures.
The old mining town of Anaconda, Mont., has turned a mine
dump into a designer golf course.
Plant physiologist Ray Brown works to help mining-damaged
ecosystems recover - with the help of a few hardy plant
species.
Lloyd Harkins, who spent his early years working in
Montana mines, now devotes himself to salvaging and collecting the
industrial paraphernalia of hardrock mining, from ore cars to a
78-ft. tall head frame.
The reclamation of Montana's hardrock mines will cost
billions, and is complicated by the fact that no one really knows
how to do it, or who should foot the bill.
A look at odd statistics in the West includes a few
surprises.
Musing on the gravestones in Anaconda, Mont., a writer
theorizes that one can tell whether a town is Old West or New West
by the ratio of the buried to the currently alive
inhabitants.
The preferential treatment Big Sky gives the pro-resort
Lone Peak Lookout over the independent Big Sky Bugle is an ironic
legacy for a hard-hitting journalist like Chet Huntley to
leave.
Seven ski resorts ring Yellowstone National Park and add
to the pressure on a fragile ecosystem.
A computerized key-pad locked road in Big Sky epitomizes a
ski resort where the "haves" are carefully kept from the
trespassing "have nots."
Big Sky founding father and famous TV newsman Chet Huntley
started the resort but did not live to see what he
created.
Former Big Sky ski patrolman J.C. Knaub in his own words
describes the difficulties faced in trying to bring neighborhood
parks and trails to Big Sky.
A Montana ski resort originally created by newsman Chet
Huntley and intended to be a model of free-market, unconstrained
development, is today a morass of lawsuits, environmental
degradation and inefficiency.
Land swaps, like the one planned to save land near
Yellowstone National Park from mining, are a bad habit with a bad
history in Montana's national forests.
Activist Ray Wheeler sets an intense pace as he personally
lobbies in D.C. for wilderness preservation in Utah.
Featured stories
-
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GEOPHYSICS - We find groundwater, buried debris and assist with new construction projects for a fraction of drilling costs.
-
SPRING MOUNTAINS SOLAR OFF GRID MOUNTAIN HOME Located 50 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada in the pine forest of Lee Canyon at 8000 feet elevation. One of a kind property surrounded...
-
WATER PROGRAM DIRECTOR Based in home office within Arizona, with travel to Phoenix 2-3 times/month (TNC office space may be available if located in Phoenix or Tucson area)....
-
FOREST PROGRAM DIRECTOR, 51721 The Forest Program Director oversees aspects of protection, science, stewardship and community relations for the Arizona business unit. Provides scientific leadership and support for TNC's...
-
SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION ADVOCATE WildEarth Guardians is seeking a full-time advocate in our Wild Places Program to advance a new paradigm of forest management and protection based on the...
-
REGIONAL CONSERVATION DIRECTOR FOR THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (RCTC) The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) is conducting a national search, seeking a dynamic leader and effective manager to be the next Regional Conservation Director....
-
WYOMING CONSERVATION COORDINATOR The Wyoming Conservation Coordinator (WCC) is a senior-level position that provides strategic leadership for GYC's efforts to protect lands, waters, and wildlife within the Wyoming...
-
NEW AGRARIAN PROGRAM SOUTHWEST COORDINATOR The New Agrarian Program Southwest Coordinator is responsible, in partnership with the NAP Director and Colorado Manager, for implementation of Quivira's apprenticeship program in New...
-
NEW AGRARIAN PROGRAM ALUMNI AND OUTREACH MANAGER The New Agrarian Alumni & Outreach Manager is a passionate community builder who enjoys identifying opportunities to develop new programming, supporting beginning agrarians and land...
-
ANIMAS RIVERKEEPER San Juan Citizens Alliance seeks a passionate, experienced, and motivated Animas Riverkeeper to lead campaigns to protect water quality and flows in the Animas River...
-
CO & NM COALITION TO ENHANCE WORKING LANDS MANAGER Land stewards are more effective when they work as a team and have strong relationships. Our goals are to acknowledge and support the good work...
-
PATAGONIA SONOITA-CREEK PRESERVE MANAGER The Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve Manager performs and participates in preserve operations including the maintenance, management, development and coordination of conservation programs. On-site housing provided...
-
VERDE RIVER PROJECTS TECHNICIAN The Verde River Projects Technician (VRPT) provides technical assistance to Verde River Program staff in implementation of the Verde River Streamflow Monitoring Protocol. This consists...
-
HEALTHY CITIES PROGRAM MANAGER The Healthy Cities Program Manager works directly with the business unit's Healthy Cities Program Director to advance the Healthy Cities Program's long-term vision and innovative,...
-
MAJOR GIFTS MANAGER - MOUNTAIN WEST, THE CONSERVATION FUND Cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of 75-125 donors.
-
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WITH RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CORPORATION RCAC in West Sacramento, CA seeks a strategic CFO to oversee and safeguard RCAC's finances.
-
PRECIOUS WATER IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK Hardcover and eBook available now. Contact your local bookstore or the author at 970.371.7339 [email protected]
-
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote stewardship of our public lands by engaging our community in education,...
-
NATURE'S BEST IN ARAVAIPA CANYON 10 acre private oasis in one of Arizona's beautiful canyons. Fully furnished, 2123 sq ft architectural custom-built contemporary home with spectacular views and many extras....
-
HEALTH FOOD STORE IN NW MONTANA Turn-key business includes 2500 sq ft commercial building in main business district of Libby, Montana. 406.293.6771 /or [email protected]