Eureka, Utah, a struggling former mining town, was named a
Superfund priority site in September, but the Environmental
Protection Agency is running out of funds for cleanup, and the Bush
administration shows no interest in replacing them.
Magazine

December 9, 2002
Eureka, Utah, unearths a toxic legacy just as its only hope for rescue, the federal Superfund cleanup program, blows away. Also in this issue: Thousands of park and forest jobs could go to private contractors.
Feature
Sidebar
Timelines trace the birth, life and decline of the
Superfund law, both on Capitol Hill and on the ground in the
West.
The "Brownfields" program, an offshoot of Superfund, is
designed to redevelop contaminated sites into real estate, but
critics say it is not always up to the challenge.
Essays
A mysterious, mangy, half-wild dog known locally as "The
Auditor" has made the moonscape of the Butte’s Berkeley Pit
his home for 16 years, hanging on to life as stubbornly as the town
of Butte itself.
Book Reviews
Welfare Ranching’s authors, George Wuerthner and
Mollie Matteson, are romantics who ignore the threat of sprawl and
the studies of scientists in their quest to ban all cattle grazing
on the West’s public lands.
Ranching West of the 100th Meridian is a book of essays
that promotes the false idea that Westerners must choose between
condos and cows in a landscape never meant for cattle
grazing.
Writers on the Range
Dick Cheney once lived in the boom-and-bust community of
Rock Springs, Wyo., but didn’t learn there the lessons that
he might have learned to help him deal with unintended consequences
in a war against Iraq.
Heard Around the West
Camouflage for consumers; SWAT team busts dog; saving
Smokey’s job; New Mexico "most stupid" state; turning a mine
into a tourist attraction; and hermit "Dugout Dick" lives in a cave
in Idaho.
Dear Friends
Kiss a super idea (Superfund) goodbye; more election
reflection; visitors; correction and apology; and hello to Utah,
radio station KUER.
News
The auto industry, backed by the Bush administration, is
trying to halt California’s progressive auto-emissions
regulations.
The Bush administration has ordered federal
land-management agencies to identify jobs that might be performed
more cheaply by the private sector.
Displaced federal employees may find it difficult to adapt
to work in the private sector.
Beef checkoff rule upheld by courts; California red-legged
frog loses critical habitat; Hanford’s Fast Flux Test
Facility will not be shut down; Neal McCaleb announces resignation
as director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and EPA eases rules on
coal-fir
In California’s Central Valley, farmers are working
together to create "farmland security perimeters" to protect their
land from development.
Fed up with energy companies and the BLM, several ranchers
in northwestern New Mexico have locked their gates, blocking
private roads to natural gas wells.
Plans to take down Condit Dam on the White Salmon River in
Washington are stalled over the problem of what to do about the
sediment that has backed up behind the dam.
A U.S. Geological Survey study, suppressed by the Interior
Department in October, says that recreation adds more than
agriculture to the economy of the Klamath River Basin.
Montana’s Supreme Court rules that citizens and
government agencies can maintain water rights without "using" the
water, while the Wyoming Legislature stalls over a bill that would
allow irrigators to leave water instream temporarily.
Letters
Featured stories
-
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,...
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sierra Forest Legacy (www.sierraforestlegacy.org) is seeking an executive director to lead our effort to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada. We seek a...
-
SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST (PART-TIME, CONTRACT) High Country News (HCN) is looking for a Social Media Specialist to manage our social media channels, encompassing Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, and...
-
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]
-
SMALL FARM AT BASE OF MOUNT SHASTA, CALIF. Fruit/berry/veggie/flower farm in the mountain town of Mount Shasta. Small home, 2 barns (one with apartment), and more. Famously pure air and water.
-
CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER Illinois Valley SWCD is offering an incredible career opportunity in beautiful SW Oregon. .8+ FTE, plus benefits. Visit our website for full details.