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Our Successes: Brainerd Grantees Making a Difference
US Fish and Wildlife Service finds that wolverine warrants ESA protections
Earthjustice successfully argued on behalf of the Idaho Conservation League, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and Conservation Northwest for Endangered Species protections for wolverines. Wolverines were found to be threatened in the western United States due to their low numbers and the decline of areas with persistent snowpack in this reversal of a Bush-era decision to the contrary. The listing is delayed by other priorities (251 other species share this "warranted but precluded" status).
Missoula County commissioners adopt historic Seeley Lake Regional Plan
Missoula County Commissioners recently acted to adopt the long-awaited Seeley Lake Regional Plan. The plan area encompasses the Clearwater watershed, situated at the sourthern end of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. The grassroots and inclusive plan, written by a diverse group of rural residents with hundreds of hours of public input, will guide future growth and land use in the Seeley Lake region.
Montana Legacy Project complete, 310,000 acres headed for public ownership
2010 saw the final closing on the purchase of 310,000 acres from Plum Creek to the federal government and the state of Montana, via the Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land. The Montana Legacy Project lands are within the heart of the Crown of the Continent--the 18 million acre mosaic of wild habitat encompassing Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness and surrounding lands. Without this historic deal, these lands would have been threatened by unchecked, piecemeal development.
Federal judge recommends striking down Oregon logging plan
The Western Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice represented conservation and fishing organizations in a successful effort to strike down a federal plan that abandoned scientific protections for federal public lands in western Oregon and would have opened these lands to clear-cut logging on 2.6 million acres of BLM forestlands. This decision means the Clinton era Northwest Forest Plan once again governs logging practices on BLM's Oregon forests.
Court to Washington State: cut oil refineries' harmful emissions
A federal judge recently ruled that Washington State agencies have unlawfully failed to regulate climate change pollution from the five oil refineries operating in the state. This ruling compels the state to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from the five oil refineries that operate here. Furthermore, the ruling makes it clear that the agencies are required to regluate greenhouse gases under the state's implementation plan for the Clean Air Act.
B.C. fulfills commitment to ban mining and energy development in the Flathead Watershed
On November 14 the BC government gave 'Royal Assent' to Bill 2, the Flathead Watershed Area Conservation Act. This means that the B.C. government has fulfilled is promise to ban mining and energy development in the headwaters of the North Fork Flathead River. The B.C. government has now delivered certainty for the B.C. portion of the watershed that it can not and will not be mined or developed for energy or mineral resources.
In Idaho, judge rules against Atlanta Gold on arsenic pollution
U.S. Magistrate Judge Mikel Williams ruled that Atlanta Gold Corporation has violated the Clean Water Act more that 1400 times by releasing arsenic and other toxics into the Boise River watershed since 2008. The Court insisted that Atlanta Gold could not simply walk away from the pollution at its historic mining site, which discharges contaminated water into the Boise River, which provides nearly 20 percent of Boise's drinking water. Fines could exceed $60 million.
Brainerd grantee earns precedent-setting ruling on preliminary injunctions
Western Environmental Law Center recently won an appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that directly affects forests in the Big Hole watershed but has a broader impact. The ruling strengthens the ability to prevent environmentally devastating actions from going forward while a project is in court, making this precedent-setting victory on the issue of preliminary injunctions one that is being hailed far-and-wide.
Washington governor approves limit on use of phosphorus-based fertilizers
In Washington, the Environmental Priorities Coalition advocated for the recent passage of the Clean Fertilizers, Healthier Lakes and Rivers law, which will manage the sale of phosphorus in lawn fertilizers and provide a commonsense and cost-effective approach to keeping our lakes and rivers clean and healthy, a win-win for the economy and the environment.
Washington governor signs bill to phase out coal power
In Washington State, the governor signed into law a bill phasing out the state's only coal-fired power plant. Conservation advocates worked for years on this historic agreement, reaching out to local residents near the plant, organized labor, and the governor.
Oregon schools retrofit bill cheered from both sides of the aisle
In Oregon, unanimous passage of the "Cool Schools" bill will speed the implementation of energy efficiency upgrades in the state's schools. Conservation advocates are also cheering the expansion of the state's Bottle Bill to include a greater number of consumer products, which is expected to significantly increase recycling rates of containers and keep the state one of the nation's leaders on recycling.
Montana governor brands repeal of cyanide mining ban: VETO
In Montana, conservation advocates have successfully led a campaign to block the repeal of the state's voter-approved ban on cyanide mining. With signature flare, the governor literally branded the bill that would have repealed the ban, along with several other doomed bills.
Alaska governor saves energy efficiency investments
In Alaska, conservation advocates recently prevailed upon the governor to protect the bulk of priority energy efficiency investments in the face of sweeping budget cuts. In the end, the projects funded keep Alaska headed toward clean energy generation, in spite of cuts to renewables, energy rebates, weatherization, and geothermal programs.
Tenth Circuit follows Ninth, ruling in favor of Roadless Rule.
A recent court ruling made the 2001 Roadless Areas Conservation Rule the law of the land in the entire United States, except for the state of Idaho, protecting nearly 50 million acres of roadless areas on national forests. The unanimous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit confirmed that the Forest Service has broad jurisdiction in determining the balance of uses on the lands that it manages. Earthjustice represented the conservation community in more than a dozen cases over the past 13 years to achieve this victory.
Roadless areas of Tongass National Forest protected again
A federal district judge ruled recently that roadless areas in the Tongass National Forest should be inviolate, effectively reinstating Roadless Rule protections for the Tongass. The case was brought by Earthjustice on behalf of Alaska Native, tourism industry, and environmental organizations, who sued the federal government in December of 2009 challenging the Bush-era exemption of the Tongass from the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
$9.4 million to protect Flathead River in B.C. and Montana
An agreement between the U.S. and Canada that was formalized in 2010 was made real in 2011 when major oil companies voluntarily retired more than 200,000 acres of oil and gas leases in the U.S. Flathead near Glacier National Park. Additionally, the Nature Conservancy and the Nature Conservancy of Canada announced a commitment to provide $9.4 million to the province of British Columbia to help offset the costs of enacting the 2010 partnership between B.C. and the state of Montana. The agreement will prevent coal mining and oil and gas development on nearly 400,000 acres in British Columbia.
Taku River Tlingit and B.C. government sign historic agreement
The Taku River Tlingit First Nation recently signed historic agreements with the British Columbian government establishing land protection measures and shared management responsibility for their ancestral lands. The Wóoshtin Wudidaa (Flowing Together) Land Use Plan protects more than seven million acres from commercial logging and designates over two million acres as First Nation Conservancy Parks. In addition, the Taku River Tlingit and provincial government have agreed to a joint governing process to guide future resource-related decisions.
Big chunk of Rocky Mountain Front protected from energy development
Five energy companies have voluntarily relinquished their rights to energy exploration on nearly 29,000 acres in the wildlife-rich Badger-Two Medicine Area, a place that is sacred to the Blackfeet as the site of their creation story. Adjacent to Glacier National Park in the Rocky Mountain Front, these acres bring to 73 percent the total acres of federal mineral leases along the Front that are now permanently retired due to a law recently enacted by Congress. The Rocky Mountain Front is considered a crown jewel of the West and a sportsman's paradise.
Grizzlies walk public lands in Swan Valley of Montana
Grizzly bears coming out of hibernation in the Swan Valley of Montana in 2010 walked for the first time on private lands that have returned to public ownership. This month marked a historical land transformation as former Plum Creek Timber Company lands were reverted back to public ownership, erasing the "checkerboard" ownership in the valley. Brainerd grantees Northwest Connections (in the Swan), Trust for Public Land, and the Nature Conservancy were instrumental in this effort.
Mining banned in Crown of the Continent
Leaders of Montana and British Columbia pledged recently to ban drilling and mining in a remote valley along the US-Canada border that energy companies have tried to develop for more than a quarter-century. This area, known as the Crown of the Continent for its grand mountain peaks, is just upstream from Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park. Brainerd grantee, Wildsight, continues to work hard for increased protection of this critical landscape.
Roadless Rule is once again in effect
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued a strong opinion reinstating the Clinton 2001 Roadless Rule throughout the Ninth Circuit, with the exception of Alaska, Idaho, and Wyoming. For now, the full Roadless Rule is once again in effect in most of the West. Many conservation organizations, including several Brainerd grantees, were involved in this effort, represented by Earthjustice.
Highwood\'s Future Clear: No Coal-fired Power Plant
The developers of the Highwood coal fired plant near Great Falls recently formally terminated their air quality permit. Brainerd grantees Montana Environmental Information Center and Earthjustice provided support for Great Falls residents and local ranchers and farmers who fought to protect their clean water, productive soil, and pure air from a dirty coal plant.
Survey and Manage rule upheld
A U.S. District Court judge recently upheld the "Survey and Manage" rule of the Northwest Forest Plan, quoting renowned scientist E.O. Wilson when he stressed the importance of saving all the parts of an ecosystem, even the uncommon or rare plant, animal, and fungal species that are "indeed the little things that run the world." Many past and present Brainerd grantees deserve credit for this win, including the Western Environmental Law Center, Conservation Northwest, Gifford-Pinchot Task Force, Oregon Wild, American Lands Alliance, and Umpqua Watersheds.
A first: Permit limits CO2 emissions
Idaho environmental regulators recently issued a permit to a company that plans to operate a coal gasification fertilizer plant in the state. The permit limits carbon dioxide emissions under an agreement between the state, Southeast Idaho Energy, the Sierra Club, and Idaho Conservation League. It is the first plant in the state—and the nation—with enforceable greenhouse gas emission limits and one of the first "clean coal" plants with a permit in the nation. "This permit is a win-win for the people of Idaho," stated the Idaho Conservation League.
Conservationists join coalition to fill Oregon's budget deficit
The voters of Oregon recently approved two ballot measures to fill the state budget deficit by increasing taxes on companies and wealthy individuals. Conservation leaders participated in an unprecedented Oregon coalition to educate their constituents about the measures, which will protect critical environmental and economic programs, as well as funding for schools, healthcare, and senior services.
Washington governor signs executive order to reduce carbon emissions
Governor Christine Gregoire recently signed an executive order to reduce Washington's carbon emissions and announced the creation of a 30-state, bi-partisan coalition of governors, led by Washington state, to call upon national policymakers to pursue strong climate policy. Brainerd has supported the work of the Washington Environmental Council, Washington Conservation Voters, and Climate Solutions that contributed to this achievement.
Court rejects illegal National Forest regulations for third time
A federal court recently ruled against the U.S. Forest Service in its third attempt to eliminate virtually all environmental safeguards from the rules that oversee the management of our national forests. Several current and past Brainerd grantees were plaintiffs in this legal challenge by Western Environmental Law Center, including Gifford Pinchot Task Force, Cascadia Wildlands Project, the Lands Council, Forest Service Employeees for Environmental Ethics, Oregon Wild and The Wilderness Society.
New Wilderness areas created in Oregon\'s high desert
The Oregon Badlands Wilderness and the Spring Basin Wilderness were created under the Public Lands Management Act of 2009. The Oregon Natural Desert Association played a lead role in securing protection for these special areas in Oregon's High Desert.
Copper Salmon Wilderness included in Omnibus lands bill
The Copper Salmon Wilderness was created under the Public Lands Management Act of 2009. Wild and Scenic River status was also implemented in this area under the same act. Current and past grantees that played important roles in securing habitat protection for this place include: Trout Unlimited and Friends of Elk River.
Mount Hood Wilderness created by Omnibus bill
The Mount Hood Wilderness was created under the Public Lands Management Act of 2009. Wild and Scenic River status was also implemented in this area under the same act. Current and past grantees that played important roles in securing this habitat protection for Mount Hood include: Oregon Wild, Crag Law Center, the Campaign for America's Wilderness, and American Rivers.
New Soda Mountain Wilderness in Southern Oregon
The Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009 designated over 23,000 acres of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument backcountry as the Soda Mountain Wilderness and enabled a permanent end to public lands cattle grazing on up to 106,000 acres in and near the Monument in Oregon through a voluntary private buyout plan. The Brainerd Foundation has supported the Soda Mountain Wilderness Council in their quest to protect this rare landscape.
Owyhee Wilderness area created
The Owyhee Wilderness was created under the Public Lands Management Act of 2009. Wild and Scenic River status was also implemented in this area under the same act. Current and past grantees that played important roles in securing this habitat protection for this place include: Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Rivers United, and American Rivers.
Montana coal plants must control small particulate emissions
In 2008, Montana became the first state in the nation to require a coal-fired power plant to specifically consider air pollution controls for fine particulates, which can cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Citizens of Great Falls who were opposed to a proposed power plant asked Brainerd grantee Montana Environmental Information Center to assist with this effort. A diverse base led to this groundbreaking victory.