Environmental News
Below are current news stories from regional and national sources on topics of concern to the Brainerd Foundation.
- Soda Mountain Wilderness Bill Clears Committee
A bill that would end cattle grazing while creating a wilderness area in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument was unanimously approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday. (May. 08, 2008) Medford Mail-Tribune
- Bush Signs Wild Sky Into Law
President Bush signed legislation this morning to create the Wild Sky Wilderness, ending a nine-year political journey to provide tough federal protection on thousands of acres in eastern Snohomish County. (May. 08, 2008) Everett Herald
- Idaho Company Makes Millions from Toxic Waste
The dump at Grand View, where tainted sand from Kuwait will be taken, stores hazardous material from government and industry. (May. 08, 2008) Boise Idaho Statesman
- U.S. Senate committee OKs Crapo's Owyhee Canyonlands bill
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo's bill to designate 807 square miles in the state's Owyhee canyonlands as wilderness was approved by a Senate committee on Wednesday. (May. 08, 2008) Idaho Statesman
- Views: B.C. Fish Farms Go to Court
Debate over the future of fish farming on British Columbia's coast moved from skirmishing in scientific journals to a full-blown court battle Tuesday. This time it's a challenge to the constitutional legality of the B.C. government regulating the same salmon farms whose rapid expansion it enthusiastically promoted. (May. 07, 2008) Vancouver Sun
- Blackfoot Valley Lauded for Open Space Efforts
Federal wildlife managers, politicians and policymakers praised the Blackfoot Valley's ranchers Tuesday, saying they are national leaders in cooperating to preserve America's open spaces and a rural way of life (May. 07, 2008) Missoula Missoulian
- Trumpeter swans from Canada released in Montana valley
The Wyoming Wetlands Society is aiding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's reintroduction of trumpeter swans in the Rocky Mountain West, and on Monday, 10 trumpeter swans were released in the Blackfoot River Valley in Montana. (May. 06, 2008) Great Falls Tribune
- Federal government releases revamped salmon plan
The federal government released its final, court-ordered plans to protect 13 threatened and endangered species of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia Basin on Monday, but environmental groups called the plan, which does not require the removal of any of the 14 federal hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, a step backward. (May. 06, 2008) Washington Post
- Mining's Return Faces Resistance
The high price of metals has brought mining roaring back to the region. Once seen as economic engines, mining companies are now treated more like pariahs in communities that have prospered by attracting wealthy pre-retirees and knowledge economy jobs. (May. 05, 2008) Christian Science Monitor
- Tribes, U.S. Sign Deal on NW dams
Four Northwest tribes finalized a new $900 million agreement with the federal government that they hope will begin to reverse the damage done by Columbia River system dams. (May. 05, 2008) Portland Oregonian
- N.M. senator proposes bill to allow drilling for oil in Alaska refuge
A dozen other Republican senators joined N.M. Sen. Pete Domenici at a news conference on Thursday where he unveiled legislation designed to drive up domestic oil production in the United States that includes opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to energy development and mining oil shale deposits in Colorado and other Rocky Mountain West states. You may have to view an ad to read this article. ; May 2 (May. 02, 2008) Albuquerque Journal
- Easement protects 7,500 acres in Montana's Blackfoot Valley
The 7,500-acre easement recently brokered by the Five Valleys Land Trust is the first in Montana that focused on protecting native fisheries habitat and the largest such deal for the Missoula-based nonprofit. (May. 02, 2008) Missoulian
- New I-5 Bridge Would Make Traffic Disappear
Replacing the decrepit Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River with mass transit lines and new car lanes on a toll bridge would reduce future traffic congestion by two-thirds, from a whopping 15 hours a day to potentially less than five. (May. 02, 2008) Portland Oregonian
- Wilderness Done the Right Way
Congress sent the long-awaited and long-debated Wild Sky Wilderness plan to President Bush, who is expected to sign it. But when hikers return this summer to the mountains above Skykomish and Index, they probably won't notice much change--which is exactly the point (Apr. 30, 2008) Seattle Times
- Food Scientists Advise Halt to Biofuels
Some top international food scientists on Tuesday recommended halting the use of food-based biofuels, such as ethanol, saying it would cut corn prices by 20 percent during a world food crisis (Apr. 30, 2008) San Francisco Chronicle
- USFWS: Bull trout should retain threatened species protections
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services announced Tuesday that bull trout populations in the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Nevada should remain listed as a threatened species, and some populations may be studied for further protection. (Apr. 30, 2008) Twin Falls Times-News
- Plum Creek's plans could substantially change Montana's landscape
Plum Creek owns 58 percent of the private land in Missoula County, and if even a fraction of those lands are opened up for development it would have a considerable impact on the Montana county's real estate market and economy, and the specter of that should move county zoning laws up the legislative agenda in 2009. (Apr. 30, 2008) Great Falls Tribune
- To curb energy prices, president says open ANWR to drilling
President Bush said Tuesday that in order to reduce gasoline and fuel prices, the nation's supply of oil must be increased, and said in order to do that, restrictions on oil refineries must be lifted, as well as restrictions on drilling in areas of the nation such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. (Apr. 30, 2008) Washington Post
- Citizens get first look at draft zoning regs
The citizens of Ravalli County have had a chance to see Draft B of the countywide zoning regulations and had suggestions for the consultants who developed them. (Apr. 30, 2008) Bitterroot Star
- Judge Orders Feds to Decide Polar Bear Listing
A federal judge has ordered the Interior Department to decide within 16 days whether polar bears should be listed as a threatened species because of global warming. (Apr. 29, 2008) Seattle Times