January 2008
-
Off-road ‘enthusiasts’ (snowmobiles) expressed their disdain for a “Blaine County Cooperative Conservation Recreation and Travel Plan” which would close BLM and state big game wintering habitat to both motorized and non-motorized recreationists on either side of the Wood River Valley “only when harsh winter conditions warrant.” Motorized users express outrage over BLM travel plan Snowmobiles…
-
The Salt Lake Tribune features an article about a letter that a couple of Utah legislators wrote associating wilderness designation in the state with aiding terrorists. Letter links wilderness, threats of terror. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance takes the brunt of these bumbling assaults on preserving wild places, wilderness that when properly protected actualizes the…
-
It looks as if more has developed in the Mark Rey contempt of court case. It is being reported that a judge decided Friday that the Forest Service is indeed in contempt of court for not properly assessing the environmental impacts of the fire retardant ammonium phosphate by its deadline. The Forest Service had dragged…
-
Idaho state legislators just don’t believe the numbers on wolves and big game and they’re more than willing to be loud about it. Wolf population grows F&G director briefs lawmakers on species By Jared S. Hopkins Times-News This is the kind of political pressure and anecdotal hearsay that makes the state not ready for delisting.
-
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wants to expedite logging for one of his home state’s chief industries – timber. Ore. Senator’s Bill Would Thin Forests : Wyden said he was particularly interested in developing collaborative processes to identify objections early on, so they can be addressed without ending up in court. This while the timber industry…
-
Oregon may have as few as a pair of wolves and it’s state protections drop after four breeding pairs, but just west of the Snake lies a temporary reprieve for wolves. Capital News, an Ag publication, illustrates a few of Oregon’s state protections “Delisting wolf may not help” (broken/pay) : One thing the federal delisting…
-
Almost half the Senate pushes to allow firearms into national parks. Senators push to allow guns in national parks BY PETE ZIMOWSY of the Idaho Statesman Here’s the editorial in the New York Times (registeration required) : Keeping Guns Out of the Parks It looks like a political move more than anything ~ or pulling…
-
It looks like the horrible 2005 Bush rule governing forest management is a relic of the past. Monday, the government filed a motion to dismiss its appeal of a court decision striking down the Bush rule. Bush Administration Abandons Effort to Undercut National Forest Protections In memoriam: Bush Administration tries again with new Forest Service…