NEWS ROUNDUP

Rally protests elimination of forest surveys People lined the sidewalk in front of the Bureau of Land Management offices in Roseburg Monday to protest the elimination of a rule that requires land management agencies survey for rare species before logging. "All species are sacred" read one sign. "300 species lost Protection today. Environmental Laws -- Bushwhacked again" read another carried by a few Roseburg High School students.... Activists in Medford, Ore., Stage Mock Funeral to Plea for Biodiversity Monday's funeral procession in downtown Medford featured a small black coffin carried by solemn people dressed in black mourning clothes. But there was no cadaver in the casket carried at the head of a line of nearly 40 environmental activists parading in front of the Rogue River National Forest headquarters. Monday marked the last day of the 30-day comment period for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management's final supplemental environmental impact statement to remove or modify the survey-and-manage requirements for sensitive plant and animal species contained in the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan.... Forest Service captures eleven horses after several tries Eleven wild horses have been captured on the Jarita Mesa Wildhorse Territory. That’s after Carson National Forest officials last month issued a new contract to Mount Taylor Mustangs—giving it 60 days to capture 30 horses. The first roundup in April captured nine horses, and a second in December found none. Officials say the captured mustangs have been moved to a holding pen at the El Rito District Ranger office pending adoption.... Column: Oregon's Coho Salmon Are Partying Tonight - They're Not Going Extinct After All The Ninth District Court of Appeals announced today that it is throwing out the Endangered Species Act "threatened" listing of Oregon coastal coho salmon. There's going to be a lot of crow to eat by State and Federal agency operatives, Oregon editorialists and environmentalists who foisted this ESA travesty on the people of Oregon and on the resource based industries of this state. Right at the top of my crow-eating list is former Governor John Kitzhaber. This governor spent eight years in office pushing the radical environmental salmon agenda. What did he gain for the state? Economic disaster.... Oregon Coast Salmon Listing Invalidated: Ninth Circuit Dismisses Appeal of Landmark Alsea Case---Bogus ESA Protections for “Wild” Salmon Must Go Claiming victory for “good science and common sense,” Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Russ Brooks today hailed a decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that effectively invalidates, once again, the listing of the Oregon Coast coho salmon as a “threatened species” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The case is Alsea Valley Alliance v. Evans, the most ground-breaking environmental decision of the last decade. “We are elated with this decision,” said Brooks. “The court dismissed an improper and needless appeal of a good, commonsense decision. By lifting the stay of the district court’s decision, people along the Oregon coast can now resume normal lives as productive citizens, no longer hampered by unnecessary restrictive regulations imposed to protect fish that didn’t need protecting to start with.”.... New Seascape initiative stretches from Costa Rica to Ecuador and protects key marine habitats In one of the most ambitious marine conservation initiatives in the western hemisphere, four Latin American nations, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation), Conservation International (CI) and others are consolidating a marine protected area that stretches from Costa Rica to Ecuador and helps safeguard some of the world's richest marine habitats and dozens of endangered species. The project, known as the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape, covers 211 million hectares (521 million acres) and extends from Costa Rica's Cocos Island National Park to Ecuador's Galapagos Island National Park and Marine Reserve. Along the way, the Seascape helps link marine protected areas in Panama and Colombia, safeguards an important migratory route for the Endangered blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and protects one of the last remaining nesting grounds in the Eastern Pacific of the Critically Endangered leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).... Western Governors Agree to Work on Western Presidential Caucus for 2008 Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, chairman of the Western Governors' Association, and his colleagues agreed today to work toward establishing a single date for interested Western states to hold caucuses early in the 2008 Presidential primary season. He said a key purpose would be to focus national attention on Western issues, including: water, environment, energy, agriculture, wildland fire and border Mexican states and Canadian provinces.... Officials evaluate economic impacts of federal decisions What's the economic impact of opening up areas in Moffat County for oil and gas development or the value of tourists visiting the area to spot endangered species? These are some of the questions residents asked of an economic study offered through Colorado State University. At a County Commission workshop Monday, about 15 participants, including local government officials, citizens and business owners agreed to pursue five scenarios on how policy changes could potentially alter local economics.... Wyoming House backs away from wolf lawsuit, for now Wyoming lawmakers tentatively backed away from a possible lawsuit against the federal government over the state's wolf-management plan. But a proposed change adopted Tuesday by the state House could further delay efforts to remove the predators from the Endangered Species List. The quandary is: Should lawmakers hold fast to a management plan that was rejected and take its case to the courts - or should they fix the weaknesses in the state plan and begin the review process all over again? "We're faced with almost having to start over again one year later or having to file a lawsuit to enforce something we don't like," said Rep. Colin Simpson, R-Cody. Simpson successfully offered an amendment to a bill that would allow regulated hunting if 15 packs are established statewide, regardless of whether they are inside or outside Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks.... Groups seeks protection for prairie dogs A New Mexico group has asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to place the Gunnison's prairie dog on the Endangered Species Act list. Although the species, which is native to northern New Mexico, numbers as many as 2 million, that's down 90 percent, a spokeswoman for the group, Forest Guardians, said Monday. All four of the other species of prairie dog -- including the black-tail prairie dog found in other parts of New Mexico and many other states -- have either already been granted protection or organizations are in the process of petitioning for it, the spokeswoman said.... Valley elderberry longhorn beetle slows down project Although a big majority of Americans say they value the protection given wildlife by the federal Endangered Species Act, and don't want it weakened, Porterville could serve as a poster child for the minority view. Porterville and Porterville Unified School District are in a joint community-center and library project set for Orange Avenue. Porterville is home to elderberry shrubs. Elderberry shrubs are the sole habitat for the threatened valley elderberry longhorn beetle. In getting permission to pull out a handful of elderberry shrubs to make way for a community-center project, the city saw staff members put in hours over a period of years, spent thousands of dollars and committed to spending thousands more.... Scuttled ship in Lake Tahoe listed as historic site The century-old SS Tahoe has joined the ranks of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor and the USS Monitor in North Carolina. They're all underwater national historic sites. The SS Tahoe is Nevada's first. The steamer lying 400 feet below the surface of Lake Tahoe won the designation from the National Park Service last week. Launched in 1896, the SS Tahoe steamed thousands of circles around Lake Tahoe, carrying freight, mail and sightseers. The 169-foot "Queen of the Lake" carried up to 100 passengers. It was tied to a dock after losing its mail contract in 1934, and in 1940 was deliberately scuttled off the Glenbrook shoreline.... Column: What kind of "Heritage" are we leaving our heritage? The Mississippi River Delta Heritage Project is a project operating in the states of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana taking in 240 counties. Most of these counties don’t even know they are included....yet. Rarely do we read the small print of a government program. The grant money is offered and we act as though we have won the lottery and go wild spending on our excessive pet projects with our "free money." Once again I have to say there is no such thing as a free lunch - or grant.... Column: Park snowmobiles, Bring ‘em on Bring ‘em on. Bring on the snowmobiles, because without them in Yellowstone National Park in the winter, you’ve sealed the place off. You’ve largely kept the American public outside this wonderland, and you’ve done something else, as well: You’ve done heavy damage to the economy of a community named West Yellowstone. Hardly any of the commentators I’ve encountered on the issue seem to care about West Yellowstone. After all, it’s not the commentators’ livelihoods being wrecked.... Editorial: Conflict whipsaws Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park just can't catch a break. Seems if it wasn't for bad news, there'd be no news at all from the home of Old Faithful. First we've got the dueling federal judges and dizzying back-and-forth of lawsuits surrounding the use of snowmobiles in the park. They'd be almost laughable, if they weren't damaging the economy of West Yellowstone in the process. On top of that, we've now got brucellosis-carrying bison ignoring park borders and heading to the slaughterhouse. It's just the kind of news Easterners need to drive home the notion that Westerners are borderline barbaric.... Environmentalists decry Nader's 'spoiler' candidacy To the Bush campaign, newly announced independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader is a slow, dark horse in the race for the White House. But to environmentalists, who generally back Democrats for president, Nader is unsafe at any speed. Regarded by Democrats as a spoiler in the 2000 race, Nader's candidacy is considered more troubling this time around because environmentalists consider President Bush a greater threat to the nation's air, land and water than they imagined possible four years ago.... Bush touts $26 million in private conservation grants President Bush is touting a $26 million grant program aimed at helping private landowners protect habitat for at-risk species, although some wildlife groups fear it comes at the expense of endangered species recovery. Interior Secretary Gale Norton briefed the president on the Landowner Incentive Program on Tuesday, a day before she is scheduled to announce the $25.8 million in grants to wildlife programs in 40 states and one territory. Norton said it is a "critically important" part of the administration's effort on threatened species.... Lewis and Clark site to become national park The site where the Lewis and Clark reached the end of their journey West and first spied the Pacific Ocean would become part of the National Park system under legislation the Bush administration proposed Monday. The site near the mouth of the Columbia River, known as Station Camp, along with two other spots along the Columbia in Washington state would become part of a new Lewis and Clark National Historic Park.... Lewis & Clark Trail project grows to 20 state ranches Shortly after Philadelphia native Tom Daubert began writing historical panels for the Montana Livestock Association and its program Undaunted Stewardship, he became something of an expert on early Montana history. Since its creation a little more than two years ago, Undaunted Stewardship has grown to include 20 Montana ranches, eight of which contain historic landmarks along the Lewis and Clark Trail. The program strives to protect the environment, preserve historic sites, and keep Montana ranchland in production.... Big wildfire season predicted for drought-plagued states Drought, warm temperatures and damaged vegetation have fire experts predicting a long and destructive fire season throughout much of the interior West this year. But the national outlook is better, with the National Interagency Fire Center expecting near or below average fire seasons in Eastern states, the South and Alaska. The amount of vegetation damaged by drought and insects has been rising in the West, increasing the risk of wildfires. Nationally, more than 63,000 fires burned 3.9 million acres of land in 2003, compared to 4.45 million acres burned in an average year.... White House slows spending on energy Senior Republican Interior Department officials tried unsuccessfully to stop the White House from slowing spending for development of oil and gas on federal lands in the West. The White House moved to tighten a spigot that has poured more than $30 million into energy development - most of it in the West - during the last three years. The Bush administration offered a fiscal year 2005 budget at the beginning of February that includes a proposal to reduce the oil and gas portion of the Bureau of Land Management's budget from $88.2 million in fiscal year 2004 to $85.6 million in fiscal year 2005. It also includes a proposal to impose $3 million in user fees on energy companies that drill on BLM lands. Although Interior Department Secretary Gale Norton has defended the budget proposal since its release, Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke sharply criticized a White House plan to cut her agency's budget in a memorandum Dec. 1. Rebecca W. Watson, the department's assistant secretary for land and minerals management, also signed the memorandum.... Loggers head to Eugene for annual convention Loggers gathering for their 66th annual convention in Eugene this week said things are finally looking up for their industry after a prolonged downturn. "It has become painfully obvious that timber harvest is a necessary component of Oregon's economic health," wrote Oregon Logging Conference president Ed Hanscom, in a welcome message to conference attendees. "And with the passage of President Bush's Healthy Forest Initiative, there is a light at the end of the tunnel." Bush's initiative would allowing thinning projects on 20 million acres of federal land. Conservationists have countered that it poses threats to wildlife habitat and old growth forests.... Environmental group wants Scalia's recusal An environmental group suing Vice President Dick Cheney in U.S. Supreme Court case has asked Justice Antonin Scalia to recuse himself, citing reports that the two recently dined and hunted together. The Sierra Club filed the request two months before oral arguments are scheduled on whether executive privilege applies in a case where the vice president wants to keep information from a task force confidential. Scalia denies doing anything improper in socializing with Cheney. It is unclear whether Chief Justice William Rehnquist or the other justices have the power to force Scalia from the case.... Editorial: Again, an Assault on Alaska If at first you don't succeed in despoiling an environmental treasure, try, try again. That's apparently the White House motto for drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Senate should stop President Bush again, as it has for two years now. The Bush administration has been no friend to the Alaskan environment in recent months. In December, the Forest Service announced it would strip protections from the Tongass National Forest, allowing loggers to build roads to choice stands of old-growth trees. In January, the president's budget brought back his twice-defeated proposal to sell oil leases in the wildlife refuge, and Interior Secretary Gale Norton approved a plan to open millions of acres of the North Slope to drilling and loosen requirements for environmental safeguards.... EPA to Rework Rules On Incinerator Emissions The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington rejected federal rules governing incinerator emissions as inadequate yesterday, forcing the Environmental Protection Agency to rewrite the regulations. A troika of environmental groups had challenged the rules, established in 2000, arguing that they were not preventing dangerous toxins from being released into the air across the country. An industry organization had also sued, arguing that the rules treated similar companies inconsistently.... Pueblo going with flow For the first time in decades, Pueblo will cooperate with, rather than fight, Colorado Springs - to develop a $900 million pipeline from the Arkansas River up to El Paso County. In exchange, Colorado Springs will give up some of its water rights and provide other incentives to help Pueblo maintain river flows through the city - flows that will help keep its historic river walk vital and its proposed kayak course afloat.... Lander may have to pay for water The city of Lander will have to start paying for water it uses from the Worthen Meadows Reservoir, a U.S. Forest Service official said. Lander gets much of its water supply from the reservoir, which is located in the Shoshone National Forest southwest of the city. Forest Supervisor Rebecca Aus informed the city in a letter that Lander will have to start paying a $10,000 a year fee for use of the water, beginning in July.... Wyo cattle require tests For Wyoming ranchers, the other shoe has fallen. Wyoming is a Class A state for brucellosis, with all of the increased testing requirements that that implies. Long anticipated, the loss of the state's Class Free brucellosis status was made official Friday when the change was published in the Federal Register. It was made retroactive to Feb. 13. Loss of Class Free status could cost Wyoming's 6,200 rancher operations $1.5 million in new testing costs, Jim Magagna, executive director of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, estimated recently.... Farmers Win Challenge of 'Got Milk' Campaign The "Got Milk?" dairy promotion program known for putting milk mustaches on celebrities violates the First Amendment by forcing all farmers to pay for the ads, even if they disagree with them, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. The unanimous 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision overturns a lower court's ruling that Tioga County dairy farmers Joseph and Brenda Cochran could be forced to contribute money to the campaign, even though they felt its catchy slogans did little to support sustainable agriculture products.... Budget woes threatening to squash handy bugs Colorado's budget crunch is even hitting bugs where it hurts. The Joint Budget Committee of the Colorado legislature is considering a recommendation that funding be cut for the Palisade Insectary, a unique Colorado Department of Agriculture facility that has been raising good bugs to thwart insect and weed infestations for 59 years. The impending cut does not sit well with the farmers, ranchers and landowners who have been using the insectary's bugs in lieu of costlier spraying with pesticides that, in some cases, yield inferior results.... Home on the Rangeview Or How Green Was My Valley University of Arizona researchers have created a Web site that allow users to compare greenness from one year to the next, between years, against a 14-year average and at two-week intervals. The information is invaluable for making long-term land management decisions. Ranchers, forest rangers and other natural resource managers work directly on the land nearly every day to observe changes and decide how to handle them, whether grazing cattle, monitoring wildlife or assessing fire danger. In combination with this site-specific approach, a University of Arizona satellite image database called RangeView offers these managers a bird's-eye view of broader terrain.... Skidboot & Co. Skidboot, billed as "the amazing dog," amazed members of the Collin County Bar Association's Alternative Dispute Section Friday afternoon at the Holiday Inn in McKinney. About 25 McKinney area attorneys attended the seminar, which had the theme, "Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks." However, David Hartwig says he did not train Skidboot and that Skidboot does not do tricks. Skidboot obeys full-sentence commands. Hartwig said trainers have told him that dogs can only obey one-word commands, but Skidboot has proved them wrong. Hartwig, 48, was an obscure Quinlan cowboy until Skidboot came into his life.... Champions win all in 80 seconds In a sport dominated by time, the seven champions at the 2004 Stock Show & Rodeo wasted little of it Sunday afternoon. Combined, the short-go winners used just 80 seconds to ride away with more than $35,000 in prize money.... LUCKY SOUTH DAKOTA COUPLE FINDS THEMSELVES ARRESTED AND IN HANDCUFFS The "old" west may be long gone, but vigilantes still roam on I-10. Deanne Donnelly reports. Imagine being from out of state, minding your own business on interstate-10 only to get pulled over by Pima County Sheriff's Deputies not for breaking the law, but for something special. That's exactly what happened to retired couple Nadine and Dale Larson from South Dakota.
Its part of a Tucson tradition called Welcome Travelers. It goes back 45 years. The Tucson Junior Chamber of Commerce Vigilantes started it. Now they help the Western Music Association Home Ranch Hands to keep it going. Every year during Rodeo week, a couple is "arrested" and handcuffed. It took Deputy Nicole Feldt a minute to convince the lucky Larsons to say "yes". The Larsons are in for a week of old western Rodeo fun, Tucson style. But first, they head over to the Triple "T" truck stop in the back of a deputy's car....