Fossil fuel drilling fingered in Uinta Basin ozone formation

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Better pollution control technology needed to cut VOC emissions

Monitoring sites in the Uinta Basin.

Monitoring sites in the Uinta Basin.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Ongoing studies of winter ozone formation in the Uinta Basin shows the need for better pollution control technology on oil and gas drilling rigs and other equipment used for fossil fuel development.

An emissions inventory developed for the study found that oil and gas operations are responsible for 98-99 percent of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and for 57-61 percent of the nitrogen oxide emissions. VOCs and nitrogen compounds are the key ingredients for ozone-laced smog, which has been clearly identified as a human health threat. (more…)

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Court rejects energy industry challenge to oil lease withdrawals on western public land

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
Contested oil and gas plays at issue in federal appeals court

A federal court this week ruled on the disposition of several disputed oil leases in the spectacular canyon country of the Southwest.

A federal court this week ruled on the disposition of several disputed oil leases in the spectacular canyon country of the Southwest. Bob Berwyn photo.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — A federal court this week confirmed that the  energy industry missed its legal window to contest a U.S. Department of Interior decision to withdraw 77 oil and gas leases in Utah. Some of the tracts were in the vicinity of Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dinosaur National Monument — too close for comfort, according to conservation groups, who convinced the incoming Obama administration to withdraw the leases.

The leases had originally been auctioned off ain the waning days of the Bush administration, in a move widely characterized as a parting gift from Bush-era officials to the energy industry. Interior Secretary Ken scrapped the leases because BLM skimped on its environmental analysis and failed to adequately consult with the National Park Service.

In September 2012, the 10th Circuit ruled that the energy industry missed its 90-day window to challenge Sec. Salazar’s decision under the Mineral Leasing Act. Today the Court rejected industry’s request to have the full Court revisit that decision.  (more…)

Filed under: BLM, energy, Environment, gas drilling, national parks, oil drilling, public lands | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Utah ‘phantom road’ claim gets appeals court hearing

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

The State of Utah and San Juan County are claiming that the stream bed of Salt Creek is a highway under a repealed federal law that was passed to enable settlement of the West. Photo courtesy Ted Zukoski. Click on the image to view a slideshow of Salt Creek.

Ecologically sensitive stream in Canyonlands National Park at issue in long-running battle over local rights-of-way claims

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A long-running battle over the interpretation of an obscure federal law may move one step closer to resolution this week, as the federal Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in a case addressing state claims to a highway right-of-way in Salt Creek, an ecologically sensitive streambed in Canyonlands National Park.

The National Park Service closed the stream bed to vehicles in 2005, citing damage to natural resources, including crushed vegetation, water pollution and degradation of wildlife habitat. San Juan County and the State of Utah sued the Park Service, arguing that the Park could not close the streambed to jeeps because it was a county and state highway, based on a settlement-era law known as R.S. 2477. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, national parks, public lands | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Biodiversity: Lead poisoning still plagues condor recovery

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

A tagged California condor in flight.

Failure to reduce lead exposure may lead to end of condor restoration effort in Arizona And Utah

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Government conservation biologists say California condors are slowly recovering in Utah and Arizona, with more breeding pairs and consistent use of seasonal ranges — but exposure to lead contamination associated with big game hunting  continues to be a major challenge.

The goal of the California Condor Recovery Plan is to establish two geographically separate, self-sustaining populations – a primary population in California and the other outside of California, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs.

But the partner agencies will seriously consider withdrawing support for condor reintroduction efforts in the Southwest if, by the end of 2016, a reduction of extreme lead exposures (blood lead levels) is not achieved and a declining trend in diagnosed lead related mortality and morbidity is not observed. (more…)

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Travel: Harvest time at Capitol Reef National Park

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Plums, pears and apples available to park visitors

Fruit orchards flank a campground along Capitol Reef National Park’s Scenic Drive. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Capitol Reef National Park visitors enjoy a picnic in the Fruita rural historic district. Photo National Park Service.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The famed national parks in Utah’s red rock country generally conjure up visions of lizards basking on sun-baked rocks, sandstone arches and gnarled juniper trees, but some of the parks have a softer side.

Capitol Reef National Park, for example, is home to the largest historic orchards in the national park system, encompassing more than 3,000 fruit and nut trees planted by early Mormon pioneers and settlers in the 1800s in what is now the historic Fruita rural historic district. (more…)

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Wildfires shutting down gas fields in Wyoming, Utah

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

52 major wildfires burning on about 900,000 acres across the West

A hillside explodes into flames on the Arapaho Fire in Wyoming. Photo courtesy USFS.

A smoke plume rises from the fast-growing Arapaho Fire in Wyoming. Photo courtesy T. Moxham/USFS.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Even as firefighters gain control of the large and destructive fires in Colorado, large wildfires continue to burn around the West, including Wyoming, where the Arapaho Fire, on the Medicine Bow National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland, blew up to 75,000 acres Sunday.

The fire, between Casper and Laramie, has destroyed an undetermined number of structures and burned so fiercely Sunday that it created its own weather. Firefighters focused on structure protection in the Harris Park subdivision to try prevent additional damage to residential areas.

Driven by winds and fueled by the same dry conditions that contributed to the recent Colorado infernos, the Arapaho Fire showed extreme behavior Sunday, at times growing at the rate of 1 mph. Firefighters are concerned that it could become a monster fire if it becomes established in the Friend Creek Drainage.

More than 500 firefighters are already trying to contain the fire, with an incoming Type 1 management team slated to take over command. The Arapaho Fire is burning in dense, dry forest, with plenty of beetle-killed timber and down, dead fuels.

Also in Wyoming, the 45,000-acre Fontenelle Fire has been growing about 4,000 acres per day. According to the latest update, large fire growth continues to place substantial strain on helium plant construction (delaying contributions to the nation’s critical helium supply and employment of 300-plus construction workers), as well as oil and gas production.

More on Wyoming wildfires here. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Drought, forest fires, public lands, Travel, West, wildfires | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Utah’s Dump Fire likely sparked by careless shooters

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Two western fires attributed to gunfire

The Dump Fire in Utah may have been started by recreational shooting.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A Utah wildfire that was likely started by recreational shooters has raced through more than 4,00o acres of grass, brush and timber near Saratoga Springs, resulting in the evacuation of more than a 1,000 residents. according to InciWeb.org.

The Dump Fire also threatens a dynamite manufacturing plant in the area. Officials have cordoned off an area about one to two miles around the plant to try and mitigate harm.

The fire is burning south of Salt Lake City and west of Provo, near the east shore of Utah Lake. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Drought, Environment, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Battle over nuclear energy looms in Utah

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Green River water rights allocated for new power plants near Green River; preliminary federal permitting process under way

The Green River at Canyonlands National Park. PHOTO VIA THE WIKIPEDIA COMMONS.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — River runners, conservation advocates, farmers and other Utah stakeholders say they will continue to fight plans to build a nuclear reactor near Green River following a decision by Utah state engineer Kent Jones to approve a water rights transfer to a nuclear power company.

Blue Castle Holdings hopes to build nuclear reactors on the Green River and sell the power to Southern California.

“This was the only opportunity for a Utah official to reject this terrible plan,” said Matt Pacenza, policy director of HEAL Utah, which has led the fight against the reactors. “Now all that stands between us and reactors at the gateway to southern Utah is a federal agency notorious for cozying up to the nuclear industry.” (more…)

Filed under: energy, Environment, rivers, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Climate: Intermountain West warm & dry in September

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Warmer than average temperatures prevailed across much of the intermountain West during September.

Mild autumn expected to continue

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — September temperatures were above average across most of the intermountain West, with dry conditions prevailing, especially in Wyoming, northern Utah and southeastern Colorado, according to the monthly climate summary from the Western Water Assessment.

In parts of Wyoming and Utah, temperatures were as much as 4 degrees above normal, while pockets of cooler-than-average readings occurred in eastern Colorado.

September precipitation was below average across the region, especially in much of Wyoming, northern Utah, and southeastern Colorado, which recorded less than 40 percent of its average September precipitation. The only wet anomalies of note were in parts of southern Utah and east-central Colorado, where a single storm dropped a record-breaking 6 inches of rain on Colorado Springs. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, La Niña, Snow and weather, Summit County news, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Colorado: Proponent of regional water pipeline seeks to switch permitting agencies to expedite review process

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

The proposed pipeline would carry water 560 miles from Wyoming to the Front Range. MAP COURTESY WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES. Click on the image to visit Western Resource Advocates online.

Aaron Million wants to build a pipeline to carry water from Wyoming to Front Range

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Planning for a pipeline project that could deliver Green River water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming to the Colorado Front Range has been moving slowly, and now, Aaron Million, the project’s proponent, has said he wants to speed the process by switching the review and permitting process from the purview of the Army Corps of Engineers to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Million has been touting the pipeline for many years , but it’s not clear if the project is viable financially, or if it could deliver as much water as promised. The Corps of Engineers project page is online here.

Several regional and state groups have taken early looks at the proposal, but as yet, nobody has stepped forth to fully claim and embrace the long-distance pipeline. According to one review by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, construction could cost $7.4 billion, with annual operating costs of $170 million. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, rivers, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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