Wildlife: Wolves under siege in the northern Rockies

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Lawsuit filed to prevent wolf slaughter in Wyoming

Gray wolf. Photo courtesy USFWS.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Federal wolf management in the northern Rockies will once again be tested in court, as conservation groups this week filed a lawsuit claiming that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act by handing management of the species to the state.

The state’s wolf management policy allows almost unlimited wolf killing much of the state in a designated predator zone and doesn’t adequately protect wolves even where killing is regulated. The lawsuit alleges Wyoming’s policy will result in wolf deaths that undermine the recovery of the species. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. (more…)

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Feds OK massive Wyoming wind energy project

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Mapped wind energy potential in Wyoming, by NREL.

Site-specific reviews still to come for what could be a 3,000 MW facility

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — When it comes to renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gases, actions speak a lot louder than words. And despite almost constant carping from environmental groups, the Obama administration has made significant progress in four years.

Most recently, the Department of Interior announced approval of the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project site in Wyoming. At completion, the complex could generate 3,000 megawatts of electricity — enough to power almost 1 million homes.

With the approval, the administration has reached its goal of authorizing 10,000 megawatts of renewable power on public lands, marking a sea change in the country’s energy mix. The project developers expect the proposal to create an estimated 1,000 construction, operation and maintenance jobs and generate enough energy to power nearly 1 million homes. (more…)

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Environment: EPA hits Wyoming refinery with $378,000 fine

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

EPA inspection finds multiple violations of environmental regulations

The Sinclair refinery in Sinclair, Wyoming. Photo via Wikipedia and the Creative Commons.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Sloppy operations, maintenance and record-keeping have cost a Wyoming refinery $378,000 in fines, according to the EPA, which this week announced a Clean Air Act settlement with the Sinclair Wyoming Refining Company.

Along with the fine, Sinclair will update operating procedures, perform required training to workers, improve maintenance of equipment and perform integrity tests on pressure vessels and piping that will reduce the possibility of an accidental release of hazardous chemicals at its refinery in Sinclair, Wyoming.

Hazardous substances of concern used at the Sinclair refinery include large quantities of propane, butane, and flammable hydrocarbon mixtures. Under the Clean Air Act, facilities that utilize hazardous and flammable substances above specified thresholds must develop and submit a risk management plan to assist with emergency preparedness, chemical release prevention, and minimization of releases that occur.

In June 2010, an EPA inspection found that the facility had not adequately implemented those regulations.

“Sinclair has had several accidents and releases of hazardous substances over the past several years that relate to process equipment,” said Mike Gaydosh, director of EPA’s enforcement program in Denver. “This settlement will help ensure the company is operating in accordance with industry standards to protect the environment as well as residents of nearby communities.”

Among other things, the inspection showed that Sinclair failed to replace rusted out pipes and didn’t test and replace pressure relief valves at the facility. The company also was far behind on required inspections and maintenance procedures, according to the EPA.

The consent decree was lodged in U.S. District Court and is subject to a 30-day comment period and final approval by the court. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice website at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

Filed under: energy, Environment, oil drilling | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

U.S. Supreme Court rejects national forest roadless rule challenge

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

State, mining and ranching groups lose bid to overturn protection for 58 million acres of environmental valuable wild lands

The national forest roadless rule stands.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A last-ditch effort by miners, ranchers and other extractive users to overturn the U.S. Forest Service’s national roadless rule has failed, as the U.S. Supreme Court reject a plea to hear the case.

The formal petition came from the state of Wyoming, which last year lost its challenge in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Wyoming was joined in the petition by eight other states, numerous mining and ranching groups, along with several motorized recreation groups.

The states and groups repeated their oft-rejected claims that the rule was adopted in violation of federal environmental laws and that the rule represented a de facto illegal creation of wilderness. (more…)

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Special elk hunt set for Grand Teton National Park

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Park Service says hunters are switching to non-lead ammo

Elk in Grand Teton National Park. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — First you feed ‘em, than you shoot ‘em.

That seems to be the theory of game management in Wyoming, where Grand Teton National Park officials announced the Oct. 8 start of the annual elk reduction program mandated by Congress when the park was created in 1950.

The legislation  directs Grand Teton NP to jointly develop this annual program with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and for the Governor of Wyoming and Secretary of the Interior Department to approve the plan.

Biologists and administrators from both agencies have reviewed available biological data and concluded that the 2012 program is necessary to keep the Jackson elk herd at or near objective and maintain a desired summer distribution of elk throughout their natural range.  (more…)

Filed under: Environment, national parks, public lands, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Feds hand Wyoming wolf management to state

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Gray wolf in the winter woods. Photo courtesy USFWS.

Feds say species is recovered; wildlife advocates claim decision violates the Endangered Species Act

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — After several years of legal battles and political negotiations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it will hand over management of Wyoming wolves to the state.

According to the agency, the biological goals of the recovery have been met, and Wyoming has committed to maintaining 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs in the state to maintain a healthy population.

But that number is not adequate for the long-term preservation of the species, according to conservation advocates, who say it’s like managing wolves on the knife-edge of extirpation.

Wyoming’s wolf managment plan is far from fulfilling Endangered Species Act requirements for adequate regulatory mechanisms to maintain species.

“They are incredibly weak, at best,” said Earthjustice attorney Jenny Harbine, explaining that the state law allows wolves to be shot on sight as unwanted predators across 85 percent of the state.

“It’s unprecedented from a species to go from full ESA protection to being designated as a predator, essentially as vermin,” Harbine said. “It’s not just the predator status that we’re concerned about. The Wyoming law allows people to kill wolves they feel are harassing wildlfie,” she said. (more…)

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Wyoming refineries to pay $3.8M pollution fines

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Sinclair’s Casper refinery. Photo courtesy Sinclair.

Settlement with EPA includes mandatory pollution control upgrades

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —As part of a crackdown on polluting refineries, the EPA has reached a settlement with two subsidiaries of the Sinclair Oil Corporation in Wyoming alleged to have violated air pollution limits.

Under the agreement, Sinclair Casper Refining Co. and Sinclair Wyoming Refining Co. will pay stipulated penalties totaling $3,844,000 and spend approximately $10.5 million on additional pollution control equipment and other projects to resolve the allegations. (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 »

Huge Wyoming fire threatens gas fields

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Drought, beetle-kill factors in Fontenelle Fire

Fontenelle Fire Wyoming

Fire on the ridge above LaBarge Creek. Photo courtesy USFS, Nicole Hallisey.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The 37,000 acre Fontenelle Fire in Wyoming has shut down  gas, oil and helium production in the area around LaBarge, Wyoming, causing significant economic impact, according to the Forest Service.

The fire started last Sunday and the cause is unknown. The fire is mostly burning on the Bridger Teton National Forest, about 17 miles west of Big Piney, Wyoming.

Dry conditions across the area resulted in active fire behavior, with running, torching and short-duration crown fire, as well as significant spotting, andmaking an estimated two-mile run to the north and northeast.

The fire is 5 percent contained.

 

 

 

 

Filed under: climate and weather, Drought, energy, forest fires, gas drilling, wildfires | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Wyoming asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear roadless case

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

State continues to claim the Forest Service didn’t abide by federal environmental laws when it adopted the rule

Roadless areas are important reservoirs of biodiversity, help protect water quality and provide recreational opportunities.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — It appears that lawyers who have spent the last year wrangling over a roadless rule for about 50 million acres of national forest system lands will continue to battle, potentially before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The rule would protect relatively undisturbed areas from most intrusion and development, but maintain access for hunting and hiking.

Wyoming last week petitioned the Supreme Court to review the most recent decision by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which twice decisively rejected Wyoming’s claims that rule was adopted in violation of federal environmental laws — a far-fetched claim to begin with, given that the national roadless rule was subject to one of the most far-reaching public processes in the agency’s history. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, forests, public lands, US Forest Service | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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