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Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, September 20, 2024

Feds ask WY to recalculate cost of proposed West Fork Dam

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …

Wyoming's Bighorn Basin is located between mountain ranges that block the flow of moisture-laden air from both the east and west, making it one of the driest places in the state, according to the Water Resources Data System and State Climate Office. (BLM Wyoming)

Projected costs loom over benefits of proposed Bighorn Basin dam

Wyoming's irrigation infrastructure is aging and the state gets regular requests to update it but in some cases, project benefits may not outweigh …

The 1922 Colorado River Compact gives priority to Lower Basin states - Arizona, California, and Nevada - for rights to Colorado River Water. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 90% of CO River irrigation water used to feed cattle

As Wyoming and other states grapple with shrinking Colorado River water levels - new research pinpoints how much water is being diverted to feed cattl…

The south slope of Crevice Mountain is one of the few designated places outside Yellowstone National Park where Yellowstone bison can roam. (Adobe Stock)

Activists buy out gold mine claim at Yellowstone National Park

When Crevice Mining Group made moves in 2021 to establish a gold mine on lands directly upslope from the Yellowstone River and in plain view from Yell…

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is investing $10 million to restore the LaBarge Restoration Landscape Area, which includes sections of the Red Desert to Hoback mule deer migration corridor. (Adobe Stock)

BLM to Invest $20 Million in Wyoming Public Lands Restoration

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is investing $161 million dollars to restore public lands in Wyoming and 10 other western states. Joshua Metten…

More than 90% of public lands managed by the BLM are currently available to be leased to oil and gas developers. (Adobe Stock)

BLM Proposal Would Allow Conservation Leases on Public Lands

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on a new management proposal which includes leasing parcels of public lands for …

Over the past 50 years, the population of pygmy rabbits in Wyoming has declined by 69% (Serikbaib AdobeStock)

Groups Call on U.S. Fish and Wildlife to Prevent Pigmy Rabbit Extinction

On Monday, conservation groups submitted a petition calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the pygmy rabbit under the Endangered …

Just 47% of Wyoming residents prefer leaders place more emphasis on protecting water, air, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities over maximizing the amount of land available for drilling and mining. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Conservation Efforts, Environmental Priorities Remain High in Wyoming

Voters in Wyoming and across the West strongly support protecting water supplies, public lands and migration corridors for wildlife, according to the …

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is expected to release new rules this summer for dealing with continued Colorado River water shortages. (Adobe Stock)

Wall Street Sees Profits in Dropping Colorado River Levels

As Wyoming and other Colorado River Basin states grapple with ways to keep a river more than 40 million people, agriculture and industry depend on …

The Glen Canyon Dam currently generates energy for nearly six million households in Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. (Adobe Stock)

Falling Lake Powell Water Levels Put Wyoming Hydro Power at Risk

Part of the deal Wyoming struck for sending its water down the Colorado River was that state residents would be able to tap electricity generated at G…

Researchers warn that as climate change increases wildfire areas in snow zones throughout the West, the wildfire influence on the snowpack also will grow. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Wildfires Expanding Into Snow Zones Will Impact Water Supplies

Wildfires in Wyoming and across the West are creating bigger impacts on snowpack supplying farms, energy production and drinking water for millions …

Wyoming to Receive $25 Million for Orphan Wells Under Infrastructure Bill

President Joe Biden's bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is expected to bring more than 300 jobs to Wyoming to clean up and plug so-cal…

According to a 2021 study, 90% of coal must remain unextracted to keep global temperatures at levels considered safe by leading scientists. (Adobe Stock)

Court Ruling Adds to Challenges Facing Wyoming Coal Industry

A federal court's decision to require the Department of Interior to consider the potential health and climate impacts of coal mining on public lands c…

In fiscal year 2021, the Wyoming Food Bank distributed more than 13 million pounds of food, a 12% increase over 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Food Bank to Distribute Water to Rawlins Residents

Water is a precious commodity in Wyoming and across the Mountain West, and the Wyoming Food Bank is headed to replenish supplies for Rawlins …

More than 40 million people rely on the Colorado River, which is fed by melting mountain snowpack, for drinking water. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Could Face Multiple Years of Snowless Winters

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wyoming and other western states are projected to see multiple years in a row without any snow as soon as 35 years out if efforts …

The Safe Drinking Water Act prohibits the injection of oil and gas wastewater into potential drinking water supplies. (Rawpixel/Pxhere)

Conservation Groups Challenge Aethon Wastewater Waiver

SHOSHONI, Wyo. -- Conservation groups are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to reject Aethon Energy's plans to inject up to 30,000 barrels …

Gillette has invested $200 million in a 42-mile pipeline to tap the Madison Aquifer, which is expected to supply drinking water to the city's 32,000 residents. (Vasiliymeshko/Wikimedia Commons)

Conservation Groups Decry Trump Admin's 11th-Hour Oil, Gas Moves

This article was updated with corrections on Dec. 31, 2020. GILLETTE, Wyo. -- Conservation groups are sounding the alarm as the Trump administration …

A new report calls on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to establish oil and gas bonds based on the actual cost of reclamation at each well. (Simon Fraser University)

Report: Coronavirus, Historic Low Oil Prices Expose Risk of Inadequate BLM Bonds

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wyoming could see hundreds of oil and gas wells abandoned as over-leveraged operators declare bankruptcy, according to a new report…

Scientists say regenerative farming practices that don't use synthetic fertilizers or chemical pesticides can help capture more carbon from the atmosphere and create healthier soil for crops. (Pixabay)

Farmers, Ranchers Push for "Green New Deal" Policies

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Agriculture is the fourth-largest producer of climate pollution. Now farmers and ranchers from across the U.S. have launched a …

Coal ash is what's left after burning coal for electricity production, and is typically stored in open air, often unlined slurries. (Richard Webb)

Public Comments Sought for WY Coal-Ash Cleanup

SHERIDAN, Wyo. – The deadline for public comments on PacifiCorp's plans to mitigate toxic leaks from coal ash ponds at power plants in Wyoming …

Many pollinator species have migration routes that cover hundreds and even thousands of miles. (Publicdomainpictures)

Pollinator Pit Stop "Hero Habitat" Garden Launches in Cheyenne

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming's first public Habitat Hero Demonstration Garden, a converted stretch of lawn in front of the Cheyenne Board of Public …

Nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from farms currently is the single largest source of pollution in U.S. waterways. (USDA)

EPA Still Accepting Comments on Plan to Reduce Clean Water Act Protections

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Time is running out for public comments on a federal proposal to lift pollution controls on certain smaller streams and bodies …

Data collected by researchers show that the majority of streams on public lands are contaminated by fecal bacteria from livestock. (Pixabay)

Water Watchdogs to Redouble Efforts After Trespass Law Revoked

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Environmental watchdog groups are eager to get back in the field after a Wyoming federal district court this week struck down …

Many of the EPA regulations that Scott Pruitt scrapped or delayed as EPA administrator had not yet taken effect before his resignation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Government Watchdog Groups: Pruitt's EPA Exit "Long Overdue"

WASHINGTON – After allegedly overspending on everything from pens to lavish trips and accepting questionable deals from lobbyists, government …

The drop in prices for renewable energy could turn almost $1 trillion in natural gas infrastructure investments into stranded assets. (Pexels)

U.N. Report Calls U.S. Fracking History Cautionary Tale

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – After looking back at the history of shale gas extraction in the United States, international development and trade experts …

The Colorado River, currently enduring a 17-year drought, supplies drinking water to some 40 million people and drives $1.4 trillion in economic activity across seven states. (Pixabay)

Water Conservationists Cry Foul on Proposed Battle Creek Dam

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming lawmakers heard arguments on Friday for contributing some $73 million toward a dam project in the southwestern part of …

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to reverse pollution protections on 60 percent of U.S. streams and 20 million acres of wetlands, significant sources of drinking water. (Getty Images)

Public Comment Period to Open on Clean-Water Rule Reversal

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The American public will have 30 days to comment on the Trump administration's plan to repeal and replace the 2015 Clean Water Rule…

Critics of President Trump's executive order to eliminate two regulations for every new one adopted say it would compromise environmental and other safeguards. (Pixabay)

Trump's Plan to Reduce Regulations Challenged in Federal Court

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Public-interest law, environmental and labor groups are suing to stop the Trump administration's executive order to cut government …

A study shows that half the world's drinking water, supplied by mountaintops, is threatened by climate change. (Pixabay)

Study Cites Climate Threats to Mountaintops. Drinking Water

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – As Congress moves to take the brakes off clean-water and climate-pollution protections, a new study published in the journal …

A new report calls for restricting the use of antibiotics in factory-farmed animals to curb the global spread of infections. (MercyforAnimals/Wikimedia Commons)

Report Makes Strong Case for Less Antibiotic Use in Agriculture

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A new report calls for banning or restricting the use of antibiotics in farm animals to curb the global spread of infections…

Coal companies filing for bankruptcy could put taxpayers on the hook for cleanup costs. (Pixabay)

Taxpayers Could Be on Hook for Bankrupt Coal Cleanup

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Coal companies filing for bankruptcy could put taxpayers on the hook for cleanup costs. According to analysts, state and federal …

$Stanford University researchers have confirmed that hydraulic fracturing practices impacted a source of drinking water in the town of Pavillion, Wyo. (Pixabay)$

Study: Fracking Elements Found in Sources of Drinking Water

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A Stanford University report has confirmed that toxic fracking chemicals ended up in a Wyoming town's source of drinking water…

A changing climate is altering the ability of Rocky Mountain forests to recover from wildfire, according to a new study. (Pixabay)

Report: Drought Impacts Rocky Mountain Forests' Rebound After Fire

CHEYENNE, Wy. - Climate change is affecting how Rocky Mountain forests bounce back after wildfires, according to a new study. Brian Harvey…

Conservationists are concerned upper-basin state efforts to divert water could hurt ecosystems dependent on the Colorado River. (Pixabay)

Wyoming among States Advancing Claims on Colorado River

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Wyoming has moved one step closer to getting more water for ranching, agriculture and industrial development. The U.S. House …

Conservation groups are suing federal agencies for better protections for the greater sage-grouse. (USFWS)

Conservation Groups Sue for Stronger Rules to Protect Sage-Grouse

CHEYENNE, Wy. - Conservation groups are suing federal agencies for better protections for the greater sage-grouse in more than a dozen land-…

State regulators voted against allowing the injection of oil and gas wastewater into the Madison Aquifer, a future source of drinking water. (Matthew Bowden/Wikimedia Commons)

Commission Spares Aquifer in Setback for Oil and Gas Project

CHEYENNE, Wy. - The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to deny Aethon Energy's request for an exemption allowing …

A warming planet could put water supplies at risk for Rocky Mountain states. (Hamid Soufi/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Warming Could Impact Water Supplies in Western States

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Surface temperatures across the globe in 2015 were the warmest since modern recordkeeping began in 1880, according to …

A replacement for the Land and Water Conservation Fund is being debated in Congress today. Credit: pharmshot/iStock

Congressional Hearing on Replacing Land and Water Conservation Fund

WASHINGTON D.C. - A replacement for the Land and Water Conservation Fund is being debated today at a hearing in Washington, D.C., before the U.S…

$PHOTO: The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission will be updating its policies regarding industry requests not to disclose hydraulic fracturing chemicals in the name of$

Fracking Ingredient "Secrets" to Be Reviewed

CASPER, Wyo. - A recent lawsuit settlement should make gray areas related to public disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing more …

PHOTO: Two trail clearing and maintenance projects are scheduled in the Bridger Wilderness this fall, as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Wilderness Act. Photo credit: Public Lands Service Corps.

Two Conservation Projects Mark Wilderness Act's 50th in Wyoming

PINEDALE, Wyo. – Crews of young people are ready to get to work improving trails and upgrading access on public lands in Wyoming. The …

PHOTO: Crude oil leaking after flood near the South Platte River along the Front Range of Colorado in September 2013. Photo courtesy of EcoFlight, ecoflight.org.

Water Report: WYO Needs New Regulations

CLEARMONT, Wyo. – It all comes down to water. That's the point of a new report from the Western Organization of Resource Councils that looks …

$PHOTO: Cover crops are good for farmers' bottom lines as well as rivers. Two new reports from the National Wildlife Federation find that the use of cover crops is growing, but still just a fraction of the potential. Photo courtesy NWF.$

Reports Urge More Farmers to Take Cover

CASPER, Wyo. - Growing in the offseason can bring more cash to the crop season. Two new reports from the National Wildlife Federation make the case …

PHOTO: A new report claims that warmer waters, earlier snowmelt and wildfires are challenges that fish can�t really out-swim, espeically cutthroat trout - Wyoming's state fish. Credit: USFWS/flickr

Report: WYO Fish Can't Outswim Climate Change

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The climate is changing faster than fish can swim. That's the bottom line in a new report from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF)…

PHOTO: Jon Goldstein, senior energy policy manager at the Environmental Defense Fund, says every state with oil and gas development should be keeping an eye on Wyoming's move to conduct baseline groundwater testing. Photo courtesy of EDF

Baseline Water Testing Proposal Lauded

CASPER, Wyo. - Wyoming is taking a new approach for oil and gas development that reflects concerns over the groundwater pollution around Pavillion…

PHOTO: Amber Wilson, Environmental Quality Coordinator at the Wyoming Outdoor Council, says those affected by drinking water pollution east of Pavillion need assurances from the state, as it picks up the pollution investigation. Photo courtesy of WOC

Fracking Study Reax: The Waiting May Be the Hardest Part

LANDER, Wyo. - The "now what?" and "what next?" questions have been floating around since Gov. Matt Mead announced that the state will be in charge …

"FRAC Act" Would Set National Standards

CASPER, Wyo. – Congress will be wading into questions about water quality related to hydraulic fracturing in Montana, and across the country…

$PHOTO: Paintbrush Canyon in Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton is a case study in a new report that highlights risks to national parks because of hydraulic fracturing. Photo credit: Sarah Zenner, NPS$

Grand Teton National Park Showcased in Fracking Report

MOOSE, Wyo. – Tread carefully when it comes to Grand Teton National Park. That's the gist of a new report from the National Parks …

WYO Connections in “Most Endangered Rivers” Report

JACKSON, Wyo. - The Colorado River is No. 1 on the 2013 list of "America's Most Endangered Rivers," according to the group American Rivers. Its …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 20, 2024

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