Wednesday, February 22, 2012

News

Federal Judge Says BLM Ignored Its Own Sage Grouse Protection Policies

Times-News MagicValley.Com
A federal court has ruled the U.S. Bureau of Land Management failed to follow its own sage grouse protection policies when it renewed grazing permits in southern Idaho.  The lawsuit was led by Hailey-based Western Watersheds Project. It challenged the federal agency by selecting five grazing allotment permits renewed by the Owyhee and Bruneau BLM field offices.   Read More ...

Natural Gas Shale Boom Drives Growth in Chemicals Industry

Greenwire
Chemical companies for years have been looking outside the United States for sources of cheap gas, but now they are benefiting from a domestic natural gas drilling boom.  The current gas surplus has driven prices lower, and that is prompting companies to expand in the United States.   Read More ...

Railroad Commission sends letter to EPA on Pavillion Draft Report

Times Record News
Texas Railroad Commissioners has voted in favor of sending a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to an EPA Draft Report released on Dec. 8 in which the EPA attempted to link groundwater contamination and hydraulic fracturing in Pavillion, Wyo.   Read More ...

USGS Releases 2012 Minerals Commodity Report -- Summarizes the State of U.S. Minerals Production

U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey has released its "Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2012" Report.  This annual report summarizes the state of U.S. minerals production.   There is good news...and there is bad news in 2012.
 
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Congressional Research Service Issues Report on EPA’s Pavillion Investigation

WyoFile
This week, members of Congress received a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s draft report of the Pavillion groundwater contamination investigation.  EPA’s draft report, issued on December 8, stoked America’s ongoing debate over the oil and gas industry’s use of hydraulic fracturing — or “fracking” — by concluding that compounds found in the aquifer near Pavillion, Wyo., are likely associated with industry activity, including fracking.   Read More ...

U.S. EIA Releases Preliminary Forecast for U.S. Domestic Energy 2012-2035

U.S. Enenergy Information Administration
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), has released "Annual Energy Outlook 2012 -- Early Release Overview."  This preliminary forecast focuses on the U.S. domestic energy picture for the period between 2012-2035.   Read More ...

Renewable Energy Deals Hit Record High in 2011

Reuters
Global renewable energy deals climbed 40 percent to a record high of $53.5 billion last year from $38.2 billion in 2010, as solar, wind and energy efficiency overtook hydropower as the main deal drivers for the first time, a report said on Monday.   Read More ...

EPA Won’t Enforce Boiler Rule After Court Decision, Jackson Says

Bloomberg Businessweek
The Environmental Protection Agency pledged not to enforce its pollution standards on boilers until a reconsidered rule is issued this year, even after a court said the regulations should be put in place.  EPA will issue a “no action” letter soon for the measure introduced last year, and will give companies three years to comply after the new regulations are issued, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said yesterday in a letter to Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat.   Read More ...

Obama Administration Approves 20-year Ban on New Mining Claims Near Grand Canyon

The Washington Post
The Obama administration announced a federal ban Monday on new mining claims affecting a million acres near the Grand Canyon, an area known to be rich in high-grade uranium ore reserves.  In doing so, the administration brushed off pressure from congressional Republicans and mining industry figures who wanted a policy change.   Read More ...

Salazar Meets With Western States on Sage Grouse

Sheridan Media
Governor Matt Mead is asking Wyoming lawmakers to budget $10 million over the next two years to free up federal and private matching funds to purchase conservation easements on private ranches in Wyoming in sage grouse areas. The request is an attempt to keep the bird off of the endangered species list. 

 
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