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Photo courtesy of Rick and Susie Graetz
Friday, Sept. 14, 2012
produced daily by Shellie Nelson
Page 2
More news from the Rockies
Community
 Utah city officials say flood from dike failure caused $3.7M in damage
At least 61 homes and 16 businesses in Santa Clara were damaged on Tuesday when a failed retention dam released a torrent of water and mud through the Utah city.
Deseret News; Sept. 14

Wyoming county joins Gov. Mead in opposing BLM's rules on 'fracking'
On the closing day of public comments on federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing, a drilling method that involves the introduction of water, sand and chemicals underground under high pressure to break open rock formations holding gas and oil resources captive, the Sweetwater County Commission added its opposition to Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead's.
Billings Gazette (AP); Sept. 13

Idaho county expands area in landfill for Dynamis energy project
On Tuesday, Ada County Commissioners Rick Yzaguirre and Sharon Ullman added essentially three more acres to the land needed at the Idaho county's landfill for Dynamis' garbage-fueled power plant, and inquiries about why the additional land was needed elicited three different responses.
Idaho Statesman; Sept. 14

Tribes
 Wyoming tribes ask Montana for bison from Yellowstone National Park
The Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes have petitioned Montana to send the Wyoming tribes bison that the state captured and quarantined after they wandered out of Yellowstone National Park.
Billings Gazette (AP); Sept. 14

Public meetings on tribes' water settlement in Montana grow more contentious
Meetings on the quantification of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' historical water rights in western Montana have become more contentious as the deadline for hammering out a compact to submit to the 2013 Legislature approaches.
Char-Koosta News; Sept. 13

Blackfeet Tribe to build new hotel on Montana reservation
The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council announced that an 86-room Holiday Inn Express and Suites was under construction on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, where there are currently just 15 motel rooms available in the Montana community.
Great Falls Tribune; Sept. 14

Environment
 Idaho man appeals thinning project in Montana national forest
Dick Artley of Grangeville, Idaho, filed an appeal of the 800-acre project in the Larry and Bass creek recreational areas in the Bitterroot National Forest planned to remove beetle-killed trees from those popular recreation areas.
Ravalli Republic; Sept. 14

Census data indicate more anglers, fewer hunters in Montana
The U.S. Census Bureau released state-specific data on outdoor activities that indicated the number of people fishing in Montana rose, while fewer participated in hunting, and in Wyoming, both hunting and fishing numbers increased.
Billings Gazette; Sept. 14

Evacuation orders lifted on wildfire in W. Wyoming
Crews have the Horsethief Canyon Fire that ignited Saturday on private property near Jackson 36 percent contained, and all the Wyoming residents near the fire who had been evacuated earlier this week have been allowed to return home.
Jackson Hole Daily; Sept. 14

Montana firefighters brace for 'worst day for fire conditions'
Predicted high winds and low humidity levels have firefighters on the Sawtooth Fire in southwestern Montana preparing for a tough day Friday on the firelines.
Ravalli Republic; Sept. 14

Wyoming wildfire on Casper Mountain now 70 percent contained
Crews have the Sheep Herder Hill Fire, which has burned more than 15,000 acres on Casper Mountain in Wyoming, 70 percent contained.
Casper Star-Tribune; Sept. 14

Idaho sage grouse group has plan in place
The North Magic Valley Local Working Group was formed in 2007 to find ways to improve sage grouse numbers in that area of Idaho, and the group now has a conservation plan in hand and will begin implementing it.
Twin Falls Times-News; Sept. 14

Politics
 As revenues from natural gas fall, B.C. implements new measures
British Columbia Finance Minister Mike de Jong said Thursday that the province will immediately implement measures to cut costs to deal with a projected three-year, $1.1-billion blow to the budget caused by plummeting natural gas revenues.
Vancouver Sun; Sept. 14

Canada's national resources minister clarifies energy strategy remark
Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said his remarks earlier this week on a Canadian National Energy Strategy were misinterpreted, and that the federal government was working collaboratively with the provinces on energy issues.
Edmonton Journal; Sept. 14

President Obama speaks at rally in Colorado
At his third campaign rally in Colorado in as many weeks, President Obama first paid tribute to the Americans killed earlier this week in Libya before moving on to campaign issues at Thursday's event in Golden.
Denver Post; Sept. 14

Josh Romney campaigns for his dad in Colorado
At a campaign rally in Boulder that drew about 100 people, Josh Romney campaigned for his father, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and personally invited the 100 or so people present to attend his father's inauguration in January.
Boulder Daily Camera; Sept. 13

Legislature
 Montana's general fund balance at end of fiscal year was $457.1 million
State legislators in 2011 had estimated that Montana would have $188.9 million in its general fund when the fiscal year ended on June 30, 2012, but the balance was actually $268.2 million more than predicted.
Missoulian; Sept. 14

Economy
 Colorado business panel OKs 4 jobs-incentive packages
The largest of the four incentive packages approved Thursday by the Colorado Economic Development Commission went to Fort Collins-based Woodward Inc., which could be eligible for up to $7.3 million if it decides to locate 1,000 new jobs in one of four northern Colorado sites, rather than in Illinois, California or Wisconsin, which are also under consideration.
Denver Post; Sept. 14

Utah panel awards tax incentives to 2 companies for job creation
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development Board awarded a tax credit worth up to $24.4 million to BioFire Diagnostics Inc., if it delivers as promised 657 new jobs in Utah over the next two decades, and Vexxel Composites Inc. will receive $337,577 if it adds 101 jobs in the state over the next five years.
Salt Lake Tribune; Sept. 13

Thirty-six apply for supervisor job with Wyoming oil and gas commission
The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has received 36 applications for the supervisor's position, including six from international candidates.
Casper Star-Tribune; Sept. 14
Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
at The University of Montana.
"O il and gas is very much a part of our program."

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, at an event in Colorado, where he promised an expansion of the federal government's "all of the above" domestic energy production strategy.
- Denver Post
On The Bookshelf
Barbara Theroux of Fact & Fiction reviews Christine Byl's "Dirt Work: An education in the woods

5/15/2013
Mountain West Perspectives
Study uncovers the restoration realities in Montana


4/15/2013
A Look Ahead
Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent's Third Annual Conference: Pathways to Prosperity: Caring for Communities in the Crown of the Continent, Fernie, B.C.
Mountain West Voices
Hear weekly stories from the Rocky Mountain West as gathered by Clay Scott

5/22/2013:  This Little Journey
5/8/2013:  Making Roots
5/1/2013:  Cancer in the Real World
4/24/2013:  Sheep Country
4/10/2013:  Shearing Sheep

Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West



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The University of Montana