Pacific Northwest News
Canada kicks off months of hearings on Northern Gateway pipeline project [
Tue Jan 10 12:52:00 EST 2012]
An energy lawyer, an environmental consultant and a geologist make up the three-member panel appointed by Canada to hear testimony on the Northern Gateway pipeline proposed to move Alberta crude west to ports on British Columbia's Pacific coast, with 53 official intervenors signed up to present testimony on the plan, and at least 4,000 more who have asked to speak at the hearings, which are schedu...
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U.S. Supreme Court justices appear sympathetic to Idaho couple in EPA case [
Tue Jan 10 12:52:00 EST 2012]
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that pitted an Idaho couple seeking to build a home near Priest Lake against the Environmental Protection Agency, with the primary issue under contention being whether landowners can sue the EPA when a compliance order is issued or if they must wait until the EPA takes them to court.Idaho Statesman (McClatchy Newspapers)View Comments |...
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Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Blueprint for Stronger Service to Increase Efficiency in USDA Operations [
Sun Jan 08 19:00:00 EST 2012]
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2011-The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must be built to meet the evolving needs of a 21st century agricultural economy, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday in presenting USDA?s Blueprint for Stronger Service, a plan that helps producers continue to drive America?s economy by streamlining operations and cutting costs....
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Animal Nature: Wildlife lectures bring the outdoors in; new study on wolves' benefit to Yellowstone [
Wed Jan 04 20:58:36 EST 2012]
If December brought food for the soul -- and hips -- then January serves up nourishment for the brain with all sorts of wildlife- and nature-related lectures on the calendar....
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Secretary Vilsack Announces Opportunity to Advise Land Management Planning [
Wed Jan 04 19:00:00 EST 2012]
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2012 ? Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a call for nominations to serve on a newly-formed advisory committee that will guide better management of our national forests and grasslands. The National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule will advise and give recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture...
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Deadline for USDA Conservation Innovation Grant Pre-proposals January 31 [
Tue Jan 03 19:00:00 EST 2012]
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2012 ? Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded applicants that January 31, 2012, is the last day to submit project pre-proposals for fiscal year 2012 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Pre-proposals support large-scale demonstration projects that test and prove original approache...
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Citizen Scientists Key to Success for National Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey [
Tue Jan 03 17:56:17 EST 2012]
A key annual event in the recovery of Bald Eagle populations takes place January 4-18, when hundreds of citizen scientists take to the field for the 34th annual Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey.“The survey is a true public-private partnership with hundreds of volunteer citizen scientists taking part, in addition to federal, state, and NGO biologists. Forty-three states continue to actively parti...
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Oregon regulators penalize Conway Construction $3,600 for Morrison Bridge pollution problems [
Fri Dec 30 17:51:50 EST 2011]
The environmental problems, including improper containment of lead-paint debris, helped stall the job for two months....
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Protecting wildlife corridors remains more theory than practice [
Fri Dec 30 13:02:52 EST 2011]
There's a growing understanding of the scientific importance of wildlife migration corridors, but protecting them is a huge political challenge....
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Return of the Snowy Owls: How to spot our winter visitors [
Wed Dec 28 11:41:31 EST 2011]
Reports of snowy owl (SNOL) sightings have been coming in by the hundreds from all over the Northwest, Midwest and East Coast. My pal from the old OMSI days, Bart Butterfield, who is now in charge of the GSI Division of Idaho Fish and Game, sent me an email the other day with an attached map of all the SNOL sightings in the U.S. and Canada.But the first report I received came from Sisters photogr...
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Boulder, Colo., votes for energy independence -- from its utility [
Wed Dec 28 09:52:35 EST 2011]
After a hard-fought political campaign the town of Boulder passed a ballot initiative allowing it to create its own municipal utility in order to help reach its ambitious environmental goals....
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USDA Announces Winners of the MyPlate Fruit and Vegetable Video Challenge [
Tue Dec 27 19:00:00 EST 2011]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2011 ? Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the winners of the MyPlate Fruit and Vegetable Video Challenge. Dozens of contestants demonstrated innovative ways to ?make half your plate fruits and vegetables? with skits, songs, and dance submitted via video to USDA....
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USDA Announces New Tactics to Combat Fraud and Enhance SNAP Program Integrity [
Mon Dec 26 19:00:00 EST 2011]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2011 ?USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced a new range of aggressive tactics to further improve program integrity of USDA?s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ? formerly known as food stamps. The announcement is part of the Obama Administration?s ongoing Campaign to Cut Waste which highlights efforts to root out waste, fraud and abuse so that feder...
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Jon Huntsman Jr. -- a pragmatic Westerner for the White House [
Mon Dec 26 13:07:18 EST 2011]
Despite poor poll showings, the worldly Jon Huntsman Jr. is the most qualified candidate in the Republican primary, especially when it comes to environmental issues....
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Operations Manager Position - Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board [
Thu Dec 22 04:01:44 EST 2011]
The Yakima Basin Fish Wildlife Recovery Board is looking for an Operations Manager to perform a wide range of functions in a dynamic small office setting. The Operations Manager will work under the general direction of the Executive Director to manage the organization's finances, contracts, office space......
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USDA Launches New Online Nutrition SuperTracker in Time for Those Healthy New Year Resolutions [
Wed Dec 21 19:00:00 EST 2011]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2011 ? Just in time to help Americans keep their New Year?s resolutions by making healthy food and physical activity choices, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released USDA?s new nutrition SuperTracker. The SuperTracker is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art resource available at ChooseMyPlate.gov designed to assist individuals as they make changes in their life to reduce...
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Stitching habitat together across public and private lands [
Wed Dec 21 13:39:24 EST 2011]
Migrating animals can't read "no trespassing" signs, so it?s up to human beings to try to find ways to connect wildlife corridors that crisscross public and privately owned lands....
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Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Introduces New Risk Management Tool to Help Producers Achieve GAP Certification [
Wed Dec 14 19:00:00 EST 2011]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2011?Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, along with leaders from food and agriculture organizations, introduced today a free online tool to help U.S. producers of all sizes achieve Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) harmonized standards and certification, helping to further expand economic opportunities for American agriculture. USDA?s GAP audit verification program...
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Conservation Education in Overdrive: More on my time with the Wolftree educational project [
Wed Dec 14 12:20:42 EST 2011]
Back in 1949, Oxford University Press published a remarkable book that changed the way conservation education is being taught, and in doing so, left behind a solid base for everyone wanting to see the conservation of our natural resources. That book, A Sand County Almanac, was written by Aldo Leopold, a man who many consider to be the father of wildlife management and conservation education.Leopo...
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Pierce Conservation District announces new Executive Director [
Thu Dec 08 05:32:39 EST 2011]
Tacoma City Councilman and environmental leader Ryan Mello has been named as executive director of the Pierce Conservation District, the district announced Thursday. Mello, who will begin the new job Jan. 3, has been Pierce County conservation director for the Cascade Land Conservance since 2006. He succeeds longtime......
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Prestigious Honor Given to USGS Scientist for Work on Aquifer Contamination [
Wed Dec 07 06:00:00 EST 2011]
Mary Jo Baedecker, USGS scientist emerita and former USGS Chief Scientist for Hydrology, has been named a 2011 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fellow for her pioneering research on aquifer contamination."Dr. Baedecker is joining an elite group of professionals recognized for premier achievements in research and highest regard by their peers," commented Marcia McNutt, USGS director. "The entire U...
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Interior Releases First-of-its-Kind Regional Study as Part of National Assessment of Carbon Storage in U.S. Ecosystems [
Mon Dec 05 17:39:22 EST 2011]
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of the Interior today released the first in a series of regional studies measuring the amount of carbon stored in U.S. ecosystems. Published by Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the study examines the current and projected future carbon storage in the Great Plains region, as part of a nation-wide assessment....
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Interior to Release First Regional Study in National Assessment of Carbon Storage in U.S. Lands [
Mon Dec 05 13:57:00 EST 2011]
WASHINGTON–The Department of the Interior will hold a press conference on Monday, December 5, at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting in California to unveil the first regional study in a national assessment of how much carbon may be stored in U.S. ecosystems....
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Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Awards $6 million for Research Leading to West Coast Earthquake Early Warning System [
Tue Nov 29 11:00:00 EST 2011]
Additional Contacts: Deborah Williams-Hedges, Caltech, 626-395-3227, debwms@caltech.edu and Vince Stricherz, UW, 206-543-2580, vinces@uw.eduPALO ALTO, Calif. —The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded $6 million to three West Coast universities to create a prototype earthquake early warning system for the Pacific Coast of the United States.The grant will allow...
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Hands on Nature: Learning about the spotted frog in LaPine with Wolftree [
Wed Nov 02 12:38:15 EDT 2011]
Early last Thursday morning, Bess Ballantine, field manager for Wolftree, an Oregon-based ecological education outfit and her side-kick, Rachel Manzo, met with mentor Ed Brown, a plant specialist with the USFS Chemult Ranger District.But that?s not it. Also on hand were wildlife biologist Hailee Newman from the USFS Bend office, Cassandra Hummel, from the BLM office in Prineville, Tom Walker with...
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Keeping Sisters Stoked: New biomass plant puts Sisters High School on the cutting edge [
Wed Oct 26 12:34:23 EDT 2011]
Last Monday was an up-and-away day for the Sisters School District. Oregon's Governor, Dr. John Kitzhaber, and first lady Cylvia Hayes were on hand to officially open a forest steward and biomass project that will pay off big for parents and students in Sisters High School: They're going to stay warm in winter the way our pioneers did?by burning wood.A wood-burning stove doesn't sound like a mast...
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Pity the Poor Jackrabbit: Things haven?t been easy for these quick critters [
Wed Jul 20 11:02:00 EDT 2011]
If there is one wild animal that is taken for granted, overlooked in the wildlife management business, completely misunderstood by state agencies and killed relentlessly, it is our poor old black-tailed jackrabbit.Jackrabbits are actually "hares," not "rabbits;" they're in the genus lepus and are twice as large as our local rabbits, and hares have taller hind legs and longer ears. Cottontail rabb...
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The Desecration of Hidden Forest Cave: Vandals hit one of the region?s most treasured caverns [
Wed Jun 01 14:03:00 EDT 2011]
When some ignoramus trashes one of our natural or historical treasures, it?s an insult to us all. That?s what happened recently at Hidden Forest Cave, one of our more unique natural features in the Deschutes National Forest. They all but ruined it.Like most of the lava caves we have in this part of Oregon, Hidden Forest Cave was formed so long ago that geologists count the time that?s since passe...
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Cave Robber Case Closed: Intrepid forest investigator hunts down missing lava cave formations [
Wed Feb 02 13:58:11 EST 2011]
Eddy Cartaya is a caver with a strong sense of responsibility who wants to see our local lava caves protected. And he?s in a unique position to do that as the Deschutes National Forest?s law enforcement and investigations officer. When Cartaya introduced himself to the Oregon High Desert Grotto of the National Speleological Society, the local chapter of the national cave exploration and protection...
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