August 2010

Remediation project a win-win

Created by Cathrine Walters on August 31, 2010

Check out this great article by the he Helena Independent Record here about the Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Initiative in action on the Helena National Forest.

New Report from New Mexico Highlights Economic Benefits of Nature

Created by Sarah Peters on August 27, 2010

Headwaters Economics released a report detaling the benefits from natural areas for New Mexico's economy. 

FY10 Legacy Roads Projects Finally Announced

Created by Bethanie Walder on August 27, 2010

Mt. Hood puts the brakes on motorized abuse

Created by Cathrine Walters on August 27, 2010

Mt. Hood National Forest published a plan Friday, August, 27 for the management of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) such as ATVs and dirt bikes on the forest. The OHV Plan provides for a total of 146 miles for OHV routes on roads and trails in four areas of the forest. Bark, forest users and other environmental groups are applauding the new plan.

Reclaiming Roads and Providing Jobs on the Helena National Forest

Created by Greg Peters on August 26, 2010

Restoring the Skokomish: Restoration and Jobs Mix on the Olympic

Created by Greg Peters on August 26, 2010

Groups remove, repair Wash. forest roads

Created by Cathrine Walters on August 25, 2010
A coalition of 18 groups is pushing to restore national forest lands in Washington state through the removal and repair of forest roads left behind from decades of timber harvesting.

State and federal officials say mud and runoff from those abandoned roads pose a problem for water quality, salmon and the ailing Puget Sound. They say the roads can also block fish passage and wildlife migration.

More Massive Cargo Trucks Headed for Montana, via the Clearwater

Created by Sarah Peters on August 20, 2010

Another proposal to use Highway 12, through Idaho and Montana, for transportation of enormous heavy equipment for fossil fuel mining has reared its ugly head.  The first proposal was made by ExxonMobil to ship over two hundred Tar Sands oil processing modules.  Now, ConocoPhillips is proposing to use the same route for four equally large pieces of mining equipment, this time destined for Billings, Montana.

9th Circuit Ruling: Clean Water Act Applies to Logging Roads

Created by Sarah Peters on August 17, 2010

After a lengthy wait, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals released a spectacular opinion today titled NEDC v. Brown, which addresses the application of the Clean Water Act to logging roads.  Previously these roads and any pollution that came from them were exempted from compliance with the Clean Water Act and it's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which regulates pollution from point sources.