Within the more than 1,200 pages of the climate bill, investments in energy efficiency measures and the cap on carbon dioxide stand out as highlights. The legislation, however, does not address the negative impacts of energy development in this country and relies too heavily on coal and nuclear energy, and untested carbon sequestration technology. Read more.
Hydraulic fracturing is used widely throughout the oil and gas industry. Although an effective technique for increasing oil and gas production, it has the potential to harm human health and the environment. Contact your members of Congress to protect drinking water from toxic chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing.
A U.S. appeals court refused to lift the ban on planting genetically modified (GM) alfalfa until the federal government finishes its study on how the product could affect organic and conventional crops, the environment, and economic well-being of farmers.
The House of Representatives is trying to address the worst problems in agriculture, but the legislation as it stands threatens the best things in agriculture – small farmers producing for local markets.
Over 400 producers packed into a listening session on the controversial animal identification program held in Rapid City, S.D., June 11.
Proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Animal Identification System is designed to identify and track every individual animal owned by family farm producers. USDA is holding a series of listening sessions on NAIS across the country. The Rapid City meeting was the eight meeting and had the largest turn-out so far.
Today, a coalition of groups sent letters to the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration urging that the agency not approve the pipelines as proposed. Read news release.
Based on a newly updated report, residents in existing and potential oil and gas drilling areas in the West are urging the federal government to adequately fund and carry out inspection and enforcement programs.
Released by the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), the report found some improvement in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) oil and gas inspection and enforcement programs, but the time and money invested in inspections and the number of inspections conducted were too low in 1999 and have barely kept up with oil and gas permitting and drilling.
Western ranchers welcomed introduction of a bill to stop unfair and manipulative practices by meatpackers that harm independent livestock producers.
WORC, Dakota Resource Council, and Dakota Rural Action submitted joint comments on the scope of the Keystone XL pipeline Environmental Impact Statement. The Northern Plains Resource Council filed comments separately.
Governors of Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska asked to oppose special permit.
Letter to Governor Rounds (South Dakota) - Dakota Rural Action
Letter to Governor Schweitzer (Montana) - Northern Plains Resource Council
Letter to Governor Heinemann (Nebraska) - Landowners for Fairness
WORC Comments on special permit
drilling and hydraulic fracturing daily.
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