Around the Region

In This Issue:

Around the Region

A look around WORC's region

Powder River wins rule
The Wyoming Environmental Quality Council approved a petition for rulemaking on February 16 by the Powder River Basin Resource Council and individual landowners to regulate the impacts of discharges of coalbed methane (CBM) water on soils, vegetation, and downstream landowners. The rule directs the Department of Environmental Quality to address the effects that CBM water quantity can have on water quality and requires permit applicants to demonstrate that water is being used for wildlife, livestock, or other agricultural uses during discharge periods.

IRC to light up Elmore County
Idaho Rural Council will give away 1,000 Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs at the Elmore County Fair in July. “The public outreach campaign will raise the awareness of what an individual can do”, said K.C. Duerig, President of IRC. Every 75-watt incandescent bulb replaced with a 20-watt CFL would save $8 a year, based on local electricity rates, and keep $8,000 a year in the local economy. “You can make a difference just by changing a light bulb,” he said.

Northern Plains holds biodiesel mixer
About 150 people learned about the benefits of biodiesel at the Biodiesel Mixer sponsored by the Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council (YVCC), an affiliate of the Northern Plains Resource Council, in Billings, Feb. 22. “Global environmental benefits include its 78% reduction in global warming gases compared to petrodiesel, and local environmental benefits include a significant reduction in almost all air pollutants,” Ed Gulick, YVCC member, told the gathering. YVCC is promoting biodiesel as an alternative energy fuel for the City of Billings’ street fleet, including garbage trucks, busses and snow plows. “Biodiesel has broad appeal and a real grassroots following, so it has also proved to be a great vehicle for recruiting new members,” he said.

ORA improves local food stamp process
Oregon Rural Action uncovered significant personnel problems within the Food Stamp Program in Ontario, Oregon. ORA found out that some individuals meeting the criteria for food stamps were denied aid or encountered barriers and delays in receiving assistance. ORA worked with the State of Oregon Food Stamp Outreach Director and the Oregon Law Center to resolve the problem. Certain case-workers were reassigned to non-public contact positions and many departmental policies and procedures were changed to better assist those in need and to help eliminate barriers to low-income individuals seeking aid.

DRC says ‘no’ to power plant
The Dakota Resource Council told the North Dakota Public Service Commission not to gamble by approving a proposed coal-fired power plant. If the Commission approves the project, the companies would be better able to obtain funding for construction and could raise North Dakota customers’ utility rates to cover costs. DRC says that the proposed plant, Big Stone II near Milbank, SD, is a bad idea for three reasons. First, the plant would not capture carbon dioxide emissions. Second, wind energy is a less expensive option. And third, North Dakota ratepayers would subsidize the plant but would see little, if any, benefits from its construction. “The 50-year life expectancy of a new coal plant would lock ratepayers into very unpredictable costs to offset the millions of tons of heat-trapping gases it emits,” said Marie Hoff, a member of DRC’s Clean Energy Committee.

DRA meets with elected officials
Dakota Rural Action members discussed livestock market reform and renewable energy with two members of their congressional delegation in February. Members met with Rep. Stephanie Herseth about captive supply reform, adding a competition title to the Farm Bill, and the renewable portfolio standard. Rep. Herseth has agreed introduce the Captive Supply Reform Act in the House of Representatives. Members also participated in a listening session on the Farm Bill held by Sen. Tim Johnson in Rapid City.

Agency adopts WCC’s checklist
The Bureau of Land Management’s Colorado Field office announced in December that it will use an environmental inspection checklist for oil and gas operations developed by a collaborative effort of citizens groups. Western Colorado Congress members met with BLM officials in May 2006 to encourage the agency to adopt the standardized checklist to streamline its environmental compliance inspections. The checklist sprang from an idea by New Mexico Rancher Tweeti Blancett and the San Juan Citizens Alliance in Durango, and WORC assisted in creating the checklist.