Around the Region

A look around WORC's region

The Governor of Wyoming has blocked a proposed rule to control coalbed methane (CBM) water discharges. In February, the Wyoming Environmental Quality Council approved the Powder River Basin Resource Council’s petition for rulemaking. The proposed rule directed the Department of Environmental Quality to address the effects that CBM water quantity can have on water quality and to require permit applicants to demonstrate that water is being used for wildlife, livestock, or other agricultural uses during discharge periods. On April 23, Governor Dave Freudenthal announced his decision to kill the proposed rule, saying he does not have the authority to make the rule change. “The Governor says this was the wrong route to take, but he refuses to suggest an alternative,” said Bob LeResche, chair of Powder River. “We need leadership from the top on this issue, but the Governor once again simply refuses to provide it.” Powder River is challenging the legality of the Governor’s decision in court.

Just after its seventh birthday, the Grand Forks County Citizens Coalition (GFC3), a local chapter of the Dakota Resource Council, won its founding issue—stopping a proposed landfill in Turtle River Township. On April 16, a judged ruled that the township’s zoning was legal, and that township officials were within their rights to withhold a landfill permit from the City of Grand Forks on the basis of evidence given at the permit hearing. “This restores my faith in democracy,” said GFC3 chair, Daryl Bragg. “The judge looked carefully at the evidence we provided, and the system worked.”

When Mesa County School District 51 constructs a new school, the building will be a “green” one, thanks to a grassroots campaign by members of the Western Colorado Congress (WCC). The district recently adopted a policy to build new schools to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Standard. LEED certifies environmentally friendly and ecologically sound buildings. Schools in the United States spend more on energy, $6 billion, than on computers and books combined. LEED certified schools use 30-50% less energy than conventional schools. —Andy Whipple, WCC staff

On March 30, 2007, Oregon Rural Action incorporated the Eagle Cap Land Trust, Oregon’s newest land trust. This locally-based land trust was established for the permanent protection of land and resources within Union and Baker Counties and the greater Blue Mountain region of Oregon. The land trust offers stewardship, education, and advice for the conservation, preservation and enhancement of agricultural lands, private forestlands, and natural, scenic and open space lands. Eagle Cap has acquired a 580-acre wetland and riparian area and is working on several other acquisitions. —Chris Perry, ORA staff

The Idaho Rural Council is focusing on protecting the public health, and neighbors’ livestock health by working to establish setbacks for dairy lagoon sprayfields. Sprayfields for liquid waste from municipal or industrial sources have been regulated for decades and setbacks of hundreds of feet are often required to protect neighbors from aerosolized pathogens. IRC is pushing for the same setback rules to govern liquid dairy lagoon disposal as apply to liquid waste from municipal and industrial sources. —Richard Carlson, IRC staff

Dakota Rural Action and The Center for Rural Affairs visited media outlets about the 2007 Farm Bill. Focusing on the beginning farmer and rancher provisions and the competition title, the team of staff and members met with radio, television, and newspaper reporters in six communities. The outreach netted a television story, appearances on three radio call-in shows, and an article in the Sunday edition of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. —Frank James, DRA staff

The Yellowstone Valley Citizen’s Council, an affiliate of the Northern Plains Resource Council, joined with the City of Billings to celebrate National Bike to Work Week by holding the “Sneakers, Spokes, and Spark Plugs” challenge, May 16, at Home on the Range. Local media personalities raced local notables by driving, walking, or biking to complete an identical series of errands in downtown Billings. All the bikers finished well before any of the drivers or walkers, proving you can save money and time, do something good for yourself and the environment, while having fun. —Merry Ann Peters, Northern Plains staff