A recent study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) does not have consistent policies to regulate the venting and flaring of natural gas at thousands of oil and natural gas wells. The … Continued
On July 25, Families for a Fair Wage turned in 200,000 signatures to the Colorado Secretary of State, more than double what is needed to place a minimum wage increase initiative on the November ballot. Western Colorado Congress members gathered over 1,000 of those signatures … Continued
Since 2013, Dakota Resource Council (DRC) has campaigned against efforts by North Dakota state government to raise the level of radioactive waste that can be disposed of in the state. The state set a radioactivity limit at 5 picocuries per … Continued
In July, Western Native Voice launched the Natives on the Votepath tour throughout Montana’s Native American communities to register voters for this year’s upcoming election. The crew is going door-to-door for a month, starting in Fort Peck, and traveling through … Continued
In mid-July, the DARK Act passed in both the U.S. House and Senate. It now awaits President Obama’s signature or veto. The bill to label genetically modified organisms (GMO) in products, often referred to by opponents as the “Denying Americans … Continued
Western Colorado Congress members said the new oil and gas residential drilling rule does not protect their community of Battlement Mesa during a press conference July 19. Dave Saxton, a WCC member from Battlement Mesa, called the new rule an … Continued
After almost three years of campaigning Northern Plains Resource Council (NPRC) won a major victory July 18 to protect landowners from oil and gas development in Carbon County, Montana. The new regulations give landowners the right to receive baseline water … Continued
On July 11-13, WORC brought together ten leaders and four staff from five of eight WORC members groups to our Billings headquarters, the Home on the Range, for a meeting of the Clean and Renewable Energy Campaign Team. It was the … Continued
The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) recently decided to keep a 300-feet minimum oil and gas well setback from occupied dwellings. The decision was made despite testimony from Idaho Organization of Resource Council (IORC) and allies asking for a 500-feet … Continued
The Department of the Interior closed the coal royalty loophole in late June after years of study and public comments. On June 30, the agency issued a new rule to calculate royalties for federal coal and other minerals. Companies pay royalties … Continued