Environment
Environment

Wildfires Are Picking Up In Northwest. So Is Possibility Of Smoke Inundating The Region
The air quality around the Northwest is gradually worsening with the increasing number of wildfires burning this week. Health and air quality officials are urging people to be prepared in case the smoke becomes more prominent. Continue Reading Wildfires Are Picking Up In Northwest. So Is Possibility Of Smoke Inundating The Region

State Wildlife Agency Kills Final Two Wolves In Northeastern Washington Wedge Pack
Washington state has killed the last two known wolves in the so-called Wedge pack in Stevens County, which had been preying on livestock, the Department of Fish and Wildlife said Monday. Continue Reading State Wildlife Agency Kills Final Two Wolves In Northeastern Washington Wedge Pack

130 Degrees: Death Valley Sees What Could Be Record Heat
Any visitors to the national park are getting blunt advice: “Travel prepared to survive.” It’s part of a heat wave that is forcing rolling blackouts in the West. Continue Reading 130 Degrees: Death Valley Sees What Could Be Record Heat

President Trump To Withdraw Polarizing Nominee To Lead Bureau Of Land Management
The nominee, William Perry Pendley, has been leading the agency since last August through a series of controversial continued appointment extensions. Prior to coming to Washington D.C., the Wyoming native had spent much of his career at the conservative Mountain States Legal Foundation challenging the very agency he now leads. Continue Reading President Trump To Withdraw Polarizing Nominee To Lead Bureau Of Land Management

Eagles And Mockingbirds Catch A Break As Judge Strikes Down Federal Migratory Bird Opinion
In 2017, the Trump administration scaled back protections of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A federal judge has now struck down the rule change — and cited “To Kill a Mockingbird” in so doing. Continue Reading Eagles And Mockingbirds Catch A Break As Judge Strikes Down Federal Migratory Bird Opinion

Rule Protecting The Northwest’s Old-Growth Trees Is Under The Federal Government’s Ax
This latest rollback proposal, issued Tuesday, comes from the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region. It would end a 25-year-old provision that prevents logging of trees that exceed 21 inches in diameter in six national forests across Eastern Oregon and Washington. Continue Reading Rule Protecting The Northwest’s Old-Growth Trees Is Under The Federal Government’s Ax

What Happened When A Public Institute Became A De Facto Lobbying Arm Of The Timber Industry
Oregon Forest Resources Institute, created in the early 1990s to educate residents about forestry, has acted as a public-relations agency and lobbying arm for the timber industry, in some cases skirting legal constraints that forbid it from doing so. Continue Reading What Happened When A Public Institute Became A De Facto Lobbying Arm Of The Timber Industry

Federal Study Recommends Keeping Snake River Dams In Place, With Congress Having Final Say
Debates have dragged on for decades about whether to remove or alter the four dams. The Army Corps, Bureau of Reclamation and Bonneville Power Administration received almost 59,000 comments on the draft EIS this spring. The agencies are expected to finalize this plan by Sept. 30. Continue Reading Federal Study Recommends Keeping Snake River Dams In Place, With Congress Having Final Say

COVID-19 Has Resurrected Single-Use Plastics. Are They Back To Stay?
COVID-19 is changing how the U.S. disposes of waste. It is also threatening hard-fought victories that restricted or eliminated single-use disposable items, especially plastic, in cities and towns across the nation. Continue Reading COVID-19 Has Resurrected Single-Use Plastics. Are They Back To Stay?

Northwest Clean-Energy Advocates Eye Pumped Hydro To Fill Gaps, With Tribes Noting Concerns
Many states – including Oregon and Washington – have set renewable energy goals. But, there’s a problem. The wind isn’t always blowing, and the sun isn’t always shining. That’s why wind and solar power are variable, or intermittent. Enter pumped hydro. It’s not a new technology, but it is gaining more interest regionally. Continue Reading Northwest Clean-Energy Advocates Eye Pumped Hydro To Fill Gaps, With Tribes Noting Concerns

‘Most Significant Conservation Legislation’ In 50 Years: Great American Outdoors Act Approved
Supporters say the measure, known as the Great American Outdoors Act, would be the most significant conservation legislation enacted in nearly half a century. Continue Reading ‘Most Significant Conservation Legislation’ In 50 Years: Great American Outdoors Act Approved

Welcome To Klickitat Canyon, South-Central Washington’s New Conservation Area
The newly completed conservation area in south-central Washington is expected to protect habitat and lead to a more resilient forest. Conservation groups say this is a big step toward connecting important ecosystems in the area. Continue Reading Welcome To Klickitat Canyon, South-Central Washington’s New Conservation Area