Environment
Environment
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘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.
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.
In Northwestern Washington, A Free-Flowing Middle Fork Nooksack River Is Just Months Away
A dam removal that has been 20 years in the making reached an important milestone this week. Explosives ripped through the concrete on the Middle Fork Nooksack, east of Bellingham.
Oil Industry, Accustomed To Booms And Busts, Is Rocked By Pandemic
When the price of oil crashes, oil companies often merge and big oil gets even bigger. So this crisis could be an opportunity for companies, but it comes with a tremendous amount of uncertainty.
How Absentee Landowners Keep Farmers From Protecting Water And Soil
Cover crops are a vegetation that farmers can plant in the off-season to protect and enrich the soil. It’s great for the environment — and in the long run, for crops, too — but it costs money upfront. Farmers who rent land, and who may not have access to that land in the long run, are reluctant to spend that money.
Forest Service Considers Rule Change That Prevented Logging Of Some Northwest Old-Growth Trees
The land management plans, known as the “Eastside Screens,” came about in 1995 to protect old growth trees east of the Cascades. The rules were meant to be temporary. The Forest Service wants to amend a section of the policy called the “21-inch rule,” which prohibits harvesting trees that are greater than 21-inches in diameter.
Saddle Mountain Fire Is Test For COVID Plans, And In A Sensitive Wildlife Area
Firefighters are wrapping up after three days at this season’s first big wildfire in eastern Washington. As crews began heading home, the Saddle Mountain Fire had burned about 10,000 as of Wednesday, July 8, in steep terrain on part of the Saddle Mountain Wildlife Refuge.
Interior Secretary: Grizzlies Will Not Be Brought Back To Washington’s North Cascades
Conservation groups have said they are “weighing options” about what to do next. Ranching and cattle groups applauded the decision, saying more predators present challenges for their members.
