Environment

Salmon-Challis National Forest

Salmon-Challis National Forest ranger districts plan open houses

BY: - May 26, 2022

Three local ranger districts on the Salmon-Challis National Forest will hold open houses during the month of June to interact with the public and discuss issues such as wildfires and recreation opportunities, U.S. Forest Service officials said in a press release.  During each of the three open houses, members of the public will be able […]

Summer hurricanes, wildfires and storms loom as FEMA faces pressure to step up

BY: - May 24, 2022

WASHINGTON — Another grueling summer disaster season is arriving, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is under intense pressure even as its portfolio balloons, it pleads for more money from Congress and criticism comes on several fronts. The agency manages more than 300 disaster declarations a year, a dramatic increase from the average of 108 […]

Hurricane Ida survivor

NOAA forecasts busy Atlantic hurricane season, with at least 3 major storms

BY: - May 24, 2022

WASHINGTON — The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be the seventh in a row with an above-normal number of storms, according to a forecast the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released Tuesday.  NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad said the agency expects there will be between 14 and 21 named storms, with six to 10 […]

COMMENTARY
Old Faithful Inn

How to enjoy ‘parkitecture’ in Yellowstone National Park that has survived earthquakes, wildfire

BY: - May 24, 2022

Visitors to many national parks in the U.S. notice and enjoy the iconic buildings made with local materials. These structures are so unique that the style of architecture has its own nickname — “Parkitecture.” But where did this style come from, and how has it persevered over the last century in Yellowstone National Park? The […]

COMMENTARY
salmon in a stream

After 30 years of endangered listing for Chinook, it’s time to bring back the Kings of Idaho

BY: - May 20, 2022

Idaho’s wild salmon and steelhead are in trouble — and have been for quite some time. Just last month, iconic Snake River spring and summer Chinook salmon passed a grim milestone – 30 years on the endangered species list. Their 1992 listing came after more than a century of habitat degradation, overharvest and dam construction […]

COMMENTARY
Scientists in Yellowstone National Park

May ushers in new season of geoscience field work in Yellowstone National Park

BY: - May 19, 2022

May is an exciting time for geologists when it comes to Yellowstone — by that month, enough snow has usually melted to allow for the start of field work. And the field season typically lasts until October or November. Last week, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists kicked off the field season with several projects. Geophysicists installed […]

U.S. Forest Service firefighters

U.S. House vote to expand federal firefighters benefits seen as step toward parity

BY: - May 16, 2022

WASHINGTON – Years after firefighters extinguish a blaze, after the smoke has lifted and ashes have cooled, the people who risked their lives to contain the fire face another danger: cancer and cardiovascular disease resulting from exposure to smoke and heat. Government and academic studies have shown firefighters are 9% more likely to develop cancer […]

Grizzly bear

To protect grizzlies, groups threaten to sue Forest Service over livestock grazing near Yellowstone

BY: - May 12, 2022

Seven different conservation groups have sent a letter of intent to sue the United States Forest Service for disregarding thousands of acres of grizzly habitat in order to allow more livestock grazing not far from Yellowstone National Park. The letter, which demands the national Forest Service reconsider its action and puts the agency on notice, […]

construction workers laying asphalt

Biden administration vows to speed up environmental permits needed for infrastructure projects

BY: - May 11, 2022

President Joe Biden’s administration will seek to hasten construction of roads, bridges, wind farms and more by tweaking the federal review process for environmental and other permits, administration officials said Tuesday. On a press call, administration officials said they were seeking to make permitting easier without sacrificing environmental standards. The new permitting plan includes five […]

U.S. Capitol building

Democrats from the West push update of 150-year-old federal mining law

BY: - May 10, 2022

Democrats in Congress are hoping to overhaul the nation’s 150-year-old system for mining the elements needed for battery manufacturing, as high gas prices and Russia’s war in Ukraine underline the need to transition from oil and gas to renewable energy sources. U.S. House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl Grijalva of Arizona and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich […]

COMMENTARY
Yellowstone National Park lava flows

Short drive between Yellowstone’s Tower, Canyon junctions showcases millions of years of history

BY: - May 10, 2022

The road over Dunraven Pass between Tower and Canyon junctions in the northeast part of Yellowstone National Park exposes an outstanding sequence of geological history, much of which significantly predates recent Yellowstone volcanism. Construction work closed the road during the summers of 2020 and 2021, but the route is scheduled to open to park visitors […]

Glacier National Park

As more Americans get to know the great outdoors, poop on public lands is becoming a problem

BY: - May 4, 2022

“Go before you go.” That’s the advice Glacier National Park’s Bradley Blickhan has for hikers heading up a trail. Translation? Go to the bathroom before you go on your adventure. “We have a staff of wilderness rangers, and part of their job is to take care of these structures,” Blickhan said. “But we’re finding it […]