The Painted Rocks Guardian

News, Links, & Commentary
Archive

January 2004

Please note that all links to the news stories below were accurate and working at the time of posting and archiving, however, the Guardian has no control on the length of time that a respective news source will continue to maintain any story in its own archives, so be advised that you may encounter non-working links
Bill McKee - Editor

This site is best viewed with the Internet Explorer browser set to medium fonts with
screen resolution of 800*600 or higher. Multimedia is presented via the Windows Media

 31-Jan-2004

Sound of silence
[in West Yellowstone]

Dry wells blamed on CBM

Proposed forest plan revisions released

Proposed revisions irk conservation group

Forest unveils initial fire salvage plans
In the wake of last summer's Wedge Canyon and Robert fires, the Flathead National Forest is proposing to salvage up to 45 million board feet of timber. The proposal includes road management measures that fall short of forest plan standards [ big surprise, huh? - Ed.]

The unmitigated gall fly
Deer mice win in effort to biocontrol knapweed

Activists defend Alaska salmon habitat

States plan own cuts in diesel pollution 
Many worry federal rules maybe delayed, weakened

Forest fire billing screw-ups may significantly alter total

Privatization could change the face of the Forest Service
[We can only hope !!! Something quite drastic needs to be
done to change this bureaucratic and industry welfare program - Ed.]

Wyoming Cows Banned By 5 State

Diamond Bar Herds Face Removal Starting Feb. 7

 
 more and more lies to justify
more and more logging

Biofuels touted as way to fund forest thinning

Forest Service proposes more logging,
grazing in lynx habitat to cut wildfire
risk

The next forest debates:
U.S. Forest Service chief Dale Bosworth 
and his view of the future

[the more you hear and read the plans of FS 'resource management' the more you come to realize that these folks are severely challenged when it comes to veracity and integrity. It's still all about justifying the agency's excessive headcount and budgets by 'planning' to allow the forests to be ruined by excessive logging to subsidize the timber and building industries.  Logging certainly hasn't been reduced because the FS or the timber industry wanted it reduced, what's left of our forests has been saved by concerned citizens and the courts and not  by the agencies charged with that responsibility.  

The best thing you can do this year is to vote in November to change the national administration so that the current disgraceful Forest Service 'management' can be 'regeneratively treated' (FS euphemism translation : clearcut) from top to bottom - Ed.]
 

Strange rays seen over Horseshoe Canyon

Conservative sportsmen turn against Bush

Laws of Diminishing Civil Liberties

The local overnight low temperature last night was +30F and yesterday's afternoon high temp was +35F.  Two (2) inches of snow has been recorded at our location during the last 24-hour period ending at 6AM.  Daily local min-max temp &  precip charts may be seen on our PR Temp & Precip Data page

 29-Jan-2004

 Judge orders Exxon Mobil to pay nearly
$7 billion in spill damages

Bison on the move:
Annual migration to park borders taking shape

Elk feeding eyed as source of brucellosis

Rule may ban off-trail ATV riding

Proposed forest plan revisions under fire


 
Hayman's scars run deep

18 months after fire, forest a ruin; tourist, fishing businesses decimated 
 
[as you remember, this destructive fire was provided to the public through the courtesy of the USFS very own employee, Ms Terry Barton ... but since the USFS is a responsibility-free agency, it bore no legal liability for the results of its employee's action - something that wouldn't be true for a private citizen in the real world. - Ed.]
 

CWD - Up To 58% Deer Infected In Colorado County

Bosworth's agenda


 more USFS logging lunacy - damn the forest, they're logging for land-swap dollars
 

Timber sale near Gardiner moves ahead
The U.S. Forest Service is moving ahead with a controversial timber sale near Gardiner. But environmental groups that already halted the sale once in federal appeals court are vowing to fight on
 

Industry cheers halt to surveys of wildlife

Martz renews backing for Hamilton biolab
[further evidence that ignorance is bliss - Ed.]

B.C. forest stocks surge 

Economic, social importance of fish and wildlife in Utah

U.S. government betrayal

America the Unfree  

The local overnight low temperature last night was +31F and yesterday's afternoon high temp was +40F.  Just a trace of precipitation has been recorded at our location during the last 24-hour period ending at 6AM.  Daily local min-max temp &  precip charts may be seen on our PR Temp & Precip Data page

 27-Jan-2004

Bush administration relaxes forest survey requirements

Bighorns hit with new disease

Snowmobile ban is costly, snow sled businessman says  


Meanwhile at the Forest "Service",  logging stupidity continues unabated ....

Old growth forest expert questions
Biscuit fire salvage logging
  
"...U.S. Forest Service plans to aggressively harvest trees burned in the 2002 Biscuit fire would harm old growth forest reserves for the next century and are not needed to reduce fire danger, says Jerry Franklin, a leading expert on old growth forest ecology .... The only thing worse for the spotted owl habitat burned in the fire than removing large dead trees would be logging large green trees, Franklin wrote in formal comments on the draft environmental impact statement on the Biscuit Fire Recovery Project."
"...The consensus in the ecological community at this point is salvage logging rarely contributes anything positive to the recovery processes," Franklin said Monday from his office in Seattle."
 

Forests file revisions

Forest meetings on slate across western Montana

Forest adds two new snow rangers

Researchers pinpoint famed campsite

Farmed salmon industry faces lawsuit

Booms, busts - Wyoming deals with minerals

Federal Judge Rules Part Of Patriot Act Unconstitutional  

You Might Be a Fascist

The local overnight low temperature last night was +22F and yesterday's afternoon high temp was +35F.  Just a trace of precipitation has been recorded at our location during the last 24-hour period ending at 6AM.  Daily local min-max temp &  precip charts may be seen on our PR Temp & Precip Data page

 25-Jan-2004

Economists out to save the West

Activists: Forest Service is retaliating for criticism

Prime California logging to triple

Alaska Oil Exploration Approved

Montana scientists challenge mad cow theory

RETIRED NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LEADERS DENIED WHITE HOUSE VISIT, URGE PRESIDENT TO "HALT" ANTI-CONSERVATION MOVES AT INTERIOR

Abandoned Indian education program ads fuel to lawsuit against Montana

Opportunity Lands on Mars

The local overnight low temperature last night was +21F and yesterday's afternoon high temp was +39F.  Six (6.0) inches of snow has been recorded at our location during the last 24-hour period ending at 6AM.  Daily local min-max temp &  precip charts may be seen on our PR Temp & Precip Data page

 22-Jan-2004

Today
Public comment meeting set for
RML impact statement

 Norton calls for tripling gas permits in Wyoming

The Alaska Chainsaw Massacre

Justices side with EPA in clean air battle
States may be overruled, Supreme Court majority says

Get yer elk yet? FWP holds hearing on elk B tags

A moment of truth for user fees

Conservationists file suit to protect Yellowstone cutthroat  

A presidential candidate from Texas in 2004
whom you can
be excited about
 

Forest Service won't head off fire area floods

Park County decides to close down
controversial incinerator

Snowcats see access shrinking

Investigation continues into fire training fraud

  Getting the Message?

The local overnight low temperature last night was +6F and yesterday's afternoon high temp was +38F.  No precipitation has been recorded at our location during the last 24-hour period ending at 6AM.  Daily local min-max temp &  precip charts may be seen on our PR Temp & Precip Data page

 15-Jan-2004

Yellowstone again listed as ‘most endangered’

here's why
Two snowmobilers trash Yellowstone meadows

In Yellowstone, quiet marks snowmobile debate

Gray wolf delisting delayed:
FWS cites Wyoming's predator designation

Sound's salmon carry high PCB levels

Forests and Logging
Kucinich endorses Zero Cut, Zero Extraction on Public Land s

Judges question EPA's Yucca standard

Idaho’s INEEL to test shells for chemicals

Montana
Contaminated water found in half of state's streams,
80 percent of lakes

Mining company to pay more than $18 million in fines


 Meanwhile, down at the US Department of Incompetence (Forest Service Division)
:

Report: Supervisory mistakes led
to firefighter deaths

Managers blamed for firefighters’ deaths

These are the same folks who have time to go after regional forester Brad Powell for allegedly looking at porn on the internet, yet year after year there are fire fighting tragedies that are caused by FS management incompetence - which is more important, which do you think ought to be fixed first? 

The real porn is what this agency does to the forests it is charged with caring for and the continual demonstrated gross incompetence of virtually this entire agency's 'management' - Ed.

 

Bush team loses air conditioning battle

Federal officials draft Canada lynx impact statement

 The UnGreening of America

The local overnight low temperature last night was +11F and yesterday's afternoon high temp was +42F.  No precipitation has been recorded at our location during the last 24-hour period ending at 6AM.  Daily local min-max temp &  precip charts may be seen on our PR Temp & Precip Data page

 12-Jan-2004

Snowmobile case surfaces in new court

Yellowstone snowmobile numbers sink

Denver Post feature
The brink of beauty, the edge of ruin

Environmentalists predict tough road ahead
for Yellowstone bison

Ready, set... Montana takes measured approach
to coalbed exploration

Carving out a niche

Loggers Needed
Forest seeks working groups for plan revisions

Biologists, volunteers try to keep animals off ice
Over 85 deer, elk have died so far at Lucky Peak

Modern Meat
Have the dramatic changes in the US meat industry compromised the safety of America ’s beef?

Pentagon Auditors Doctored Documents

Migrating to Libertarianism

Tacoma, Wash., Named Most-Stressed City

The local overnight low temperature last night was +10F and yesterday's afternoon high temp was +42F.  No precipitation has been recorded at our location during the last 24-hour period ending at 6AM.  Daily local min-max temp &  precip charts may be seen on our PR Temp & Precip Data page

 09-Jan-2004

Montana
It's a wetter, better start
[local note : Water Year '04 moisture levels in the PR/Alta area are 201.3%(snow) and 353.5%(rain) of the levels recorded thru the same dates (10/01 -> 01/09) in Water Year '03 - Ed.]

  Farm-raised salmon contain more pollutants
than wild salmon, study says

Split estate, divided views:
coalbed methane creates a stir above ground and below

Timber sale south of Livingston stopped by environmentalists

Elk numbers plummet;
wildlife managers respond by regulating hunters

Groups File Lawsuit to Halt Salvage Logging
on Santa Fe National Forest

Feds ponder how to curb rogue OHVs

DNRC ponders tax plans to cope with cost of fighting wildfires

The battle for Mitchell Slough

208 cases of CWD found last season

Suzanne Stone: Idaho, Montana wolf plans don’t reflect all parties’ concerns

USFS seeks alternatives to poisoning rainbow trout

Parcels ready for swap
The Bureau of Land Management is poised to trade almost 6,500 acres of federal land for 970 acres of private property across from Lakeside marina on Hauser Lake

Powell will accept D.C. assignment

Where's the Beef From?

Death Penalty Should be Applied to Fraudulent Corporations

"Extraordinary rendition" and other terms of our times

Jumping Ship at the EPA

The local overnight low temperature last night was +20F and yesterday's afternoon high temp was +36F.  No precipitation has been recorded at our location during the last 24-hour period ending at 6AM.  Daily local min-max temp &  precip charts may be seen on our PR Temp & Precip Data page

02-Jan-2004

Proposed biohazard lab in Hamilton poses 'neglibible risk'
according to Feds

Scientists: Diesel soot abets global warming

Lincoln County taking over mill property

Park employees may still get to use snowmobiles inside Yellowstone

Punished for the Truth

Tongass Decision Fiscally, Environmentally Irresponsible

State agency wants to rebuild trout fishery
in Georgetown Lake

Groups sound off on snowmobile plan

DOE seeks to lock up BLM land

Energy, recreation vie for West's resources

Electronic voting firm acknowledges hacker break-in

Judges hold politicians accountable

Grizzly bear recovery presents new challenge


Editorial : 
 
WHY ARE WE STILL THERE...


It is time to take a serious look at our involvement there.

Every day there are news reports about more deaths. Every night on the TV are photos of death and destruction. Why are we still there?

The land is too large to secure all of it. The bad people causing this damage can roam anywhere, and we can't possibly police the whole place. Why are we still there?

We occupied this land, which we had to take by force, but it causes us nothing but trouble. Why are we still there?

Their government is unstable, and in the process of changing. Why are we still there?

Refugees are fleeing by the thousands, driven from their homes. Why are we still there?

It will cost billions to rebuild, which we can't afford. Why are we still there?

There are more than 1000 religious sects.

We can't even secure the borders. Why are we still there?

And to repeat. Every day we hear of more Americans killed in this dangerous land.

It is clear! 

We must abandon California...


From: dragsawman@humboldt1.com on behalf of Otto Ray III
[dragsawman@humboldt1.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 6:15 AM
To: fogbelt@aol.com
Subject: Why are we still there

The local overnight low temperature last night was +21F and yesterday's afternoon high temp was +32F.  One inch of snow has been recorded at our location during the last 24-hour period ending at 6AM.  Daily local min-max temp &  precip charts may be seen on our PR Temp & Precip Data page

News Archives
In order to keep the news page loading time short, we regularly archive the stories appearing on this page. You can see other News, Links, & Commentary stories by selecting the appropriate available archive period in the table below.
 
Home ] Spring-Summer 2004 ] February - March 2004 ] [ January 2004 ] December 1-31, 2003 ] November 1-30, 2003 ] October 16-31, 2003 ] October 1-15, 2003 ] September 1-30, 2003 ] August 21-31, 2003 ] August 11-20, 2003 ] August 1-10, 2003 ] July 21-31, 2003 ] July 11-20, 2003 ] July 1-10, 2003 ] June 21-30, 2003 ] June 11-20, 2003 ] June 1-10, 2003 ] May 21-31, 2003 ] May 11-20, 2003 ] May 1-10, 2003 ] April 21-30, 2003 ] April 11-20, 2003 ] April 1-10, 2003 ] Mar 21-31, 2003 ] Mar 11-20, 2003 ] Mar 1-10, 2003 ] Feb 21-28, 2003 ] Feb 11-20, 2003 ] Feb 1-10, 2003 ] Jan 21-31, 2003 ] Dec 1-10, 2002 ] Nov 21-30, 2002 ] Nov 11-20, 2002 ] Nov 1-10, 2002 ] Oct 21-31, 2002 ] Oct 11-20, 2002 ] Oct 1-10, 2002 ] Sep 21-30, 2002 ] Sep 11-20, 2002 ] Sep 1-10, 2002 ] Aug 21-31, 2002 ] Aug 11-20, 2002 ] Aug 1-10, 2002 ] Jul 21-31, 2002 ] Jul 11-20, 2002 ] Jul 1-10, 2002 ]

Up ] AltaCam ] Weather/Misc Enviro Metric Links ] Streamflows, NRIS, & Drought Info ] Regional and Area Meetings ] E-Links of Interest ]

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in the stories above is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.

About the Painted Rocks Guardian's
News, Links, & Commentary Section
It is a daily look at environmentally related stories from around the country, many of which are illustrative of the high level of incompetence (and worse) existing within most of the government entities currently charged with administering our nation's parks, forests, other public lands, waterways, and airsheds.  As you read these news stories from many different sources, you will note that almost all environmental protection/preservation efforts and programs to save our nation's public treasures originate from private environmental organizations, often times via court order, and NOT through the respective governmental agencies with primary administration responsibilities. Most of these governmental entities (e.g., the Forest Service) have become top heavy with many levels of career bureaucrats who, instead of protecting and preserving the nation's priceless resources, are 'busy' catering to consumptive/extractive industry interests in the course of administering politically designed social welfare employment programs and wealth redistributionist grant programs. While the current system is almost hopelessly corrupt at many levels, it is being increasingly understood as such by the general public. Increased general public awareness of the problem is necessary to trigger environmentally informed political actions that will eventually save the nation's public treasures.  Effective solutions to the current situation will most likely involve the deconstruction of several bureaucratic agencies as they exist today with a functional redesign that will shift major policy development and administrative direction authority into the hands of environmental groups/organizations (as contrasted with agency hand-picked and selected 'citizen groups' dominated by consumptionists) and out of the hands of self-interested bureaucrats and extractive industry interests.
- Bill McKee - Editor.


"baby's gotten good with goodbye"

Be sure to use your browser's refresh feature (ctrl+F5 with the Internet Explorer browser) to ensure that you are looking at the most recent page update.  Multimedia is presented via the Windows Media Player 9 - if you can't hear the site's music or view it's videos, then you need to install Windows Media Player 9 on your PC. The Painted Rocks Guardian is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Copyright © 1999-2004 Painted Rocks Conservation Group. All rights reserved on original material but the same may be recopied, distributed, or posted on the worldwide web for non-profit purposes only . . . Last updated 01/27/04.