Environment
Environment
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.
Court Rules Dakota Access Pipeline Must Be Emptied Temporarily For Environmental Review
A federal judge has ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to produce a full environmental review. Until then, oil must stop flowing through the controversial pipeline.
Washington Has Seen A Significant Rise In Wildfire Starts So Far This Year
Washington fire managers say they’ve seen a significant number of wildfires in “every corner of the state.” So far this year, the state Department of Natural Resources says it has responded to more than 468 wildfires of varying sizes – nearly double the 10-year average for an entire fire season. But this year’s unprecedented uptick in the number of fires has an unforeseen culprit: people cleaning their yards during the pandemic.
Monsanto To Pay Washington State $95M Over PCB Pollution And Dangers From Weedkiller Roundup
The announcement Wednesday from Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson came as Bayer, which acquired Monsanto two years ago, said it would pay $820 million to resolve PCB pollution claims and up to $10.9 billion to resolve many claims, both current and future, over contamination from or exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller.
In Toppenish, A Trail Cam Zooms In On Unique Learning Opportunity For Yakama Nation Students
Historically, the Yakama Nation Tribal School was a school “of last resort,” says principal Adam Strom, where students came after they could no longer attend other area schools. That’s changing. He says courses like this one in environmental science and natural resources are a big reason why.
Does Cuteness Count? A Cost-Benefit Analysis Encourages Backers Of A Northwest Sea Otter Return
A study of sea otter restoration in British Columbia is giving encouragement to a group that wants to bring sea otters back to the Oregon Coast. The research team led by the University of British Columbia analyzed the rebound in sea otters off the coast of Vancouver Island.
U.S. Senate Passes Big Funding Boost To Conservation Fund, Help For National Parks Maintenance
The Great American Outdoors Act would permanently allocate $900 million to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which finally lapsed almost two years ago.
Absent From Stimulus Packages: Overhauling Energy And Climate Programs, As Past Ones Have
Climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are not part of the $3 trillion in U.S. relief packages passed so far — despite a long history of funding energy programs after economic crises.
As EPA Steps Back, States Face Wave Of Requests For Environmental Leniency
The EPA does not require companies to notify federal regulators if the pandemic interferes with pollution monitoring or reporting. That leaves states alone on the front lines of pollution control.
