Debate rages over the impact of federal regulations on drilling, jobs

A day after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar approved a major new natural gas drilling project in Utah, a new study concludes that federal regulations have delayed 22 major drilling projects representing thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic impact... Read the full article...
EPA gives heavily drilled Wyoming area three years to improve

U.S. EPA has determined that southwest Wyoming's Upper Green River Basin no longer meets federal ground-level ozone pollution standards, a conclusion that could significantly affect two of the nation's largest oil and natural gas fields... Read the full article...
Surface damage from Niobrara seismic work results in citations

Seismic crews working in the Niobrara shale oil play caused serious rutting and other surface damage earlier this year on 10 different ranch properties in southeast Wyoming, resulting in several state-issued citations for the operator and the seismic contractor... Read the full article...
Deer-ly Departed: Revelation of mule deer ‘stop-over’ behavior may alter drilling plans in Bridger Teton Forest

Plans to introduce 136 natural gas wells into the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline fields in the Wyoming Range. But the project has drawn objection from the conservation community, who've been fueled by a new research report detailing mule deer behavior... Read the full article...
The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920: The law that changed Wyoming’s economic destiny

While energy development is arguably central to Wyoming's economy, it wasn't always this way. In the beginning of the 20th century, agriculture was king in Wyoming, until a historical Congressional vote in 1920... Read the full article...
Rare Stake: Can Wyoming help serve world’s hunger for rare earth minerals?

A newly opened mine near the city of Sundance raises the prospect of a new industry for Wyoming. The project's owners believe they'll have the infrastructure to compete with China's industry, which has a near monopoly on the market... Read the full article...

Columns/Blogs

Wyoming ranks among worst, again, in workplace fatalities

by Dustin Bleizeffer May 15, 2012

Wyoming’s workplace fatality rate in 2010 again was among the worst in the nation with an average 12.9 workplace fatalities per 100,000 workers, according to the most recent data available …

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Group lists Hoback among ‘most endangered’ rivers

by Dustin Bleizeffer May 15, 2012

Group lists Hoback among ‘most endangered’ rivers
The Hoback River in northwest Wyoming is one of the most endangered rivers in America due to proposed natural gas development, according to American …

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$Thumbnail image for What is all this frackin’ nonsense?$

What is all this frackin’ nonsense?

by The Sage Grouse May 15, 2012

The big controversy about fracking does not revolve around negligent practices once the fluid is sucked out of the well and sent to disposal. The controversy which worries so many …

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Unsafe Sipping

by Greg Kearney May 11, 2012

The Department of Energy announced that elevated levels of uranium have been discovered in the drinking water of Wind River Reservation. Greg Kearney sums up the situation in three words.

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Chesapeake blowout; State issues preliminary investigation results

by Dustin Bleizeffer May 10, 2012

Chesapeake blowout; State issues preliminary investigation results
A preliminary investigation of the April 24 blowout of a Chesapeake Energy oil well suggests the cause was a mechanical failure, or “improper engagement …

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Surface damage from Niobrara seismic work results in citations

by Dustin Bleizeffer May 10, 2012

Seismic crews working in the Niobrara shale oil play caused serious rutting and other surface damage earlier this year on 10 different ranch properties in southeast Wyoming, resulting in several …

Read the full article…

BLM posts parcels for August oil and gas lease sale

by Dustin Bleizeffer May 9, 2012

BLM posts parcels for August oil and gas lease sale
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming State Office has posted its proposed list of parcels for the quarterly competitive oil …

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Are Western Communities Getting a Fair Return on Energy Development?

by WyoFile May 8, 2012

Are Western Communities Getting a Fair Return on Energy Development?
Reprinted with permission from Stanford University’s Rural West Initiative. Not for republication by Wyoming media.
With sky-high energy prices driving new oil and …

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Five Ball Cascade

by Greg Kearney May 4, 2012

Finding a balance between industry and interior is just as a difficult as it looks.

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Workplace safety seminar May 15 in Casper

by Dustin Bleizeffer May 2, 2012

Workplace safety seminar May 15 in Casper
Wyoming energy and construction trade groups will host a worker safety seminar, “Building the Culture of Safety,” on Tuesday, May 15 at the Parkway Plaza …

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Memorial & Money

by Greg Kearney April 27, 2012

Greg Kearney pays tribute to Workers’ Memorial Day with a bit of biting humor.

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Crew stops flow of gas at well blowout

by Dustin Bleizeffer April 25, 2012

Natural gas is no longer venting from the Combs Ranch Unit 29-33-70 1H well north of Douglas as of 11:05 a.m. today (Friday), according to a state official.

Well control specialists …

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Your Choice: Art or Propaganda?

by The Sage Grouse April 24, 2012

Earlier this year the legislature suggested that the pending renovation of Half Acre gym at UW include murals glorifying the mineral industries. The Sage Grouse suggests searching “all facets of …

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Mead; More budget cuts needed due to falling natural gas prices

by Dustin Bleizeffer April 23, 2012

Mead; More budget cuts needed due to falling natural gas prices
Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead announced today he will ask state agencies to double budget cuts for fiscal year 2014 — …

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Samoas or Shake-ups?

by Greg Kearney April 20, 2012

When the Wyoming Department of Health cut the number of contractors who can administer the state’s Prevention Enhancement Grant, Greg Kearney wasn’t the only one who saw an opening.

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Synfuels Plants

by The Sage Grouse April 17, 2012

The Sage Grouse ponders the feasibility of coal-to-gas plants in Wyoming, wondering whether they’re worth the trouble.

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Sleeping Giant Ski Area expansion up for public comment

by Guy April 16, 2012

Sleeping Giant Ski Area expansion up for public comment
The Shoshone National Forest is asking for public input on the proposed expansion of the Sleeping Giant Ski area. The proposal would …

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Just a Guess

by Greg Kearney April 13, 2012

Political cartoonist Greg Kearney draws a conclusion about precautionary fashion statements and Wyoming residency.

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‘Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life’

by WyoFile April 11, 2012

In memory of Dennis Curran, WyoFile presents his retirement column from Wyoming Business Review, published in 2010.

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What Is Insurance?

by The Sage Grouse April 10, 2012

The basic principle of casualty and liability insurance is sound: make sure that every business venture has a pool of money to cover losses suffered by the insured (casualty …

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O’ Canada

by Greg Kearney April 6, 2012

Political cartoonist Greg Kearney sings a Wyoming-inspired homage to the Canadian national anthem based on (relatively) low prices at the pump.

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I could drink a whole glass of vodka, but …

by Dustin Bleizeffer April 4, 2012

I could drink a whole glass of vodka, but …
One of my favorite memories of the coal-bed methane boom in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin was a junket of ordinaries, industry …

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Warning System

by Greg Kearney March 30, 2012

Greg Kearney applies the old adage about a “canary in a coal mine” to the precarious position of Wyoming’s sage grouse population.

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Lessons of the Galapagos

by The Sage Grouse March 27, 2012

The Galapagos Islands, unique because they were formed by volcanic eruptions in the middle of thePacific Ocean where two tectonic plates interact along a restive “seam,” periodically erupted over millions …

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Fringe Benefit

by Greg Kearney March 23, 2012

Employers are being pressured to pursue safer practices and be held more accountable for proven negligence. Greg Kearney thinks some of them would prefer another option.

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An Aspirin A Day…

by Greg Kearney March 20, 2012

Greg Kearney offers up his take on Foster Friess’ recent controversial comments on Congress’ birth control battles.

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“Draw!” Veteran Wyoming editorial cartoonist Greg Kearney launches new series at WyoFile

by Dustin Bleizeffer March 20, 2012

Greg Kearney (click to enlarge)

Al Simpson once accused him of defiling a pig. Many newspaper editors have cursed and praised him, and city council members have feared his sharp moral …

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Wyoming’s poor need higher wages, not drug-testing for “welfare”

by WyoFile March 20, 2012

This year, a bill was introduced — eventually defeated — to require Wyoming’s poor to submit to drug-testing as a condition to receiving public aid. Rodger McDaniel, former director of …

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Taxes and Fairness

by The Sage Grouse March 20, 2012

“The Democratic idea of increasing capital gains taxes so that rich people pay as much, theoretically, percentage-wise, as working people, gets a lot of press and makes little sense.”

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Former Wyo Attorney General Salzburg joins Freudenthal at international firm

by Dustin Bleizeffer March 14, 2012

Former Wyo Attorney General Salzburg joins Freudenthal at international firm
Bruce A. Salzburg, who served as Wyoming Attorney General from 2007 to 2011, has joined the international law firm Crowell & …

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Hot Flash Rush

by The Sage Grouse March 13, 2012

Hey Rush: don’t I remember you had a hydrocodone dependence problem? I bet the pills and the rehab, unsuccessful, were covered by health insurance. And who paid for YOUR contraception …

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Wyoming Capitol Outlook; Good sense prevails in Cheyenne

by Dustin Bleizeffer March 10, 2012

Wyoming Capitol Outlook; Good sense prevails in Cheyenne
Geoff O’Gara of Wyoming PBS penned this Wyoming Capitol Outlook post at the close of the winter session. O’Gara says that lawmakers eventually tossed out …

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ESPC: Session ends on high note

by Guy March 8, 2012

ESPC: Session ends on high note; Good session yields passage of job safety and sunshine laws
On Thursday, Mar. 8, Dan Neal of the Equality State Policy Center discussed the end of the session, …

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WOC: Final Week: The Legislature has important work to do

by Guy March 6, 2012

Final Week: The Legislature Has Important Work to Do
On Mon. Mar. 5, Richard Garrett, Jr. of the Wyoming Outdoor Council wrote about the remaining week of the 2012 Legislative Session, focusing on …

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ESPC: Public Assistance Drug-Testing Bill Killed

by Guy March 6, 2012

ESPC: Public assistance drug-testing killed; Job safety bill advances; Coal tax break dies in procedural move
On Monday, Mar. 5, Dan Neal of the Equality State Policy Center wrote about the demise of a …

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A debate about oil field social responsibility

by The Sage Grouse March 6, 2012

A debate about oil field social responsibility

Hey fellow travelers:
How often does a conversation with one of your oldest friends include these invectives: “You are a *&%$$$# socialist,” followed by “What!! …

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Ron Paul Prediction

by The Sage Grouse March 5, 2012

Ron Paul Prediction
— Editor’s note: In advance of Super Tuesday, WyoFile’s “Sage Grouse” offers this special commentary.
So far The Sage Grouse’s political predictions have been about as useful as a …

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Wyoming officials forecast elevated ozone

by Dustin Bleizeffer March 3, 2012

Wyoming officials forecast elevated ozone
— Editor’s note: This story was updated on Monday, March 5.
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality recently warned Wyoming residents in the upper Green River …

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Community colleges a priority for House representatives

by WyoFile March 2, 2012

Community colleges a priority for House representatives
In this Wyoming Capitol Outlook post (published on March 2, 2012) Geoff O’Gara of Wyoming PBS and Mike Morris write about the the emerging priorities of the …

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2012 Legislative Session nears its end

by Guy March 2, 2012

2012 Legislative Session nears its end; get your input to your representatives
The 2012 Wyoming Legislative Budget Session has ended its third week.
This means that all legislation must have passed from …

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Meeting set to discuss revision of Shoshone National Forest plan

by Guy March 2, 2012

Meeting set to discuss revision of Shoshone National Forest plan
The Shoshone National Forest and representatives of cooperating agencies have organized a public meeting next week regarding revision of the Shoshone …

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ESPC: Need for drug tests questioned

by Guy March 1, 2012

ESPC: Need for drug tests questioned; Sending message trumps lack of need for bill, sponsor says
On Wednesday, Feb.29, Dan Neal of the Equality State Policy Center wrote about a bill to require drug testing …

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‘Coal valuation’ bill advances in Senate

by Dustin Bleizeffer February 29, 2012

‘Coal valuation’ bill advances in Senate
By Dustin Bleizeffer, WyoFile editor-in-chief
A bill that would curb the rising severance tax calculation for some coal mines advanced in the Wyoming Senate on Wednesday. …

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ESPC: Redistricting hits Senate floor; House passes job safety bill

by Guy February 28, 2012

ESPC: Redistricting hits Senate floor; House passes job safety bill
Dan Neal of the Equality State Policy Center wrote an update on Tuesday Feb. 28, examining the redistricting bill making its way through …

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ESPC: Senate restores HIV funding, House passes discriminatory drug-testing bill

by WyoFile February 28, 2012

ESPC: Senate restores HIV funding, House passes discriminatory drug-testing bill
Dan Neal of the Equality State Policy Center posted this update on Monday Feb. 27, highlighting a successful effort to restore funding for …

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Wyoming lays groundwork for what? Secession?

by The Sage Grouse February 28, 2012

The sponsors of Wyoming’s “doomsday bill” — many who enthusiastically decry the federal government — have unintentionally legitimized their favorite target.

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BLM sets public meetings on oil shale development

by Guy February 27, 2012

BLM sets public meetings on oil shale development
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host several public meetings to answer questions about its oil shale and tar sands Draft Programmatic …

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Public records bill restored; Effort planned to restore HIV funding

by Guy February 23, 2012

Public records bill restored; Effort planned to restore HIV funding
Dan Neal of the Equality State Policy Center wrote about the public meetings bill being considered by the legislature, as well as an effort …

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Another Legend Leaves Us; Remembering Gene George

by The Sage Grouse February 21, 2012

Another Legend Leaves Us; Remembering Gene George
By R.T. Cox
My friend Gene George died on February 4 in Casper (click to read his obituary in the Casper Star-Tribune).
Gene, trained as a …

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Angry Birds

by The Sage Grouse February 21, 2012

By the time The Sage Grouse finally relented to the societal norm of smart phones, he discovered the cell towers are jammed with people wasting capacity and time with games.

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