Policy

WyoFile delves into the deepest elements of Wyoming’s public policies, uncovering, exposing and explaining the often unseen forces that shape the state’s people, landscape, wildlife, economy and communities.

Thumbnail image for House panel bars filmmaker from Wyo. pollution hearing

House panel bars filmmaker from Wyo. pollution hearing

by Environment & Energy Daily February 2, 2012

The House Science subcommittee hearing on water contamination in Pavillion, Wyo., took an unusual turn Wed. morning when filmmaker and drilling opponent Josh Fox was handcuffed and led away by …

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Thumbnail image for A mom-and-pop oil company prospects for gas in central Wyoming

A mom-and-pop oil company prospects for gas in central Wyoming

by High Country News January 31, 2012

John Wold is one of Wyoming’s most notorious wildcatters. At the age of 95, he still enjoys the thrill and challenge of making new oil and gas discoveries.

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Thumbnail image for EPA moving in on state regulation of drilling

EPA moving in on state regulation of drilling

by Environment & Energy Daily January 31, 2012

Several ongoing investigations conducted by EPA are generating friction between the agency and state officials across the country over the management of oil and gas drilling, and hydraulic fracturing in …

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Thumbnail image for What EPA really said about Wyo. fracking pollution

What EPA really said about Wyo. fracking pollution

by Environment & Energy Daily January 24, 2012

Environment & Energy reporter Mike Soraghan gives an accurate description of the EPA’s findings, and outlines their implications.

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Thumbnail image for Wyoming Billionaire Backs Santorum

Wyoming Billionaire Backs Santorum

by Ben Gose January 21, 2012

Friess has made national headlines in recent weeks thanks to his contributions to a super PAC that supports Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. Friess is the main benefactor of the …

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Thumbnail image for Wyoming cautiously reviews insurance exchanges

Wyoming cautiously reviews insurance exchanges

by Emilene Ostlind January 17, 2012

There are approximately 83,000 uninsured people in Wyoming — a situation that puts families at risk of illness, bankruptcy and death — and an insurance exchange could make insurance more …

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Thumbnail image for Could methane farming hurt Wyo.’s coal deposits?

Could methane farming hurt Wyo.’s coal deposits?

by Environment & Energy Daily January 17, 2012

While many folks in the Powder River Basin hope that “microbial stimulation” may help prolong coal-bed methane gas production, the coal industry is seeking assurances that the process won’t degrade …

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Thumbnail image for Worker advocates slam state for timid response to workplace fatalities

Worker advocates slam state for timid response to workplace fatalities

by Dustin Bleizeffer January 6, 2012

Two worker advocacy groups say that, for 10 years, Wyoming and industry leaders have failed to take the carnage of workplace fatalities seriously, and they’re urging the state to use …

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Thumbnail image for California company & Wyo legislator seek to delay well-plugging with hopes that microbes will rebuild production

California company & Wyo legislator seek to delay well-plugging with hopes that microbes will rebuild production

by Dustin Bleizeffer December 20, 2011

The persistent low price of natural gas continues to push coal-bed methane gas operators in the Powder River Basin to the brink of bankruptcy, leaving some 8,000 to 9,000 wells …

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Thumbnail image for Wyoming Delegation: Rep. Cynthia Lummis among Richest Members of Congress

Wyoming Delegation: Rep. Cynthia Lummis among Richest Members of Congress

by Gregory Nickerson December 13, 2011

An examination of public records reveals how Cynthia Lummis became one of the richest members of Congress, with a wealth of business holdings throughout Wyoming.

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Thumbnail image for Drilling to Energy Independence: Can the West save us from foreign oil imports?

Drilling to Energy Independence: Can the West save us from foreign oil imports?

by Dustin Bleizeffer December 6, 2011

— This story was written in collaboration with the Rural West Initiative at the Bill Lane Center for the American West.
True to the frontier attitude still prevalent here, oil and …

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Thumbnail image for Appeals court says Yellowstone grizzlies must remain protected

Appeals court says Yellowstone grizzlies must remain protected

by Environment & Energy Daily December 6, 2011

Reprinted with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. Not for republication by Wyoming media.
A federal appeals court last week upheld a Montana judge’s decision that the federal government must …

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Thumbnail image for Landing a Land Transaction

Landing a Land Transaction

by High Country News November 29, 2011

A Wyoming congressional representative is trying to resurrect a federal land sale act to reduce the budget deficit and help the National Park Service end a long quest to capture …

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Thumbnail image for The Big Drain: Million pipeline proposal may be on the rocks, but the thirst for Green River water is unquenched

The Big Drain: Million pipeline proposal may be on the rocks, but the thirst for Green River water is unquenched

by Allen Best November 22, 2011

Flaming Gorge Reservoir has capacity to hold 3.5 million acre-feet altogether. That’s a big bucket, exceeded in the Colorado River Basin by only two others: Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, …

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Thumbnail image for Water Pipeline Permitting is no Easy Task

Water Pipeline Permitting is no Easy Task

by Allen Best November 22, 2011

Experts say Aaron Million’s pipeline project won’t begin construction any time soon, not before weaving through a wealth of legal obstacles and obtaining permission from a slew of different agencies.

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Thumbnail image for Feds attempt to speed complicated process of building power lines

Feds attempt to speed complicated process of building power lines

by High Country News November 22, 2011

The Obama administration announced in October a new attempt to streamline power line permitting among dozens of federal and state agencies.

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Thumbnail image for From hay fields to fish flows: Pinedale irrigator first in Wyoming to convert water right for fish

From hay fields to fish flows: Pinedale irrigator first in Wyoming to convert water right for fish

by Anne MacKinnon November 15, 2011

The concept of protecting water to stay flowing in-stream for fish was once fiercely-fought by the agriculture community, but many things have changed over the years that make a conversion …

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Thumbnail image for EPA Finds Compound Used in Fracking in Wyoming Aquifer

EPA Finds Compound Used in Fracking in Wyoming Aquifer

by ProPublica November 15, 2011

Reprinted with permission from ProPublica. Not for republication by Wyoming media.
As the country awaits results from a nationwide safety study on the natural gas drilling process of fracking, a separate …

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Thumbnail image for Art & Energy: Coal’s reaction to ‘Carbon Sink’ sculpture reveals the power of art — and the essence of education

Art & Energy: Coal’s reaction to ‘Carbon Sink’ sculpture reveals the power of art — and the essence of education

by Jeffrey Lockwood November 8, 2011

When British artist Chris Drury created the “Carbon Sink” sculpture on the University of Wyoming campus earlier this year, it’s message of coal’s spiraling environmental influence triggered some passionate response.

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Thumbnail image for Up In Smoke: How much state gas will be flared without taxation?

Up In Smoke: How much state gas will be flared without taxation?

by Dustin Bleizeffer November 8, 2011

The Office of State Lands and Investment’s board is considering extending the amount of time an operator is allowed to flare state-owned minerals before severance taxes are applied.

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Thumbnail image for Enjoy Wyoming (at Your Own Risk): Does State law give too much protection to outdoor-recreation providers?

Enjoy Wyoming (at Your Own Risk): Does State law give too much protection to outdoor-recreation providers?

by Ben Gose November 2, 2011

Some critics wonder if the Wyoming Recreation Safety Act’s “inherent risk” doctrine goes too far in protecting against death and injury lawsuits.

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Thumbnail image for Approaches to Safety

Approaches to Safety

by Ben Gose November 2, 2011

Few outdoor-recreation organizations have a finer reputation for safety and professionalism than the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Even so, the Lander-based nonprofit notched a sad milestone in September—its 12th …

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Thumbnail image for BLM, OSM merger aimed at improving efficiencies, cutting costs

BLM, OSM merger aimed at improving efficiencies, cutting costs

by Environment & Energy Daily November 1, 2011

Ken Salazar signed an order to fold the Office of Surface Mining into the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, sparking criticism that the move could degrade oversight of surface mining.

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Thumbnail image for Sagebrush sparrow declines linked to Wyo. drilling fields

Sagebrush sparrow declines linked to Wyo. drilling fields

by Environment & Energy Daily October 18, 2011

A new study suggests that intense oil and natural gas drilling on federal land is wiping out sensitive species of sparrows in southwest Wyoming…

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Thumbnail image for BLM to remove 6,000 horses from range, boost contraception

BLM to remove 6,000 horses from range, boost contraception

by Environment & Energy Daily October 11, 2011

The Interior Department over the next six months plans to remove more than 6,000 horses from federal lands and administer birth control to roughly 2,000 more…

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Thumbnail image for Rapidly rising temperatures threaten Yellowstone ecosystem

Rapidly rising temperatures threaten Yellowstone ecosystem

by Environment & Energy Daily October 4, 2011

Temperatures in Yellowstone could rise by as much as 9.7 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century if global emissions of greenhouse gases are not restrained, according to a …

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Thumbnail image for Judge’s sage grouse ruling could stall BLM plans in Wyo., Idaho

Judge’s sage grouse ruling could stall BLM plans in Wyo., Idaho

by Environment & Energy Daily October 4, 2011

Reprinted with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. Not for republication by Wyoming media.
A federal judge in Idaho this week ruled the Interior Department failed to analyze the cumulative …

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Thumbnail image for Two Elk Stimulus: Big paychecks but no new jobs

Two Elk Stimulus: Big paychecks but no new jobs

by Rone Tempest September 27, 2011

Over the past two years, the federal stimulus program paid the owner of a Colorado-based energy company and the company’s Wyoming representative more than $1 million in salaries and benefits …

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Thumbnail image for Wyoming stimulus spending draws mixed reviews

Wyoming stimulus spending draws mixed reviews

by Ruffin Prevost September 13, 2011

CODY — With the nation’s unemployment rate stuck at 9.1 percent amid continuing signs of a faltering economy, President Barack Obama last week proposed a new round of up to …

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Thumbnail image for Wyoming governor, industry won’t promise an ozone-free Pinedale

Wyoming governor, industry won’t promise an ozone-free Pinedale

by Dustin Bleizeffer September 13, 2011

Earlier this year, the ozone level in Wyoming’s Upper Green River Basin spiked beyond Los Angeles’ worst smog day. But neither the governor nor the industry can guarantee enough emissions …

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Thumbnail image for Despite regulatory reprieve, Wyoming still has an ozone problem

Despite regulatory reprieve, Wyoming still has an ozone problem

by Dustin Bleizeffer September 6, 2011

President Barack Obama’s decision last week to back off from a more stringent ozone standard is intended to avoid an estimated $90 billion cost to implement…

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Thumbnail image for Pathfinder developers hope to offset impacts of energy development

Pathfinder developers hope to offset impacts of energy development

by Gregory Nickerson August 30, 2011

Pathfinder Renewable Wind Energy LLC originally proposed to build a giant wind farm on the Pathfinder Ranch near the Oregon Trail in central Wyoming. Instead, the project will be moved …

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Thumbnail image for Feds OK Powder River Basin coal leases

Feds OK Powder River Basin coal leases

by Environment & Energy Daily August 23, 2011

The Bureau of Land Management has approved the latest in a string of coal leases in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, signaling strong Obama administration support for Western coal …

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Enviro groups sue BLM over Powder River Basin leases

by Environment & Energy Daily August 23, 2011

Environmentalists have filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management in an effort to stop the mining of roughly 350 million tons of federal coal in Wyoming’s Powder River …

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Thumbnail image for Wild Horses: Grazing association sues over Rock Springs herd levels

Wild Horses: Grazing association sues over Rock Springs herd levels

by Environment & Energy Daily August 14, 2011

Reprinted with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. Not for republication by Wyoming media. A southern Wyoming livestock group is asking a federal court to force the Bureau of …

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Thumbnail image for Wyoming’s sage grouse strategy sets bar for rest of the West

Wyoming’s sage grouse strategy sets bar for rest of the West

by Emilene Ostlind August 9, 2011

Doug Cooper stands on a ridge looking east across the grassy swales of the 7 L Livestock Company ranch just north of Casper. One hundred and fifty years ago, his …

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Thumbnail image for Significant challenges await 1,100-mile Gateway West power corridor

Significant challenges await 1,100-mile Gateway West power corridor

by Environment & Energy Daily August 9, 2011

Reprinted with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC.
Not for republication by Wyoming media.
 
The Bureau of Land Management has taken a major step toward approving what would become the …

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Thumbnail image for Clock ticking on sage grouse listing

Clock ticking on sage grouse listing

by Emilene Ostlind August 9, 2011

Related Story: Wyoming's sage grouse strategy sets bar for rest of the West

In hopes of keeping the greater sage grouse off the endangered species list, Wyoming has created a new …

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Thumbnail image for Wyoming lawmakers differ on approach to debt ceiling

Wyoming lawmakers differ on approach to debt ceiling

by Ruffin Prevost August 2, 2011

The members of Wyoming’s Congressional delegation, all Republicans, have each said for months that federal spending must be sharply curtailed as part of any deal to raise the debt ceiling. …

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Thumbnail image for Sweet Beets

Sweet Beets

by Patrick Dawson July 26, 2011

The company that bottles Pepsi’s line of soft drinks in Worland is once again using sugar — from Big Horn Basin sugar beets — in some of its products. …

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Thumbnail image for Plant Politics

Plant Politics

by Patrick Dawson July 26, 2011

Both corn and beets have been used to sweeten the billions of soft drinks Americans have consumed for decades. And both crops have shaped and been influenced by the politics, …

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Thumbnail image for Deadly Workplaces – Wyoming’s workplace fatality rate still ranks among worst in nation

Deadly Workplaces – Wyoming’s workplace fatality rate still ranks among worst in nation

by Dustin Bleizeffer July 12, 2011

Despite being saddled with the worst-in-the-nation distinction for workplace fatalities, the decision to emphasize voluntary collaborative efforts rather than inspection and enforcement was emblematic of a pervasive attitude among industry …

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Thumbnail image for Are Feds Slowing Oil and Gas Permitting?

Are Feds Slowing Oil and Gas Permitting?

by Dustin Bleizeffer June 28, 2011

Of the seven major oil and gas EISs now in the works in Wyoming, none have gotten to the “draft” stage. Once a draft is issued, stakeholders can better predict …

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Thumbnail image for Critics Find Gaps in State Laws to Disclose Hydrofracking Chemicals

Critics Find Gaps in State Laws to Disclose Hydrofracking Chemicals

by ProPublica June 28, 2011

Wyoming’s rules are the strongest in place, although it’s unclear how thoroughly they are being enforced. The rules require public disclosure of all the chemicals except for trade secrets, which …

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Thumbnail image for Right to Know: Press, officials seek consensus on reforms to meetings, records laws

Right to Know: Press, officials seek consensus on reforms to meetings, records laws

by Ruffin Prevost June 21, 2011

Elected officials, members of the news media and others are working this summer to reach consensus on a broad plan to reform Wyoming’s public records and open meetings laws. Among …

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Thumbnail image for High Plains Showdown: Land planning seen as threat to property rights

High Plains Showdown: Land planning seen as threat to property rights

by Gregory Nickerson June 14, 2011

Murmurs of controversy began last October at a public meeting of HPI. During a mapping exercise, participants were asked to share ideas for how they would like the region to …

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Thumbnail image for Gas industry pains over cost of coal

Gas industry pains over cost of coal

by Dustin Bleizeffer June 9, 2011

In its current rate increase request in Wyoming, Rocky Mountain Power is under scrutiny for having spent hundreds of millions of dollars in pollution controls for its fleet of coal-fired …

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Thumbnail image for ‘Liquid coal’ too costly for Pentagon despite GOP push

‘Liquid coal’ too costly for Pentagon despite GOP push

by Environment & Energy Daily June 7, 2011

Tom Hicks, deputy assistant Navy secretary for energy, said in testimony to Congress that the rising price of oil “dramatically impacts the military.” For every $1 a barrel increase in …

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Thumbnail image for Tongue River Water War

Tongue River Water War

by High Country News May 31, 2011

“First in time, first in right” guides how water is divvied up within states but doesn’t always apply across borders. Wyoming and Montana instead rely on the 1950 Yellowstone River …

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