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Daniel herd to be depopulated (posted 9/5/08)
Wyoming may have second case of brucellosis
Cat Urbigkit
Wyoming State Veterinarian Dr. Walt Cook said this afternoon that the Daniel-area cattle producer with the brucellosis-infected herd has decided to allow his herd to be "depopulated" which means be sent to slaughter.
Making such a decision is heart-wrenching for a cattleman who has worked for years to develop his breeding cattle herd.
In the end, the decision to depopulate this herd may not be enough to save Wyoming from having its brucellosis-free market status downgraded. Cook also shared the disappointing news that "We are also aware of a possible traceback to a second herd (not associated with the first as far as we know) in Sublette County."
Cook added, "This HAS NOT been confirmed yet but looks probable."
New LIEAP applications are now in the mail, on the web (posted 9/5/08)
Wyoming Department of Family Services
The new application for a program that offers help to Wyoming residents with heating bills is now in the mail, the Wyoming Department of Family Services announced today.
Those who have received benefits from the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) in the past will get the new application in the mail, and it is also available online, at DFS field offices, and will soon be found at senior centers and other locations throughout Wyoming.
LIEAP (pronounced lee-ap) is a program using state and federal dollars to help low-income individuals, fixed-income families and elders cover the high costs of home heating.
"New applications have been mailed to everyone who applied for LIEAP last year, even if they didn’t qualify," DFS spokeswoman Juliette Rule said. "This year it’s available on the DFS Web site in a large print format. We have worked to make the new application easier to read and to fill out than previous versions."
To get an application or learn more about this home heating help, go to the DFS homepage, http://dfsweb.state.wy.us, and look for the 'LIEAP for Home Heating' link.
To get a paper applications mailed to you, call the LIEAP help line at 1-800-246-4221 any weekday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
You qualify for LIEAP if your monthly income is less than $1,863 for an individual, $2,508 for a household of two or $3,798 for a family of four. Applicants can rent or own their home, but they must complete an application in order to get heating assistance.
"LIEAP served about 11,000 families in Wyoming last year, and this winter certainly won’t be any easier for those and other families," Rule said. "We really want parents to apply, and we’re hopeful adult children will help their aging parents or neighbors get that help."
The promotion of this program is part of The Energy Wise Wyoming campaign which encourages state residents to conserve energy, to take steps to weatherize their homes and to take advantage of state programs designed to lower their heating bills.
The campaign is produced by a coalition of state agencies including the Department of Family Services, the Wyoming Public Service Commission, the State Energy Office, the Governor’s Office and the private non-profit Wyoming Energy Council.
Yellowstone 2008 Summer Visitation Up (posted 9/5/08)
Yellowstone National Park
After a record June, Yellowstone National Park visitation remained strong in July and August, and remains on a near record pace for all of 2008.
The park recorded 735,572 recreational visits in August. That’s up almost 25,000 visitors from the previous August. The largest percentage increase in August was recorded through the East Entrance, up 13.7 percent from 2007.
There were 826,728 recreational visitors to the park in July, up half a percent from the same period in 2007.
The park recorded 612,095 recreational visits in June 2008, an all time record for the month.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK RECREATIONAL VISITS
June
2008 - 612,095
2007 - 609,606
Change + 0.4%
July
2008 - 826,728
2007 - 822,733
Change + 0.5%
August
2008 - 735,572
2007 - 710,781
Change + 3.5%
June through August
2008 - 2,174,395
2007 - 2,143,160
Change + 1.4%
January through August
2008 - 2,509,947
2007 - 2,511,790
Change - 0.1%
Overall, visitation for the three summer months was up over 30,000 visitors compared to the same period last year.
For the first eight months of this calendar year, the park received 2,509,947 recreational visitors, less than 2,000 fewer visitors than were recorded during the same period in 2007.
Yellowstone had a record 3,151,342 visitors in 2007. The bulk of the park’s visitation occurs May through September.
The park does not regularly conduct the kind of social science research necessary to break out or explain visitation changes or trends.
Detailed visitor information figures are available online at http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/.
Related Links:
www.nps.gov/yell Yellowstone National Park
September 30 is deadline to apply for Preference Points (posted 9/5/08)
Wyoming Game & Fish
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is sending out 14,000 letters this week to notify hunters that their accumulated preference points are in jeopardy of being lost.
Preference points are available for moose and bighorn sheep and for nonresident elk, deer and antelope. To maintain preference points, hunters must obtain a point at least every other year. This can be accomplished by applying for a license involving preference points or to purchase preference points at least every other year. If a hunter fails to apply for a license with preference points, purchase a preference point or to apply for a license with the preference point option for two consecutive years, all accumulated preference points for that species will be deleted.
Wyoming has a special application period from July 1 to Sept. 30 when hunters can purchase preference points.
Applications for preference points are accepted online or through the mail. The online application service is found on the Game and Fish Web site at http://gf.state.wy.us. Hunters wanting to apply through the mail can download applications from the Game and Fish Web site or obtain applications at Game and Fish offices and license agents or by calling (307) 777-4600.
Preference points are updated after Sept. 30. Hunters can verify preference point balances on the Game and Fish Web site after mid November.
Wyoming Wildlife TV to focus on Grizzlies and Wolves Sept. 14 (posted 9/5/08)
Wyoming Game & Fish
The recovery of wolves and grizzly bears is one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time. It is also one of the most controversial. On Sept. 14, Wyoming Wildlife TV takes an in-depth look at the recovery of these species in Wyoming and the effects they are having on people who live, work, and recreate in bear and wolf country.
This episode will air Sunday, Sept. 14, at 10:30 pm on KCWY, Channel 13.
The show features interviews with bear and wolf experts from various agencies and organizations, as well as outfitters, hunters, ranchers, conservationists and businesspeople who deal with bears and wolves on a regular basis. Viewers will also be treated to spectacular footage of wolves and bears in some of the wildest country anywhere.
"There has been so much controversy and rhetoric surrounding these species, that we wanted to give viewers an accurate look at what it means to have grizzlies and wolves in Wyoming," said Eric Keszler, Public Information Officer for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. "And we wanted to hear it directly from the people who work to manage these species and the people whose lives have been impacted, for better or worse, by the recovery of these species."
Wyoming Wildlife TV is being broadcast through a unique partnership between the Game and Fish Department and KCWY. It airs every Sunday night at 10:30 on KCWY, Channel 13.
The show can be seen in Cheyenne and Casper on channel 13; Laramie on channel 14, Riverton on channel 30, Sheridan on channel 7, Big Piney on channel 6, and Jackson on channel 2. The station is also carried on many Bresnan, Communicom, and TCT cable systems (check for the channel number in your area) and is on DishTV in the Cheyenne-Scottsbluff areas and the Casper and Riverton areas.
Wyoming Game and Fish Calendar (posted 9/5/08)
Sept. 7: Wyoming Wildlife TV premiers on KCWY Channel 13 (and affiliated stations), 10:30 p.m.
Sept. 11-13: Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo, Casper
Sept. 14: Wyoming Wildlife TV: Grizzlies and Wolves, KCWY Channel 13 (and affiliated stations), 10:30 p.m.
Sept. 20: Sage, sharp-tailed grouse seasons open
Sept. 21: Wyoming Wildlife TV: Brucellosis, KCWY Channel 13, 10:30 p.m.
Sept. 28: Wyoming Wildlife TV: Cutthroat Trout, KCWY Channel 13, 10:30 p.m.
Sept. 30: Deadline to purchase big game preference points
Related Links:
Wyoming Game & Fish
Double Eagle Petroleum Co. reports record production results (posted 9/5/08)
Provides Rockies Outlook
Double Eagle Petroleum Co. (Nasdaq: DBLE) announced on September 4, that the Company continues to recognize a record level of production. The increase is primarily attributable to the success of the Company's new wells drilled in the Catalina Unit, and increased production in the Pinedale Anticline where 18 new wells have been completed and brought on-line through August 2008.
The Company projects total net production for the month of August 2008 of approximately 750 Mmcfe (approximately 24 Mmcfe per day), an increase of 186% over August 2007 and an increase of 20% over July 2008.
Based upon operator projections, daily production net to Double Eagle for August 2008 is expected to exceed 7,000 Mcfe per day versus approximately 1,602 Mcfe per day for the same prior year period, representing a 337% increase. This increase is due to the new production wells coming on-line and the depressed 2007 results due to wells being shut in for maintenance and low gas prices.
In a release from the company, Richard Dole, Chairman of the Board of Double Eagle, commented: "Our August numbers continue to show the strength of our assets and realized production." He said August represented the 6th consecutive month of record production results.
The company said natural gas prices in the Rockies have weakened considerably during the 3rd quarter. They expect continued weakness during September due to low regional gas demand and a significant reduction of pipeline capacity caused primarily by three weeks of hydrostatic testing on REX (Rockies Express).
Double Eagle Petroleum Co. explores for, develops, and sells natural gas and crude oil, with natural gas constituting more than 95% of its production and reserves. The Company's current major development activities are in its Atlantic Rim coal bed methane play and in the Pinedale Anticline in Wyoming.
Company Contact: John Campbell, IR (303) 794-8445, http://www.dble.us, SOURCE Double Eagle Petroleum Co.
Map showing the oil shale basin and tar sands areas in the states of Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Colorado.
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BLM identifies lands for potential development of significant oil shale resources (posted 9/5/08)
Includes public land around Daniel, Cora, Bondurant, Big Sandy
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management today (Thursday, September 4 2008) finalized a plan to guide the use of public lands containing oil shale and tar sands. In its Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) published in today’s Federal Register, the BLM amends 12 land-use plans in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming to set aside approximately 1.9 million acres of public lands for potential commercial oil shale development.
"The goal of the BLM’s oil shale program is to promote economically viable and environmentally sound production of oil shale on Western lands, where we estimate deposits hold the equivalent of 800 billion barrels of oil – enough to meet U.S. demand for imported oil at current levels for 110 years," said BLM Director Jim Caswell.
The Final PEIS is one in a number of steps required before commercial leasing would begin. This document summarizes information on oil shale and tar sands technologies and their potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, along with potential mitigating measures that would be evaluated and applied when subsequent site-specific National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis is undertaken for lease issuance or project approval.
Congress directed the BLM to develop the PEIS under Section 369(d) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Act declares oil shale and other unconventional fuels to be strategically important domestic energy sources that should be developed to reduce the nation’s growing dependence on imported oil.
One of the next steps required would be completing rules that govern the procedures for issuing leases for development of oil shale and tar sands. However, Congress placed a moratorium in the fiscal year 2008 federal appropriations bill directing the BLM not to finalize such regulations.
"The President has urged Congress to lift its moratorium that prevents our agency from preparing final regulations that would move this program forward so that our nation can be more energy self-reliant," Caswell said.
Most U.S. oil shale resources are found in the Green River Formation of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. The PEIS identifies the most geologically promising oil shale areas in the three states that will be open to applications for commercial leasing.
The Draft PEIS was published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2007, for a 90-day public review and comment period. The BLM received more than 105,000 comments on the draft, resulting in the addition of clarifying text to the Final PEIS, but without significant changes to the land-use plan decisions proposed in the draft. The BLM will wait at least 60 days after the publication of the Final PEIS before signing and issuing a Record of Decision approving the land-use plan amendments.
Under the preferred management alternative in the Final PEIS, 305,000 acres of BLM-managed lands in the potential development area would be excluded from oil shale leasing. No leasing would be allowed in Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, other units of the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System, and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern closed to mineral development, along with other areas.
The Final PEIS is just one of several steps designed to harness these vast energy resources. The BLM has issued research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) leases for five oil shale projects in Colorado’s Piceance Basin and one in Utah. In July, the BLM also proposed regulations to set out the policies and procedures of a commercial program for oil shale resources on Federal lands.
For additional information on the BLM’s efforts to develop Federal oil shale and tar sands resources, visit http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/oilshale_2.html.
For more information on this article contact: Matt Spangler, 202-452-5130.
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Editor’s Note: Click on this link (Oil Shale Map, 986K) for a map showing the oil shales and tar sands areas in the states of Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Colorado. Areas shown as public lands containing oil shale basin being looked at for future development include land north, west and south of Pinedale; west and southwest of Daniel; between Daniel north to Bondurant; and in the Big Sandy area of the western front of the Wind River Range east of US 191 and southeast of Boulder and south to Farson and beyond, east into the Great Divide Basin.
10 Million Dollar Seizure of Heroin made by Wyoming Highway Patrol (posted 9/5/08)
Wyoming Highway Patrol
(Elk Mountain, Wyoming) – The largest seizure of heroin in recent history, possibly ever by the Wyoming Highway Patrol was made on Interstate 80 on Friday, August 26th. Approximately 11.3 pounds of heroin in powder form, known as "China White" because of its pure white color, was seized during a traffic stop 2 miles east of Elk Mountain in the early afternoon.
The eastbound 2005 Nissan Altima was stopped by a Trooper for speeding 85 mph in a 75 mph zone. During the traffic contact, the Trooper’s K-9 alerted to the presence of the odor of illegal drugs.
Troopers searched the vehicle and found a secret hidden compartment between the back seat and the trunk area of the vehicle. The compartment was designed to be opened electronically via a hidden switch.
The driver of the Altima, 32 year-old Sergei P. Ludwig has been arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. Ludwig is from Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Street value of the illegal drug is dependent upon the amount that the heroin is diluted and the production method. White heroin is generally considered the most refined and most potent. Due to the purity of this particular load of "China White" heroin it is estimated that the street value, at a minimum, is approximately $10,000,000.00 and could be worth substantially more.
As is standard practice in drug cases of this magnitude, the Wyoming Highway Patrol requested assistance from Special Agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Special Agents from DCI’s Southwest Enforcement Team continue to investigate this drug trafficking case. It is believed that the load originated in the State of California and was destined for an unknown location in the State New Jersey.
Wyoming DEQ Public Hearing in Pinedale Sept. 23 (posted 9/5/08)
For oil & gas operation modification requests in Sublette County
The Wyoming Department of Air Quality will hold a Public Hearing In Pinedale on Tuesday, September 23, at the Sublette County Library, Lovatt Room at 6:00 PM.
The purpose is to gather information concerning the emissions of air pollutants into the atmosphere and the impact of such pollutants on the ambient air quality. The scope of the hearing will be limited to such issues in order for the DEQ to determine whether or not the applicable Air Quality Standards and Regulations will be violated as a result of the modification and/or operations of the facilities. Applications in question include applications requests to modify existing sources by Nielson & Associates Inc, Ultra Resources, EnCana Oil & Gas.
Anyone who wishes to be heard on this matter will be given the opportunity to address DEQ. Oral and written statements will be accepted at the time of the hearing.
For accuracy of the record, written statements are encouraged and will be accepted at the time of the hearing. Written comments should be directed to David A. Finley, Administrator, Division of Air Quality, Department of Environmental Quality, 122 W. 25th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002. Please reference AP-7239, AP-7140, A7-141. All comments received during the public hearing or received in the Cheyenne office by 5:00 PM, September 23, 2008, will be considered in the final determination on these applications.
Related Links:
Wyoming DEQ Interim Permitting Policy for Oil & Gas in Sublette County Pinedale Online, 9/5/08
Air/Water Quality meeting in Pinedale Pinedale Online, August 8, 2008
Wyoming DEQ Interim Permitting Policy for Oil & Gas in Sublette County (posted 9/5/08)
In response to public outcry over recent ozone air pollution alerts in Sublette County, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality has begun tightening requirements on natural gas operators to make their operations cleaner to improve local air quality.
On July 21, 2008, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality sent out a letter to oil and gas operators in Sublette County with their interim policy for new or modified emissions sources of air pollution.
Click on this link for the letter and Interim Policy: Wyoming DEQ Interim Permitting Policy (5 page 317K PDF)
Related Links:
Air/Water Quality meeting in Pinedale Pinedale Online, August 8, 2008
DEQ Air and Water Quality meeting in Pinedale Pinedale Online, April 22, 2008
Ozone levels in Sublette County again on the rise Pinedale Online, March 18, 2008
Ozone Advisory for Tuesday, March 11 for Upper Green Pinedale Online, March 10, 2008
Montana's brucellosis status downgraded (posted 9/4/08)
Will Wyoming soon follow?
Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
Montana's brucellosis-free market status has now been officially downgraded by federal animal health officials. According to a release from the Montana Department of Livestock, Montana is now Class A.
Dr. Marty Zaluski, state veterinarian for the Montana Department of Livestock, said the downgrade comes as no surprise.
"Everyone knew this was coming," Zaluski said. "This just makes it official."
Montana had been brucellosis-free since 1985, but the disease was found in a Bridger cattle herd in May of 2007. Per APHIS rules, the state had to remain brucellosis-free for 24 months after that discovery to maintain Class Free status. The process of downgrading Montana’s status was initiated in June 2008 after a cow in Paradise Valley was found to be infected with the disease.
Zaluski said the department has been working on a brucellosis action plan, and will reapply for Class free status as soon as possible, on May 27, 2009.
"We’ve been working internally, as well as with individual producers and producer groups, to develop a comprehensive brucellosis plan," he said. "No one is happy about losing our brucellosis free status, but we’re optimistic that, by working together, we can develop practical approaches that reduce the risks of transmitting the disease to cattle."
The plan will include, among other items, vaccination of livestock, improved animal traceability and disease surveillance, and increased emphasis on maintaining spatial and temporal separation between livestock and wildlife known to carry the disease. The Montana Board of Livestock has also directed the department to create a brucellosis task force.
The department will additionally be working with state and federal wildlife managers to address disease concerns related to wildlife. Zaluski said more information is needed on the prevalence of brucellosis in Greater Yellowstone Area elk.
The downgrade means Montana’s livestock producers will, at a minimum, be required to test all sexually intact cattle over 18 months of age within 30 days of export. Exempt from the testing requirement are cattle sent directly to slaughter, from certified brucellosis-free herds and from ranch of origin to an approved market facility. These requirements are similar to those in place in western Wyoming's brucellosis surveillance area.
Wyoming may soon join Montana in the loss of class-free status. Three more head of cattle from a Daniel herd tested seropositive for brucellosis, and the time period for a decision on the fate of the herd is drawing near.
Should the Daniel producer decide to keep his herd, Wyoming's status will be downgraded, although Sublette County producers point out that since they already undergo vigorous testing and surveillance requirements, the end result will be no change in this area. If the producer allows his herd to be sent to slaughter, then Wyoming maintains its class-free status – at least unless a second infected herd is found within a year.
The infected Montana cattle herds are believed to have contracted the disease from elk, which is also suspected to be the case in the Daniel incident, although no information about the epidemiological investigation have been released at this time.
At far left, a surveillance camera photograph of the utility trailer being stolen. On the right, a stock photograph of the stolen 2006 Cargomate utility trailer. Photo courtesy Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
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Reward offered in Rock Springs trailer theft investigation (posted 9/4/08)
Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office seeks public’s help
Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office
The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office in Rock Springs is seeking help in its investigation into the theft of a utility trailer.
According to Sheriff Rich Haskell, on the late afternoon of Sunday, August 31st, the trailer was stolen from a private lot just east of Knight Oil Tools on Foothill Boulevard west of Rock Springs.
Haskell said the thief or thieves forced entry onto the fenced, padlocked and chained lot and hauled the trailer away with what is believed to be a late 1990s or early 2000s blue Ford Explorer SUV.
The theft was caught on a surveillance camera belonging to Knight Oil Tools, which provided the Sheriff’s Office with the digital images of the theft.
Haskell described the stolen trailer as a white 24-foot tandem-axle Cargomate with a side door on the passenger side and a drop-down ramp rear door. The trailer is fitted with a standard bumper-hitch tongue and all four wheels are white. The trailer’s front end features a diamond plate panel. Its value has been established at $6,000. The trailer contained a dinette set, household items, and important personal papers.
The trailer’s owner is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the trailer and all its contents. A reward of $1,000 is being offered for information leading to the recovery of the trailer only.
The Sheriff’s Office is requesting that anyone who has seen the trailer or has information about its theft or whereabouts call in. Haskell said calls will be handled with discretion.
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