Boise (10j rule) hearing to be webcast live – tonight

The Boise (10j rule) hearing will be webcast live tonight barring difficulties encountered at the venue. Unfortunately, wordpress.com does not support streaming embeds so I am unable to embed the video on this post. If you would like to watch the live video and/or participate in the public comment, you can do so by visiting one of these links from 6pm MST to 9pm MST :

The live video stream – Western Watersheds has youtubed the Idaho official’s comments thus far

The forum for live participation

We are going to attempt to have volunteers read the comments posted to the live forum/blog in the meeting as demonstration that there are people who wished to attend but were unable to given the timeframe, geographical restraints, etc. Remember…

Helena wolf-plan hearing

Not a lot of people showed up, but then I think wolf opponents figure they have won the day. Here is the story from Helena, MT in the Helena Independent Record.

As I learn more about the Cody hearing, it’s apparent that the scientific review process is bogus. The states will decide who reviews their plans, and they will only have to review the plan generically. For example, if the state wants to kill wolves because wolves are killing elk on Wyoming’s unnatural winter elk feedlots, all the reviewer will have to certify is that “yes, the wolves kill elk on the feedlots,” and that will end the discussion, forever.

The Boise hearing will be tonight. It may be on-line here in real time, and you may be able to testify. BE will be setting things up. We will see.

Due to fires, about half the Bob Marshall Wilderness closed to the public

The Ahorn and Fool Creek fires are behaving erratically and lightning has started a bunch of new fires in this wilderness area just to the south of Glacier NP.

Story in the Great Falls Tribune. By Eric Newhouse

Photos of the Ahorn Fire in the “Bob”

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Rocky Barker’s blog: We want your good ideas for Idaho’s next national monument

The Idaho Statesman put out a call to readers Monday to submit their best ideas for a national monument in Idaho. The idea seems to have come former Idaho Governor, and now Secretary of Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. Rocky Barker discusses it on his blog in the Statesman.

I expect any national monument would be small. Barker discusses saving the ghost town of Chesterfield in Eastern Idaho, for example. Chesterfield’s unusual survival (it hasn’t been carried away by tourists) is unique. Protecting it would generate little controversy.

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Truck hauling scrap iron starts ten fires along Idaho Highway 52!

A truck driver hauling scrap iron along Idaho 52 Wednesday accidentally ignited a series of grass fires that threatened homes, closed the highway and knocked out electricity for more than 4,000 Idaho Power Co. customers.  Rest of the story in the Idaho Statesman. By Patrick Orr.