Backlash against energy exploration could hurt Republicans out West

The International Herald Tribune features and article about oil exploration, environmentalism, and the politics of both in the West:

Backlash against energy exploration could hurt Republicans out West

David Sirota suggests that environmentalism is an asset to Western Democrats that may make the difference in upcoming elections.

Update 5-19 – NYT: Enviro Populism Threatens the GOP – Huffington Post

Wyoming weighs in on Wolf Litigation

The state of Wyoming has submitted briefs to Judge Molloy’s court rejecting a broad coalition of conservation and animal rights groups’ request for an injunction of the decision to delist wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains.

Wyo argues against relisting – Star Tribune

Once more, the state avoids mentioning the precipitous nature of the wolf deaths immediately following delisting, instead citing numbers that maintained wolves under federal measures of protection.

Wyoming apparently believes that it can little more than promise ‘enough’ wolves will be preserved without backing up that promise with the adequate regulatory mechanisms prescribed by federal law should delisting be appropriate.

Atlanta Gold told to pay bond for arsenic cleanup if it wants gold on our land

The Forest Service is telling Atlanta Gold that it needs to post bond for cleanup of arsenic that results from the mining of gold along a tributary of the Boise River. The mine, citing the 1872 Mining Act, claims right not to do so suggesting that to do so sets an ‘unacceptable precedent.’

Atlanta Gold told to put up millions for cleanup – Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman

‘Unacceptable precedent’ for who ?  Assurances for clean water sounds like a good precedent to me.