National Forests to get $228-million of stimulus funds to fix forest roads and bridges

Idaho will get more than any other state-

This could do a lot of good for water quality and fisheries if the money is used to replace culverts with bridges that allow the passage of fish upstream.

Here is the AP article on it by Matthew Daly.

There is irony that Idaho has received more stimulus money per capita than any other state when its entire congressional delegation voted against it, and Governor Otter was ready to turn it down (at least he made sure that the state’s universities didn’t get any funds).

Mercury spewing Nevada gold mine gets shut down again

The damn thing was closed. They started up again in March-

Thanks to Justin Hayes (Idaho Conservation League efforts), the incredibly toxic Jerrit Canyon gold mine in northern Nevada was shut down in 2008. I thought that was the end of this particular source of mercury pollution (more mercury than many coal fired power plants lumped together).

However, with little fanfare the mine started again in March 2009 with a promise to the state of Nevada to install pollution control by May 30. They didn’t, so they are shut down again. I wouldn’t count on them staying shut, however. Almost no one lives in the area, but the mercury blows north and northeast into Idaho. What incentive does Nevada have to keep them under control?

Nevada gold mine closed due to mercury emissions. By Scott Sonner. Business Week.

Rocky Barker analyzes the situation on his blog. Mercury spewing Nevada gold mine gets shut down again. Idaho Statesman.

It is important to note that there are many other Nevada gold pits pumping out mercur vapor. Jerritt Canyon was simply the worst one individually.