** Mine cleanup a rare bright spot for Wyoming economy
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MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020
A Powder River Basin coal mine, BLM Wyoming ([link removed])

As Wyoming's economy suffers from boom-and-bust coal and oil markets, environmental cleanup projects are one of the few bright spots in the state. The Casper Star-Tribune reports that the state is on track to complete 96 mine reclamation projects by the end of the year ([link removed]) , generating $200 million for local economies and employing hundreds of workers.

The future of mine cleanup funds is in doubt, however. The federal government's authority to collect fees to pay for abandoned mine cleanup is set to expire next year. Wyoming Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzi have introduced a bill ([link removed]) to extend the program—but also cut the fees coal companies pay by 35 percent.

The Western Organization of Resource Councils issued a report ([link removed]) earlier this year highlighting the fact that the coal industry has no viable financial strategy other than defaulting on its cleanup obligations—and that the the bonds coal companies must post don't come close to covering the full cost of cleaning up.


** Unknown threats to drinking water
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Across the West, hundreds of thousands of abandoned hard rock mines also pose a threat to drinking water, the Associated Press reports ([link removed]) . Utah settled its lawsuit with the EPA this month over the cleanup disaster at Colorado's Gold King Mine. As part of the settlement, the EPA agreed to start a Superfund assessment at three sites in Utah, including Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood canyons near Salt Lake City. A 2015 report from the Center for Western Priorities estimated the cost of cleaning up abandoned mines on national public lands ([link removed]) to be between $9.1 and $21 billion.
Quick hits


** Tribes, congressional delegation raise red flags over Greater Chaco land use plan
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Farmington Daily Times ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed])


** Conservation groups say Trump administration ignored court order to consider climate change in land use plans
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Associated Press ([link removed])


** SAExploration, which wants to do seismic testing in the Arctic, files for bankruptcy protection
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Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) | Seeking Alpha ([link removed])


** Proposed national monument highlights Nevada Indigenous, cultural, and ecological treasures
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Reno Gazette Journal ([link removed])


** Hunting & fishing groups say Pendley must go as de facto BLM director
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Public News Service ([link removed])


** Opinion: Sportsmen can lead the way in protecting 30 percent of American land and water by 2030
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Montana Standard ([link removed])


** Sen. Cortez-Masto: Time to fix broken oil and gas leasing program
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Las Vegas Review-Journal ([link removed])


** Video: Yellowstone's Giantess geyser erupts for first time in six years
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The Guardian ([link removed]) | NBC Montana ([link removed])
Quote of the day
This is a place where our God lives. We do the best we can to take care of this place. It touches our lives in every which way.”
—Linda Otero, Aha Makav Cultural Society
on the proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument
Reno Gazette Journal ([link removed])
Picture this


** @ ([link removed]) mypubliclands ([link removed])
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We are loving this photo taken on the Embudo Box Trail and ready to take our hiking boots off and jump in! That water looks so cool and inviting!

No wait, that would be irresponsible of us ... feet first on first go and then play away!

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