Reporter Notes

JIO projects

The Jonah Interagency Mitigation and Reclamation Office will begin accepting project applications through June 30. The JIO was created bythe Jonah Project record of decision to provide overall management of field monitoring and mitigation activities, both on- and off-site. To perform these functions, the JIO manages a $24.5 million monitoring and mitigation fund donated by EnCana Oil & Gas (USA), Inc.

The ROD represents an innovative approach to encouraging industry to minimize the footprint of development, maximize recovery of natural gas and speed up the reclamation process. The JIO provides a crucial mechanism to further mitigate project impacts by funding and implementing both on- and off-site monitoring and mitigation projects.

Project application form and guidelines are on the JIO website, at: www.wy.blm.gov/jonah_office. If you have questions, contact Mike Stiewig, JIO project coordinator, at 367-5363 or the JIO office number 367-3991.

Wolves

Federal wildlife officials have not been able to capture or control the wolf or wolves that killed a calf recently near the Wyoming Range. Although the most recent calf kill was initially reported as occurring west of Big Piney, the depredation actually occurred in the Horse Creek drainage west of Daniel.

In other wolf news, Mike Jimenez of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported Tuesday that there are two groups of wolves using the Upper Green River region. One pack of three wolves is believed to have denned in the area, but it is not known how many pups this pack has produced. One of the adult wolves is wearing a radio collar.

There is also a pair of wolves in the area, one of which is wearing a radio collar. Jimenez said he does not believe this pair has produced pups. Both groups of wolves originated in the Jackson area, but dispersed to the Upper Green.

NEPA hot sheet

In effort to make more information available to the publicon the many projects and plans underway, Wyoming Bureau of Land Management has added a “Hot Sheet” to the Wyoming BLM NEPA web page.

This Hot Sheet features a list of the more complex plans and projects in an easily readable format. Points of contact, project status, weblinks and a map are also included. To view the Hot Sheet go tohttp://www.wy.blm.-gov/nepa/index.htm and click on “Hot Sheet.”