Reporter’s Notes

Dog killed

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that last Friday, Feb. 23, federal wildlife personnel examined and confirmed that an eight-month old male Catahoula hound was killed by wolves on one of the Gros Ventre elk winter feedgrounds near Jackson. FWS reported that the feeders stay at the feedground and had five pet hounds sleeping outside the cabin. The dog was killed about 200 yards from the cabin, but the other dogs are fine. The feeders had been previously advised that a wolf pack was visiting that feedground and their dogs might be at risk, FWS reported, adding that no wolf control is planned.

Big game seasons

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will soon release its proposed big game hunting season proposals. To learn more about the proposed 2007 big game hunting seasons, plan to attend one of the upcoming season setting meetings scheduled in the region. A public workshop is scheduled to be held on April 2 from 6-8 p.m. in the Pinedale Library.

The formal season-setting meeting will be held in Jackson at the Teton County Extension Building on Tuesday, April 3 from 7-9 p.m.

Ozone

The Ozone Modeling Analysis Supplement for the Pinedale Anticline Project Area Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement has been released for public comment.

The ozone modeling effort for the SEIS shows no exceedence of air quality standards, but does predict increases in concentrations of atmospheric ozone.

The 45-day comment period on the supplemental air analysis and draft SEIS will last until Friday, April 6. The Ozone Modeling Analysis can be viewed at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/pfodocs/anticline/seis.html.  

Copies or CDs of the Ozone Modeling Analysis Supplement are available at the Pinedale Field Office, 432 E Mill St., Pinedale, Wyoming 82941.

For more information, contact Matt Anderson at (307) 367-5328 or Ken Peacock at (307) 775- 6329.

Bridger Power

Last week the Sierra Club and the Wyoming Outdoor Council filed a federal lawsuit to stop and penalize alleged air pollution emission-limit violations at PacifiCorp’s Jim Bridger Power Plant near Rock Springs. The alleged violations number in the thousands.

The Jim Bridger Power Plant is the largest coal-fired power plant in Wyoming.

The lawsuit alleges significant and ongoing emission limit violations at Jim Bridger. Under the federal Clean Air Act, emission limits are imposed to protect human health and the environment. Last November the groups informed PacifiCorp of their concern regarding these alleged violations, but the parties were unable to reach a resolution at that time. PacifiCorp officials noted that the environmental groups did in fact file the lawsuit Feb. 21, “despite their awareness that the company has already committed to over $1 billion in improvements that will significantly reduce emissions.”

Appointments

Governor Dave Freudenthal’s list of appointments to various boards and commissions in the state include a few from Sublette County:
Kirby Hedrick – environmental quality council
Albert Sommers – livestock board
Jim Latta – transportation commission
Ann Noble was reappointed to the community college commission, while Dan Budd retains his seat on the water development commission.

Clarification

In last week’s article “Game & Fish presents final plan for Hoback elk herd,” it should read that the McNeel feedground is the only one limited to private property in the Hoback Elk Herd Unit.