Dick of the Week - Pebble Executive Critical of Environmental Groups

Couldn't just stick to the data summary now could you Ken?

During last week’s Pebble Partnership update to lawmakers in Juneau, Vice-President Ken Taylor presented an overall summary of the data being released through its Environmental Baseline Document.  However, he could not complete his remarks in front of lawmakers in Juneau without addressing the opposition that exists to the Pebble Mine. Taylor feels that the groups opposing the Pebble Mine don’t want to see a wise use of Alaska’s resources.

Well at least he didn't call them terrorists.

LINK (Via: KSRM)

A little background on VP Ken Taylor from the Pebble Partnership.

Mr. Taylor has worked as a wildlife biologist in the State of Alaska for more than 30 years, most recently as Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. He spent 10 years as an Area Biologist in the region of southwest Alaska where Pebble is located.

You would think a biologist would have a greater appreciation for the environment they earned thier living working in for 10 years.

Nice gig for a retired state employee.

Dicks of the Week

Grape growers in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties have sued the California Water Resources Control Board over its new regulations on how farmers use water from the Russian River watershed.

The rules, adopted Sept. 20, are intended to safeguard salmon and steelhead populations in the Russian River. During peak water-use times, water levels in the Russian River may drop. Federal officials from the National Marine Fisheries Service said that when growers removed water from the river for frost protection in 2008 and 2009 they stranded and killed salmon and steelhead

“I'm not necessarily surprised, but I am disappointed,” said Brian Johnson, California Director of Trout Unlimited.

LINK (Via: The Press Democrat)

Dick of the Week

 

Thanks to Idahao Transportation Department Director Brian Ness, ExxonMobil now has permission to ship 200 of its "megaloads" of oil field equipment through Idaho on Highway 12.

The bad news for ExxonMobile and their enablers is that their loads still can't cross Lolo Pass into Montana.

LINK (Via: KAJ18)

Dicks of the Week - Montana Department of Transportation

The MDOT is going to fight a judge's ruling that blocks Exxon megaloads from travelling along scenic Highway 12. Since Exxon has already started downsizing some of the loads so they can travel on Interstate 90 and 15, something they originally said could not be done, why not just give up on the Highway 12 corridor?

LINK (Via: The Missoulian)

Dicks of the Week - House Republicans

House Republicans outlined a new round of cuts from the Environmental Protection Agency, much of which would come at the expense of clean water programs.

The Fish and Wildlife Service faces a 21 percent or $315 million cut.

LINK (Via: Politico)

Dicks of the Week - San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority

Due to a surplus of water, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta pumps have killed 51,000 endangered spring run chinook and 6 million Sacramento splitail.

To reduce the toll on the salmon run, regulators ordered the pumps to slow down by about one-third for two weeks. For farmers, the effect is slight -- just a percentage point or two off what they would otherwise receive this year. 

Despite the impact on endangered salmon and the fishing industry that depends on them, the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority has filed suit to block the temporary decrease in pumping.

LINK (Via: The Mercury News)