Wyoming News Update - Sheridan Media

SAGE GROUSE-ENERGY LEASES

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Conservation groups are asking a federal judge to block the Trump administration from easing restrictions on energy companies that were meant to protect a struggling Western bird species.

Attorneys for Western Watersheds Project, Prairie Hills Audubon Society and two other groups made the request Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Boise, Idaho.

At issue are federal land use plans for greater sage grouse first enacted in 2015 under President Barack Obama.

The Interior Department revised those plans this month as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to promote oil and gas drilling and other activities.

The ground-dwelling sage grouse's territory includes portions of 11 Western states.

The same groups behind Wednesday's court filing had sued in 2016 over the Obama-era plans, claiming they did not do enough.

COAL MINE JOBS

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming coal mining lost 153 jobs last year with just over 5,530 workers employed at the close of 2018 at the state's 16 mines.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports that the state's mining inspector's yearly tally of employment and production also says that the numerous contract positions associated with the coal industry in Wyoming remained relatively unchanged, with a loss of just 12 jobs.

The report says the state's coal production also declined by about 12.5 million tons (11.3 million metric tons).

Wyoming coal's dramatic decline in 2015 and 2016 resulted in about 1,000 jobs being eliminated and coal production down.

Jobs and production in Wyoming have somewhat stabilized since then with minimal improvements. Between 2017 and 2018, there were just five full-time coal jobs added at Wyoming mines.

YELLOWSTONE BISON

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — More than 300 bison have been culled from Yellowstone National Park during the current effort to keep the park's herd at a manageable level.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that the number removed so far was as of last Friday either by hunting or by capture-for-slaughter operations, which were still occurring this week.

The National Park Service reports that as of last Friday hunters licensed through seven tribal nations have taken 96 bison.

The park's Stephens Creek Capture Facility had trapped and consigned 208 bison to slaughter. One bison died in the facility.

Results on brucellosis tests on the bison are pending.

Park officials planned to remove 600 to 900 bison. About 4,500 bison were counted last summer in Yellowstone.

BEAR ATTACK-OUTFITTER FINED

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming's workplace safety office has fined an outdoor guide company for failing to make a timely report of a death.

The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that the Wyoming Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Martin Outfitters for failing to file a report within eight hours of a workplace fatality.

The notification issued by the administration says the violation is the result of the death of 37-year-old guide Mark Uptain, who was mauled by a grizzly bear on Terrace Mountain Sept. 14.

The administration did not fault owner Dan Martin for Uptain's death.

The notice says the northwestern Wyoming company has until Thursday to pay or contest the violation that carries a $5,000 penalty, but is classified as "other-than-serious."

Martin did not respond to the newspaper's interview request.

JACKSON-DOG ATTACK

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming judge has found a 36-year-old man guilty of dog bites causing wounds in the 2018 mauling of a 4-year-old boy at a Jackson park.

The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that Teton County Circuit Court Judge James Radda found Ryan J. Watts guilty of the misdemeanor charge last Friday after hearing about seven hours of testimony during a bench trial.

A co-defendant, 27-year-old Sarah Celestine, who owned a second dog involved in the Aug. 19 mauling, pleaded no contest to the same charge.

Both will be sentenced April 17. Under Wyoming law, the dogs can be destroyed and the owners fined up to $200.

The boy's mother testified he has required therapy.

Attorneys said Celestine's dog is a husky mix and Watts' dog is a smaller mutt.

COLORADO RIVER-DROUGHT PLAN-THE LATEST

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A California irrigation district that has the largest entitlement to Colorado River water says it doesn't support proposed federal legislation to implement a multi-state drought plan.

The Imperial Irrigation District says language in a packet that several Western states recently sent to Congress would waive environmental laws.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming recently agreed to push for federal legislation to implement drought contingency plans. Under the plans, the states would give up water to keep two reservoirs from dropping drastically.

The Imperial Irrigation District said it won't commit to the plan unless it secures $200 million in federal funding to help restore a massive briny lake southeast of Los Angeles.

Testimony submitted to a congressional panel Wednesday says the plans comply with environmental laws and regulations.

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