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COAL MINE SHUTDOWNS-THE LATEST
The Latest: Judge approves new sale of 2 Wyoming coal mines
(Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A federal bankruptcy judge in West Virginia has approved a new plan to sell two Wyoming coal mines.
Under the deal approved Wednesday, Milton, West Virginia-based Blackjewel would sell the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines to Eagle Specialty Materials, a subsidiary of Jasper, Alabama-based FM Coal.
Blackjewel halted almost all Wyoming operations and furloughed hundreds of employees when it filed for bankruptcy July 1. The sale could allow the mines to reopen.
The West Virginia court in August approved the mines’ sale to Bristol, Tennessee-based Contura Energy, a former owner and ongoing Wyoming permit-holder. The deal wasn’t finalized as government officials sought to collect federal coal royalties.
Under the new deal, Contura would pay Eagle $90 million. Eagle would assume $237 million in reclamation liabilities and certain Blackjewel debts.
GRAND TETON GOATS
Hunters kill more Grand Teton mountain goats than expected
(Information from: Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com)
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — Hunters have killed more mountain goats in Grand Teton National Park than expected.
The National Park Service began allowing hunters to pursue mountain goats this year in an effort to rid the park of the nonnative species.
Biologists warn the mountain goats could spread disease to native bighorn sheep.
Some 100-150 mountain goats inhabit the park and nearby areas. Forty-eight hunters won a lottery for licenses to kill goats in the park.
Wyoming wildlife managers thought the hunters would take no more than 15 mountain goats over the two-and-a-half-month season. Hunters recently surpassed that number, with six weeks left to go.
The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports some hunters killed mountain goats only to see the animals fall off cliffs and out of reach.
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ELK FEEDGROUNDS
Wyoming wildlife officials introduce draft elk feeding plan
(Information from: Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com)
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming wildlife officials have introduced a detailed plan for review to scale back elk and bison feeding days by 50%.
Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially released the draft “step-down” plan Monday.
Wildlife officials say the plan was intended to reduce elk numbers and make the animals more reliant on native vegetation which includes strategies to wean elk off alfalfa.
Officials say the plan details feeding the elk later and ending the alfalfa handouts earlier to draw fewer elk to feedgrounds on the National Elk Refuge north of Jackson.
Officials say the plan is not open to being altered through the current public review process, but an accompanying environmental assessment is.
Deadline for comments are due to the refuge by Oct. 30.
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INMATE ESCAPE
Texas authorities capture 2nd escaped Wyoming inmate
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Authorities in Texas have captured a second inmate who escaped a correctional facility in Wyoming.
Wyoming Department of Corrections officials say Robert Simpson was arrested in Dallas on Tuesday. He and Jason Green escaped from the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp in Newcastle on Sept. 22. It's believed the inmates stole a city truck in Newcastle and drove that night to Laramie, where they may have stolen another vehicle.
Green, who was arrested in Mesquite, Texas on Sunday, was sentenced in 2015 to three to eight years in prison on a larceny conviction. Simpson was sentenced in 2012 to five to 15 years in prison for aggravated burglary with a weapon.
PUBLIC RECORDS OMBUDSMAN
Wyoming governor names first state public records ombudsman
(Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming's governor has appointed the first state ombudsman for public records to oversee requests and disputes arising from requests for state records.
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports Ruth Van Mark was appointed by Republican Gov. Mark Gordon Monday.
Van Mark will determine if records are public or confidential and serve as a resource for public agencies receiving records requests.
The ombudsman will also mediate disputes between agencies and parties seeking information from the state. Previous public records disputes were settled in court.
Van Mark previously worked in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Subcommittee on Transportation, and Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Inhofe.
The ombudsman position was created through the passage this year of a state Senate bill clarifying the public records request process.
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WILD HORSE ROUNDUP
Roundup of hundreds of wild horses planned in Wyoming
WORLAND, Wyo. (AP) — U.S. officials plan to round up hundreds of wild horses in northern Wyoming.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced Tuesday the roundup will happen on or around Oct. 17 in a remote area 35 miles northwest of Worland.
BLM officials say the target population is 100-230 horses but the herd has grown to around 700. The federal agency plans to round up about 600 horses.
The horses will either be available for adoption through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program or sent to privately run pastures.
BLM officials say about 72,000 wild horses and 16,000 wild burros inhabit the West, exceeding the goal population by over 61,000.
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