Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NAVAJO COAL
Navajo company confident about Wyoming, Montana coal bonding
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Navajo tribal energy company officials say they’re confident they can secure necessary bonding for recently purchased coal mines in Wyoming and Montana.
The Navajo Nation president announced Tuesday the tribe would not financially back the bonds for the Navajo Transitional Energy Co., saying they would be risky.
NTEC Governmental and External Affairs Director Steve Grey said Wednesday he’s confident the company can still get the roughly $400 million in bonds.
Grey told reporters by phone the company has enough potential collateral, including a coal mine outside Farmington, New Mexico.
The bonds would ensure the Antelope and Cordero Rojo mines in Wyoming and Spring Creek mine in Montana could be cleaned up if they ever closed.
NTEC bought the mines from Cloud Peak Energy, which is going through bankruptcy.
ONE-PERCENT TAX
Wyoming lawmakers advance bill, could make 1% tax permanent
(Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — County officials in Wyoming have announced that a bill could allow counties to make their optional one-percent sales tax permanent.
The Casper Star-Tribune reported Tuesday that the Joint Committee on Revenue advanced the bill Monday offering some financial certainty for local governments seeking reliable revenue streams.
County officials say counties can now vote for a permanent authorization of the tax, which eliminates the need to put the tax up for a vote every few years.
Officials say the legislation is also a compromise over who holds taxing authority and is a partial solution for communities seeking to separate from the state’s direct distribution funding model.
Officials say a previous version of the bill would have made the fifth penny permanent for all county governments statewide taking power away from voters.
___
MEDICAID EXPANSION-WYOMING
Wyoming committee advances Medicaid expansion bill
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A legislative committee has advanced a bill that allows Gov. Mark Gordon to explore expanding the Medicaid program in Wyoming.
The lawmakers on the Joint Revenue Committee voted 8 to 5 Tuesday to move the bill forward to the full Legislature, which meets next February.
Under the proposed bill, the governor must first direct the departments of health and insurance to explore options for expanding Medicaid eligibility.
If expansion is recommended, the Legislature would have to give its approval, convening a special session if necessary.
Gordon has not supported Medicaid expansion in the past because of the costs to the state, but he says he recognizes the challenges residents face in being able to afford health care.
An estimated 19,000 residents would be covered initially if Medicaid expansion were approved.
YELLOWSTONE VISITS
Snow blamed for lower Yellowstone visitation in October
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — The National Park Service says snowy weather last month likely cut down on visitors to Yellowstone National Park during October.
The agency recorded just over 170,000 visitors during the month, a 22% decrease from October 2018.
So far in 2019, the park has hosted over 3.9 million visitors, which is down 2.5% from the same period last year.
Yellowstone is entering its winter season, when visits to the park are typically the lowest of the year.
GRIZZLY DEATHS-MONTANA
Northwest Montana grizzly deaths spur pushback
(Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com)
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — The mortality rate of grizzly bears in northwestern Montana has prompted a group of bear researchers to challenge whether the grizzly should be removed from federal protection.
This month a grizzly bear was shot by a hunter east of Eureka and state wildlife managers killed another bear near Libby after it broke into a garage to eat a harvested elk.
The Missoulian reports the number of known grizzly deaths in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem recovery zone this year has reached 48.
Five non-governmental grizzly bear researchers will challenge assertions that the ecosystem’s population can be delisted during a presentation Friday at the University of Montana.
Last month, a state biologist said it was too early to say whether the recovery zone grizzly deaths were alarming or even a trend.
___
OIL DRILLING-PERMITS
Wyoming panel passes update to drilling application process
(Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has voted to update its permit application process.
The Casper Star-Tribune reported the vote Tuesday was in response to a historic influx of drilling requests in the state.
Officials say the change provides an opportunity for new bidders to challenge inactive operators.
The commission has received nearly 66,000 applications for renewable drilling permits from oil and gas operators in the past three years.
Officials say that if a permit's two-year lifespan ends without an operator advancing drilling activity, others with a working interest will have a window of time to apply for a permit.
The updated guidelines seek to enable smaller companies and operators to extract what is believed to be large amounts of minerals in untapped areas of land.
___
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
