Critics argue that the proposed rules are yet another power grab by the oil and gas industry, which has a sympathetic ear in Washington. Environmental groups don t believe Interior Secretary Gale Norton would fight for the stricter standards because she favors loosening rules governing drilling on public lands, such as national monuments and roadless areas. Hansen, R-Utah, federal land leased for oil and gas exploration cannot have rules more stringent than restrictions imposed by the...

Donations to the fund can be made by mail through the Jewish Federation Victims' Assistance Fund administered by the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco. Checks should be made to: Seattle Victims' Fund, Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, 121 Steuart St. Donations to the fund can be made by mail through the Jewish Federation Victims' Assistance Fund administered by the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco. Checks should be made to: Seattle Victims' Fund, Jewish...

Live music, dancing in the street, contests, folk singers, car and tractor shows, a Main Street barbecue, fireman's breakfast, and other fun and games highlighted this year's Heritage Days celebration. Warm temperatures prevailed and plenty of cold liquid refreshments and shady spots were available. She was one of the last known artists who was commissioned to do oil, watercolors and sketches of the old mill buildings in McCloud before they were torn down. Saturday afternoon's excursion...

The spike did not raise red flags because the numbers were still consistent with Con Ed estimates of impacted customers, which hovered around 2,000 at the time. Using data obtained from resident calls, the City wants to create real-time maps that log the time and location of complaints, giving emergency agencies a better impression of affected areas, Bruno said. But Con Ed officials have since admitted that their call receiving system by which it usually determines the extent of power...

Carpooling in members vans, trucks or SUVs will transport people to the tour sites, to the dinner pavilion and back to the parking lot. The program will consist of viewing and discussing hardwood thinning. There is extremely limited parking space at the tour site and the road is not suitable for regular cars. There will be a picnic style dinner. under the pavilion at the Perkins lake. Rockbridge Area Forestry & Wildlife Association Sets Sept. The September meeting of the Rockbridge Area...

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SALMON, Idaho -- A federal firefighter accused of persuading a friend to set a brush fire on the city's outskirts has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson. Police say Miller may have been trying to create work for federal fire crews. Idaho firefighter charged in arson case. Miller has worked for the local Bureau of Land Management office as a firefighter for about two years. He was charged in a blaze that charred a half-acre of brush in Salmon's Smedley subdivision on Aug. Before...

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High Country News -- April 17, 2006: The War on Wildfire: President Bush says the Healthy Forests Restoration Act and Initiative were needed to fight wildfire, but several years into the new rules, critics question whether the changes they brought were helpful or even necessary