There is a Solution
By now, the disaster that is the cattle market has been factored into the coming year’s budget. For some it means the end of a dream to own a ranch, for the remaining it means a hard assessment about what … Continued
News
The Federal Coal Leasing Pause Is Necessary … And It’s Working
On January 15, 2016, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell issued a Secretarial Order initiating a programmatic review of federal coal policies and management. As over 40% of the coal mined in the United States is publicly-owned, the review is … Continued
Groups Intervene in Coal Royalty Loophole Lawsuit
On March 14, the Powder River Basin Resource Council, WORC, and The Wilderness Society filed motions in Wyoming federal district court to intervene in litigation brought by Cloud Peak Energy against the Department of the Interior’s federal coal royalty valuation … Continued
People’s Lobby Trip Up close and personal with the state legislature
A record number of Western Colorado Congress members participated in our People’s Lobby Trip to Denver at the end of February – which was a triumph by many measures! While some of the 19 participants were experienced citizen lobbyists, 10 … Continued
ORA Health Care Reform Action Team Asks “Where’s Walden?”
During the first two months of 2017, the Oregon Rural Action Health Care Reform Action Team (HCRAT) worked with other local groups to rally and fight Congressional threats to dismantle healthcare for the most vulnerable Americans. These threats include: Repealing … Continued
LEARNING HOW TO LOBBY THE NORTHERN PLAINS WAY
NOTE: Alma Winberry of Great Falls participated in Northern Plains’ first Lobby Day of the 2017 session on Jan. 25. Here are her thoughts on learning to be a grassroots lobbyist. At the Northern Plains Resource Council’s Lobby Day at … Continued
Organizing training aims to build power, win campaigns and boogie
WORC’s Principles of Community Organizing training drew more than 30 participants from across WORC’s network to Grand Junction, Colo., in February. The hands-on workshop covers the basics of leadership, fundraising, organizational development, and community organizing and is the cornerstone of … Continued
Antibiotics Resistance Impacted by CAFO’s
During the hearing on South Dakota’s General Permit for Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), former Dakota Rural Action Chair Don Kelley was prepared to give testimony about the rapidly worsening issue of antibiotics resistance and how CAFO’s contribute to the … Continued
Mineral Royalty Reform Closing Loophole Suspended
The Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resource Revenue (ONRR) has stayed implementation of a new rule regarding how royalties on federal coal, oil and gas are calculated until resolution of pending litigation. A 2012 Reuters investigation revealed that … Continued
A dim future for coal export from the Powder River Basin?
It’s been a rocky ride for coal export proposals out of the Pacific Northwest. Back in 2012, there were six coal export projects in Oregon and Washington state. This month, for the first time in six years, there are zero … Continued