Northern Plains Beartooths

Northern Plains Wins Carbon County Landowner Protections

After almost three years of campaigning Northern Plains Resource Council (NPRC) won a major victory July 18 to protect landowners from oil and gas development in Carbon County, Montana. The new regulations give landowners the right to receive baseline water … Continued

clean energy meeting 2016_07

Clean energy leaders collaborate on campaigns

On July 11-13, WORC brought together ten leaders and four staff from five of eight WORC members groups to our Billings headquarters, the Home on the Range, for a meeting of the Clean and Renewable Energy Campaign Team. It was the … Continued

well setback Idaho

Idaho Keeps Oil & Gas Well Setback At 300 Feet

The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) recently decided to keep a 300-feet minimum oil and gas well setback from occupied dwellings. The decision was made despite testimony from Idaho Organization of Resource Council (IORC) and allies asking for a 500-feet … Continued

coal royalty federal coal program carbon capture

Coal royalty loophole closed by Feds

The Department of the Interior closed the coal royalty loophole in late June after years of study and public comments. On June 30, the agency issued a new rule to calculate royalties for federal coal and other minerals. Companies pay royalties … Continued

self-bonding Arch Coal coal royalty loophole

Self-bonds booted in Alpha bankruptcy agreement

As part of an agreement with the Department of Interior and other U.S. regulatory agencies, Alpha Natural Resources will replace its controversial self-bonds for the company’s Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr Mines in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. On … Continued

solar array

Home on the Range sets the bar high

The following is a guest blog from Plains Speaking, Northern Plains Resource Council’s blog, by Ed Gulick. On Saturday, June 25, we celebrated the culmination of a lot of hard work by Northern Plains and Western Organization of Resource Councils members … Continued

Reform federal coal leasing nonprofits do during election season

WORC members speak out to reform federal coal leasing

In Casper, in Salt Lake City, in Knoxville, in Seattle, in Grand Junction, and in Billings, WORC members made a strong case to reform federal coal leasing and detailed issues that need to be addressed. Scoping hearings around the country drew big … Continued

methane waste prevention, flaring and venting

DRC Anti-Flaring Campaign Paved Way For Success

On June 13, 2016, the Energy Information Administration blogged about North Dakota’s successful effort at reducing flaring from 36 percent to 10 percent in five years. Though North Dakota’s success should be applauded, it likely would not have happened as … Continued

residential drilling, methane waste rule

WCC to test residential drilling rule

Western Colorado Congress (WCC) members have turned to a new state rule aimed at protecting communities from residential drilling by oil and gas companies in a push to protect Battlement Mesa. The rule was passed following the Governor’s Blue Ribbon … Continued