Friday, February 3, 2012

Forest Service/ Mine Safety/ Employment


Missoulian: U.S. Forest Service plans to boost timber production, forest health work

US Forest Service highlights expansion of restoration of national forests and funding for Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration projects
“As part of the accelerated restoration strategy, $40 million for 20 forest and watershed restoration projects have been announced for the upcoming year. The funding includes ten new projects under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) program, continued funding for the original 10 projects selected under the CFLR program in 2010, and an additional $4.6 million to support other high priority restoration projects.”

Increasing the Pace of Restoration and Job Creation on our National Forests

Missoulian: AP Interview: Main says mines can't be complacent

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph Main
: mine safety and health improving through collective efforts of government, industry
"I believe the actions we have taken at MSHA, along with those of the mining industry, are making a difference and making mines safer for the nation's miners," said Main

Helena Independent Record: Unemployment rate hits 8.3 pct. after hiring burst

Employment Situation Summary

“Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 243,000 in January, and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job growth was widespread in the private sector, with large employment gains in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing. Government employment changed little over the month.”

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Cobell Land Consolidation

Missoulian: Feds release $1.9B plan to buy Indian land

Interior Seeks Comments on Cobell Land Consolidation Draft Plan
“The Department of the Interior today announced two important steps in the ongoing commitment to fulfilling this nation’s trust responsibilities to Native Americans. Today, Interior announced the publication of a draft plan and a request for comment on implementing the potential Cobell Land Consolidation Program. Additionally, Interior announced that the first meeting of the Commission established to undertake a forward-looking, comprehensive evaluation of Interior’s trust management of Native American trust funds is set for the first week of March.”

Pre-publication of the draft plan

Friday, January 27, 2012

Forest Managment/ EPA/ College Tuition/ Cybersecurity

Chief Tom Tidwell on Planning Rule

Missoulian: Obama administration releases new national forest management rules

New Forest Planning Rule Seeks to Restore the Nation’s Forests through Science and Collaboration
“USDA and the Forest Service carefully considered nearly 300,000 comments received on the proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement issued last February, to develop the agency’s preferred course of action for finalizing the planning rule. This is included in the PEIS released today as USDA’s preferred alternative.”
Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

Missoulian: Missoula County applying for EPA brownfields grant for asbestos clean-up

EPA: Brownfields and Land Revitalization
“Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties protects the environment, reduces blight, and takes development pressures off greenspaces and working lands.”

Missoulian: Obama to target rising college tuition costs
FACT SHEET: President Obama’s Blueprint for Keeping College Affordable and Within Reach for All Americans
“President Obama has emphasized the responsibility shared by the federal government, states, colleges, and universities to promote access and affordability in higher education, by reining in college costs, providing value for American families, and preparing students with a solid education to succeed in their careers.”

How Will You Pay for College?
“If you need help paying for college, Federal Student Aid can help. Each year, Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, provides more than $150 billion in higher education grants and loans to students attending college—but to qualify, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).”

Missoulian: US cybersecurity efforts trigger privacy concerns
S. 413 Cybersecurity and Internet Freedom Act of 2011
“Cybersecurity and Internet Freedom Act of 2011 - Internet Freedom Act - Declares that neither the President, the Director of the National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications, nor any officer or employee of the U.S. government shall have the authority to shut down the Internet.”

S.21 Cyber Security and American Cyber Competitiveness Act of 2011
“Calls for the enactment of bipartisan legislation to secure the United States against cyber attack, enhance American competitiveness and create jobs in the information technology industry, and protect the identities and sensitive information of American citizens and businesses….”

H.R.3523 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011
“Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to add provisions concerning cyber threat intelligence and information sharing. Defines "cyber threat intelligence" as information in the possession of an element of the intelligence community directly pertaining to a vulnerability of, or threat to, a system or network of a government or private entity, including information pertaining to the protection of a system or network from: (1) efforts to degrade, disrupt, or destroy such system or network; or (2) theft or misappropriation of private or government information, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information.”

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Canadian Agreement/ Juvenile Sex Offenders/ Unemployment

Missoulian: Montana sawmills should benefit from continued restrictions on Canadian imports
Department of State: Agreement concerning softwood lumber, with annexes.

Helena Independent Record: Kids can be ordered to register as sex offenders
USA V. JUVENILE MALE
“Defendants argue that SORNA’s registration requirement contravenes the confidentiality provisions of the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act (FJDA), 18 U.S.C. § 5031 et seq., and also challenge its constitutionality.”

Helena Independent Record: More seek unemployment aid, but trend is positive
BLS: Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary
“Regional and state unemployment rates were slightly lower in December. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases, 3 states posted rate increases, and 10 states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.”