This page links to recent (and not so recent) news stories that relate to our course.
Most of these items can be viewed without charge. Some sites require free registration.
Some sites charge for content, and might be viewed through the PSU Library's Electronic Journals pages.
Revised 15 March 17
Policy Our course covers a number
of topics that are relevant to policy. These include mineral
rights, water rights, wastes associated with mining and oil &
gas activities, material recycling. Note that some topics are not
covered by the course and therefore should not be addressed in
your letter to a policy maker (eg agriculture and forestry)
Two bills in Oregon legislature aim to curb, preven oil train
disasters
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2017/03/2_bills_in_oregon_legislature.html#incart_river_index
Trump to roll back Obama's climate, water rules through executive
action
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/02/20/trump-to-roll-back-obamas-climate-water-rules-through-executive-action/?utm_term=.5d44b71e4163
Popular domestic programs face ax under first Trump budget
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/us/politics/trump-program-eliminations-white-house-budget-office.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
Editorial: Mining Threat Renewed
http://registerguard.com/rg/opinion/35258466-78/mining-threat-renewed.html.csp
GOP hurries to slash oil and gas rules, ending industries' 8-year
wait
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/04/us/politics/republicans-oil-gas-regulations.html?ref=politics
Republicans back off bill to sell 3.3m acres of public land after
outcry
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/02/republican-selling-public-lands-bill-withdraw-jason-chaffetz
Obama administration blocks mining on 100,000 acres in Southern
Oregon
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2017/01/12/obama-administration-blocks-mining-100000-acres-southern-oregon/96518872/
(Klamath Basin) Irrigators testify to their losses. Trial results
could be wide-ranging
http://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/irrigators-testify-to-their-losses/article_3e2a2eb3-b93e-5e37-953f-cca6d608340c.html
Oregon solar policies rated fourth best in nation, but could fade
next year
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2017/01/24/oregon-solar-policies-rated-fourth-best-in-nation.html
Oregon-Washington-Idaho-Montana
Irrigators butt heads with cities over water bills
http://www.capitalpress.com/Oregon/20170313/irrigators-butt-heads-with-cities-over-water-bills
Murmers: Oregon legislature looks into acquiring Federal land
http://www.wweek.com/news/2017/02/15/murmurs-oregon-legislature-looks-into-acquiring-federal-land/
Closing Richland nuclear plant would be a win for ratepayers,
study says
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2017/02/shutting_nuke_plant_could_save.html#incart_river_index
Oil-backed climate skeptic could get key EPA job in Pacific
Northwest
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2017/02/oil-backed_climate_skeptic_cou.html#incart_river_index
Oregon short on greenhouse gas emissions goals, says report
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/02/oregon_wont_hit_greenhouse_gas.html#incart_river_index
Prineville is running out of electricity, jeopardizing new
manufacturing jobs
http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2017/01/prineville_is_running_out_of_e.html#incart_river_index
Oregon snowpack above normal; more wintry weather forecast
http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/35165576-75/oregon-snowpack-above-normal-more-wintry-weather-forecast.html.csp
A gassy future? Debate rages over what replaces PGE's Boardman
coal plant
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2017/01/debate_heating_up_over_pges_re.html#incart_river_index
Feds reject Jordon Cove LNG Terminal
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/03/feds_deny_jordan_cove_lng_term.html#incart_river_home_pop
Oregon's server farms: subsidies, jobs, electricity
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/11/do_centers_get_more_than_they.html
North America
Around New Mexico: unspent money, wildfires, Gila update and more
http://nmpoliticalreport.com/209048/around-nm-unspent-money-wildfires-gila-update-and-more-en/
Repeal of federal coal rule met with relief by Northwest Colorado
officials
http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2017/feb/27/repeal-federal-coal-rule-met-relief-northwest-colo/
New Mexico doesn't fine or sanction oil and gas companies that
pollute water
http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/article-13074-nm-doesn’t-fine-or-sanction-oil-and-gas-companies-that-pollute-water.html
Next step for Texas-NM water dispute: US Supreme Court
http://nmpoliticalreport.com/151659/next-stop-for-texas-nm-water-dispute-supreme-court/
Wind power surpasses hydrolectric power in a crucial measure
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/09/business/energy-environment/wind-energy-renewable.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_dk_20170209&nl=dealbook&nl_art=5&nlid=176233&ref=headline&te=1
http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-fi-electricity-capacity/
Trump revives Keystone Pipeline rejected by Obama
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/24/us/politics/keystone-dakota-pipeline-trump.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
Congress moves to give away national lands, discounting billions
in revenue
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/19/bureau-land-management-federal-lease
In EPA rebuke, judge orders quick evaluation on coal jobs
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/12/us/ap-us-epa-ruling.html
World
Gazprom makes concessions in E U gas deal, bu trouble looms for
Russian giant
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/business/eu-russia-gazprom.html
Tribal rights under threat in India
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/protecting-the-rights-of-tribals/article17372134.ece
Sand Mining: global environmental crisis
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/feb/27/sand-mining-global-environmental-crisis-never-heard
Freeport-McMoran threatens to sue Indonesia over mine dispute
https://www.ft.com/content/9ba0b210-f776-11e6-9516-2d969e0d3b65
China suspends North Korea coal imports, striking at the regime's
financial lifeline
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/china-suspends-north-koreas-coal-imports-striking-at-regimes-financial-lifeline/2017/02/18/8390b0e6-f5df-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_nkoreacoal-925am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.5f7abed49202
Oil producers comply with OPEC deal to cut output, but for how
long?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/business/energy-environment/opec-oil-energy-cuts.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
India to lose if it breaches water treaty: (Pakistani) minister
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1321187/india-lose-breaches-water-treaty-minister/
Offshore wind moves into energy's mainstream
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/business/energy-environment/renewables-offshore-wind-green-power-dong.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
Nickel prices surge after Philippines shuts down mines
https://www.ft.com/content/9fefd91e-e96a-11e6-967b-c88452263daf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gina_Lopez
Strike threat brews at Escondida, the world's largest copper mine
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/01/25/strike-threat-brews-escondida-worlds-largest-copper-mine/
Rio Tinto agrees to sell Australian coal unit to China's Yancoal
for $3.2b
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-25/rio-tinto-sells-australian-coal-unit-to-chinas-yancoal/8210392
Oil producers claim progress in curbing world's daily supply
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/22/business/oil-producers-claim-progress-in-curbing-the-worlds-daily-supply.html?_r=0
For Israel, energy boom could make friends out of enemies
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/14/world/middleeast/israel-energy-boom.html?ref=middleeast&_r=0