News-2016

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This page lists recent (2016) news articles related to the environment or the outdoors (page references from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper unless otherwise indicated). Refer to the indicated source for more information.

Page Index (date of latest change):

12/31/16 Sa - CAG Outing - Base Trail (3 mile loop) at Pinnacle Mountain State Park - For trip report, click HERE

12/28/16 - New national monuments! President Obama Claus Establishes Two New National Monuments - Bears Ears in Utah and Gold Butte in Nevada!

9/30/16 - Wilderness Stewardship in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri - A new group devoted to conservation efforts in federal wilderness areas has been created. The group plans to recruit, train, and field volunteers to assist in this effort. For more information, go to http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/sep/30/new-group-help-conserve-wilderness-areas-3-states-/?f=news-arkansas 

8/26/16 - President Obama Creates The Largest Protected Area In The World

7/10/16 Su - Trans-Pacific pact raises worries on both sides of ocean - Japanese farmers fear trade deal - Article in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette page 2G

6/5/16 - Highway 89 North Belt Proposal - Local officials have requested the Arkansas Highway Commission conduct a study to determine the need and feasibility of a new highway corridor from Cabot through Mayflower and into west Conway. For more information, see page 1 of the 6/5/16 (Conway) Log Cabin Democrat.

A future in peril - Wood pellets worse than coal

by Luis Contreras - Pellet mills under construction in Pine Bluff and Monticello will start operations this year, providing 35 direct jobs to the area. The mills will produce 1.25 million tons of pellets per year after 5 million tons of trees are cut. Additional trees will be cut to provide wood for power. ... 2/19/16 page 9B

New National Monuments Designated

From Sierra Club's Bruce Hamilton (2/12/16): This morning the President announced the creation of three new national monuments in the CA Desert: Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow and Castle Mountains. Taken together, these monuments total 1.8 million acres, by far the largest landscape this President has designated using his authority under the Antiquities Act. President Obama has now designated a total of 22 national monuments encompassing close to 4 million acres on land. This is a historic moment and one that comes as a direct result of the hard work and decades of organizing in the desert by committed Sierra Club activists, staff and partners. This designation also comes on the heels of a public hearing last October where these same staff and volunteers helped turn out over 700 people in the heat to raise their collective voice in support of the monument designations. Also, a special thanks to California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has championed protecting this area for most of her life. ...Map showing location of new monuments.

Wetlands Reserve Program

1/3/16 - Arkansas has 250,000 acres already in program (now called the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program). The program is designed to help landowners restore marginal cropland to its original state and protect it from development. Landowners interested in the program must apply to the Natural Resources Conservation Service by January 29. For more info, check the 1/3/16 Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette page 1G.

Shale-gas Export Terminal

1/3/16 - Cheniere Energy Inc. began production at what will become the first terminal to export natural gas from America's shale formation  The Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana converts natural gas to a liquid form and stores it until it is loaded onto a tanker. For more info, check the 1/3/16 Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette page 8G.