BCA PETITIONS BLACK HILLS DIPPER FOR ESA

On September 29, 2008, BCA filed a petition with the Department of Interior and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to protect the Black Hills National Forest population of the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), formerly called the water ouzel, under the Endangered Species Act. BCA has been tracking the declining Black Hills population trends of this unique aquatic bird for several years. Logging projects and mining operations have contributed to degradation of the dipper's habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will now have 90 days to determine if the dipper warrants further study toward a listing as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This petition is a significant step to achieving protection for this unique Black Hills bird.

PROPOSAL REMOVES 65% OF PATHFINDER WILDLIFE REFUGE

Claiming that managing 65% of Pathfinder Wildlife Refuge for wildlife is "too difficult," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to allow Pathfinder to be managed for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and flood control by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management. The Service decided that changing priorities by dropping wildlife management completely over almost 11,000 acres would have "no significant impact" on wildlife. BCA will make every effort to stop the transfer of management from U.S. Fish and Wildlife to the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.

URANIUM BOOM HITS INTERMOUNTAIN WEST

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is currently taking comments on its Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement for In-Situ Leach Uranium Milling Facilities. A tenfold increase in the price of uranium ore has produced a glut of mining applications to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Commission issued only a "General" analysis rather than site-specific analyses claiming it would make the application process more cost and time efficient. Currently 16 out of 22 mining applications have been submitted in Wyoming alone. BCA attended a public comment meeting in Casper, Wyoming on September 25, 2008 and voiced concerns about the potential big game and sage grouse habitat that these proposed facilities may impact. There are also important ground water consumption and contamination issues that are of concern with the in-situ leach uranium milling process. Please voice your concerns, before October 7, 2008. Inquiries about the General Environmental Impact Statement can be directed to James Park, Nuclear Regulatory Commission by phone: 301-415-6935, or email: James.Park@nrc.gov.

SHELLROCK CREEK CLEARCUTTING IN THE 'BOW

BCA is working with the Medicine Bow National Forest to protect the forest from proposed clear-cut logging in the "Shellrock Creek Bark Beetle and Fuels Reduction" logging project. BCA is requesting the Forest Service limit their proposal to protecting private property and to eliminate all backcountry logging from their project. The Medicine Bow will be hosting collaborative (public) meetings in the near future. Those interested in participating should contact Melissa Martin, Interdisciplinary Team Leader by phone: 307-745-2371 or email: mmmartin@fs.fed.us.

BCA APPEALS NEBRASKA NF PRAIRIE DOG POISONING

On September 29, 2008, BCA joined other conservation organizations and individuals to appeal the Nebraska National Forest Black-tailed prairie dog management plan. The Nebraska National Forest Service amended their 2001 Forest Plan to allow more prairie dog eradication outside the black-footed ferret recovery areas. Our appeal seeks greater protections for black-tailed prairie dogs throughout the project area, not just where black-footed ferret recovery is the priority.

MAJOR PINEDALE ANTICLINE DRILLING EXPANSION APPROVED

Last month, the BLM approved infill drilling in the Pinedale Anticline gas field totaling 4,399 wells on 600 new wellpads across almost 200,000 acres dominated by public land. The new decision defers drilling on the western third of the project area to allow for wildlife habitat, requires directional drilling with multiple wells on each pad, and mandates pipelines to carry away waste products to cut down on truck traffic in the field. Despite these concessions, the level of truck traffic, industrialization, and habitat destruction will continue to increase markedly on the Pinedale Mesa, an area crucial for sage grouse breeding and nesting habitat and big game winter range. Sage grouse populations in this area are fast disappearing, and were predicted to disappear from these gas fields by 2024 before the additional drilling was approved, and the mule deer population wintering on the Mesa has already dropped 46% with industrialization of key habitats a prime culprit. The new decision allows loopholes for winter drilling in big game winter range and spring drilling in the most sensitive sage grouse habitats, accelerating the demise of wildlife in this area.

CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS

We're all so proud to turn twenty and there was no better way to celebrate it than to surround ourselves with the people that make BCA a reality - YOU! Thanks to the one hundred or so people who attended, BCA's Twentieth Anniversary Badger Ball and Annual Member Meeting was a great success. We enjoyed your company as we listened to Nobel Laureate Gabor Vali's presentation on Global Climate Change, filled our stomachs with great local food, and bid on the generously donated silent auction items. The Badger Ball generated $6500 towards BCA's vital mission. If you weren't able to attend we hope you can come to next year's Badger Ball - and it isn't too late to make your Twentieth Anniversary donation! Just click "make a donation" on BCA's homepage: http://www.voiceforthewild.org.

BCA SENDS A SHOUT-OUT TO WOLF HEROES

BCA's conservation partners such as NRDC, Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project, and Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance deserve a pat on the back for successfully challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's transfer of wolf management from Endangered Species Act protection to the state of Wyoming's shoot-on-sight "plan." On September 22, 2008, the Service was prompted to reverse their decision to remove Endangered Species Act protections from the wolf because of this lawsuit. Unfortunately, many wolves were shot before the Service reversed their decision. For now the wolf is safe!

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE BADGER BALL HAPPEN

Our Generous Sponsors and Donors:

Altitude Chophouse & Brewery, American National Bank, Anong's Thai Cuisine, Aspen Lodge at Estes Park, Bernie's Mexican Restaurant, C.J. Box, Calvaryman Supper Club, Ronald Chilcote, Corona Village, Cost Cutters, Denver Downtown Aquarium, Denver Zoological Gardens, Dan Egolf, Alaska Nature Tours, David Egolf, Jamie Egolf, Psychotherapist Sarah Egolf, Enterprise Car Rental, FalconPhotography.info, Frontier Printing, Fort Collins Hilton Garden Inn, Jeffrey's Bistro, Mark Jenkins, The Jeweler, Ken's Toyota Kars, Jeff Kessler, Suzanne Lewis, Lincoln Printing, Lovejoy's Bar & Grill, Mary Lou Morriso, The New Mandarin Restaurant, Nail's Tech, Night Heron Books, North Ridge Liquors, Pansy's Parlor, Prairie Woods & Clay Works, Cheyenne Wayne Prindle, Chip Rawlins, James Reitsma, The Rock Garden, Fort Collins, The Saratoga Inn, Sweet Melissa Vegetarian Cafe, Tommy Jack's Cajun Restaurant, Uni-Wyo Federal Credit Union, VDR Volvo, Vee Bar Guest Ranch, Visions Hair Salon, Wal-Mar,t Alyssa Wechsler, Perry Wechsler, Winger's, George Wuerthner, Our Wonderful Volunteers Sanaa Ahmed, Dave Egolf, Trish Jibben, Nicole Lucas/Falcon Photography, Joanna Orr, James Reitsma, Matt Seymour, Blaire Stevens, Megan Stiles, Haiyan Wang, Perry Wechsler, Larca Wicke, Ken Zajac, And of course, Nobel Laureate Gabor Vali