Laserfiche WebLink
<br />,\ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />surface owners in plans for oil and gas development by requiring the Interior Department to give <br />surface owners advance notice of lease sales that would affect their lands and to notify them of <br />subsequent events related to proposed or ongoing energy development. <br /> <br />Anyone proposing to drill for federal minerals in a split-estate situation must first try to reach an <br />agreement with the surface owner that spells out what will be done to minimize interference with <br />the surface owner's use and to provide for reclamation of affected lands and compensation for <br />any damages. If no agreement is reached within 90 days, the bill requires that the matter be <br />referred to neutral arbitration, but if arbitration fails, the energy development can go forward, <br />subj ect to Interior Department regulations that will balance the energy development with the <br />interests of the surface owner or owners. <br /> <br />Reclamation Commissioner Keys Announces Water 2025 Challenge Grant Program for <br />Western States: On April 26, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys announced a <br />new Water 2025 Challenge Grant Program that seeks proposals for cooperative projects between <br />Western state governments and the Bureau of Reclamation to make more efficient use of existing <br />water supplies in the region. <br /> <br />The program is focused on achieving the goals identified in Secretary Norton's Water 2025 <br />initiative to avoid crises and conflict in the West, particularly the development and use of water <br />markets, structural modifications that will conserve water and improve water management, and <br />other approaches. Among these measures are the use of analytical tools that will help states <br />better administer or more efficiently manage water rights, comply with interstate compacts, or <br />otherwise stretch scarce water supplies. <br /> <br />The Challenge Grant Program for Western States is similar to the Water 2025 Challenge Grant <br />Program. However, in the new program, eligible applicants are limited to state government water <br />management agencies and authorities in the western United States, as identified in t):J.e <br />Reclamation Act ofJune 17, 1902, as amended and supplemented. The regular Wafer 2025 <br />Challenge Grant Program, which is open to local government, municipal and private irrigation <br />districts and water associations as well as tribal water authorities, will continue as established. <br /> <br />The deadline for submitting proposals for the new Challenge Grant Program for Western States <br />is June 10, 2005. The selections and awards are scheduled to be announced by August. <br />Reclamation may make additional awards at a later date, depending on the availability of funds. <br />Priority consideration will be given to those projects with practical applications that will reduce <br />the likelihood of conflict over water and can be completed within 24 months from the date of <br />award. <br /> <br />The Request for Proposals for the Water 2025 Challenge Grant Program for Western States is <br />available online at www.grants.gov (keyword search: Water 2025). Additional information about <br />the Water 2025 Challenge Grant Program for Western States is available at <br />www.doi_gov/water2025. <br /> <br />Ninth Circuit Says Environmental Activists Must Prove Harm to Species, Not Just Allege <br />It, to Invoke Endangered Species Act: In an important victory for western property owners, on <br />April 25 the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled for Pacific Legal <br />Foundation, and Idaho rancher Veri Jones' family, in a closely watched case that addresses the <br /> <br />11 <br />