The demand for oil and gas is pushing exploration and drilling activities to an all time high in the Rocky Mountain region and communities are concerned that environmental impacts from this activity are not being addressed.
"County and state officials, as well as environmental groups, say one prime source of the mud choking the region's streams and creeks is the construction of some 9,546 oil and gas wells in western Colorado"
In Colorado local communities historically have had little control over drilling activities that are located on nearby federal lands. Now state-enacted water quality rules covering well exploration and production have been nullified by congressional revisions to the federal Clean Water Act that will ease environmental restrictions on such activities. With drilling activity at record levels in the western part of the United States communities here are questioning whether or not be they will be able to adequately protect their water resources.
Thanks to Patrick Olsen
Read the full story: Drilling's role in runoff awash in murky claims
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority