The Environmental Protection Agency released its annual Toxics Release Inventory for 2011 and has been the case for year, the metal mining industry has the highest releases.

The metal mining industry self-reported the release of 1.9 billion pounds of toxic chemicals in 2011. This represented 46 percent of all toxic pollution reported.

Ken Salazar’s decision to step down as Interior Secretary, announced this morning, comes as President Obama faces criticism for a lack of women in his senior cabinet nominees.

Salazar, a Colorado rancher, had forged strong working relationships with western Republicans like Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and Rep. Mike Simpson, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.

The Canyon County Farm Bureau has weighed in on the side of the Pioneer Irrigation District in its dispute with the city of Caldwell over stormwater drainage.

The farm group voted unanimously to call on the City of Caldwell to drop its eminent domain lawsuit against Pioneer Irrigation District.

“The Board’s message is clear and unequivalent: if it isn’t broken, then let’s not try to fix it until it is,” said Roger Batt, Canyon Farm Bureau Executive Director.

One of Boise and the Treasure Valley’s defining characteristics has been its pro-active efforts to address air pollution.

In state that long opposed environmental rules stricter than those imposed by federal authorities, valley residents and their leaders from both political parties have taken on pollution that threatens health and the economy.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game may contract private wolf trappers to kill wolves in key elk hunting units as a part of programs aimed at reducing elk predation.

Fish and Game regional managers are mulling ideas ranging from paying trappers’ expenses to hire them as they seek lower cost methods of controlling wolves.

“There are certain individuals who have built up some pretty good skills,” said Jeff Gould F&G Wildlife Bureau manager.

Business leaders from around Idaho expressed support Friday for Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s development strategy but urged even more funding for luring new companies to Idaho.

Three of the Idaho Department of Commerce’s advisory councils met jointly at the J. R. Williams building Friday to share information about how the state’s economy is recovering from the deep recession. They included the Economic Advisory Council, the Idaho Travel Council and the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission Council.

Boise voters bought equity with their decisive 2001 foothills levy that generated $10 million to conserve open space.

The money leveraged federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars along with private donations to protect 10,505 acres in the last decade. A new study suggests they bought even more.

Idaho’s watersheds are starting out 2013 with good soil moisture and snowpack conditions, the Natural Resources Conservation Service reports.

With heavy snow falling in Boise Monday as Gov. Butch Otter gave his State of the State speech, he went off script to celebrate what it means to Idaho farmers and others.

“If God will help us with this in our watersheds he surely will help us here today and throughout this year,” Otter said.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter used the 9th Circuit Court’s upholding of the Idaho Roadless Rule as the rationale for his pursuit of a state health insurance exchange under Obamacare.

But imagine how Otter would reacted had the 9th Circuit had ruled against Idaho.

Rupert farmer John “Bert” Stevenson, former chairman of the Idaho Legislature’s House Resources and Conservation Committee, is still going to play a key role in the public policy issue he knows about the most, water.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter appointed Stevenson to the Idaho Water Resource Board Tuesday ensuring that the Magic Valley will have strong representation on the board. He joins Vince Alberdi, the retired Twin Falls Canal Co. manager from Kimberly, who was reappointed.