The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2010: Ironically Named Legislation from VA Secreatry Shinseki

My comments cover the problems covered in the new legislation, but it should go without saying that reducing the amount of time the Veteran has to appeal their claim, and to lessen the VA’s duty to explain their decisions is not Veteran friendly, and will only make it harder then it [...]

Solitude Expansion Denied!

In what could be called a somewhat surprising and positive development in terms of preserving Central Wasatch wilderness the Forest Service recently rejected Solitude Ski Resort’s proposed expansion into the East side of Silver Fork Creek. According to Brian Ferebee, supervisor of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, said the request was [...]

Nation Reports on Military Doctors Fraudulent Diagnosis of PD

Its not an issue that receives a lot of press even among Veterans, but the Nation published a provocative article on how military doctors are likely deliberately branding legitimately disabled Veterans as soldiers that had pre-existing personality disorders. Nevermind that they never would have been accepted into the military if [...]

SLC Leads SW in Water Consumption

Revealing information on the need of water conservation in certain locales out west. Lends credence to Vegas Water Czar Pat Mulroy’s criticism of SLC and its “pastoral” environment. SLC ought to wise up to the reality that its basically a desert here even though it may not be as [...]

2010 Great Salt Lake Issues Forum

The Issues Forum website is just about finished – just a few missing pieces of information – but essentially everything is there. Please take a look – www.fogsl.org/issuesforum/2010/
Registration is up and running.
Understanding that a 3 day Forum program does not fit everyone’s availability, FRIENDS is offering a single day registration option [...]

Take Action Water Grab

As explained below Gov. Herbert has been at the cusp of signing the deeply flawed agreement with Nevada but for whichever reason has been hesitant. He needs to be convinced through letters that this agreement should never be signed. Below are talking points from Brian Moench MD, from UPHE, [...]

Water Grab Update

Although things looked real bad last fall when Governor Herbert and DNR Director Styler gave the public the impression that the agreement would be signed very quickly after public comment this didn’t end up happening. Then at the end of 2009 it looked like the Governor would sign it and [...]

Search Drinking Water Quality

The NY Times in their ongoing coverage of water quality problems nationally have developed another powerful tool for searching the local drinking water quality where you live. Its a part of their “Toxic Waters” series. You can search even the smallest of municipalities, interestingly enough is the fact that [...]

Utah Supreme Court Reverses Dept. of Air Quality on Sevier County Power Plant in Sierra Club v. Division of Air Quality!

Congratulations to the Sierra Club and Joro Walker and John Pace for their hard work on this case. Ban Law Office was happy to assist amicus, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, in this case. Some analysis of the decision below. Also a favorable decision in the companion case [...]

Proposed Strip Coal Mine near Bryce National Park could be first in Utah

A coalition of National and Utah environmental groups including SUWA, NRDC, and Sierra Club filed a petition against the proposed Coal Hollow Strip mine that would be located just west of Bryce National Park. The petition will follow a state process and was filed with the state agency Utah Division [...]