CARSON CITY, Nev. - Nevada's delegation in Washington, D.C., gets mixed results on the annual Environmental Scorecard, just released by the League of Conservation Voters, splitting down party lines.

The scorecard says Senator Dean Heller voted "pro-environment" just eight percent of the time.

Democratic Representative Dina Titus got a 94 percent rating, whereas Republicans Joe Heck, Mark Amodei and Cresent Hardy got percentages of six, three and zero, respectively, for their records on the Clean Power Plan, Clean Water Act, Keystone Pipeline and public-lands initiatives.

Kyle Davis, policy consultant with the Nevada Conservation League, says his group did see one small ray of hope in 2015.

"There was a bill at the end of last year that had extension for tax credits for solar and wind energy, and Senator Heller was certainly instrumental in making that happen," says Davis. "But unfortunately, it was packaged up in a bill that ended the ban on oil exports."

The scorecard also criticizes Representative Hardy for his amendment to the spending bill that would have undercut the President's ability to create new national monuments.

The amendment was approved but then pulled from the final bill. Senator Harry Reid's record was not rated because, as Senate Minority Leader, he often doesn't vote.

The report also faults Representative Mark Amodei for sponsoring a bill to greatly reduce public review of hard-rock mining activities on public lands, which has passed the House but has not yet been considered in the Senate.

Davis hopes voters take note in November.

"Ever since the Republicans took over the House, there have just been multiple attempts to roll back environmental laws," he says. "And we're going to be pretty active in the 2016 elections because, especially on issues like climate change, we can't afford to wait around."

All members of the House of Representatives face reelection every two years, so Amodei, Hardy, Heck and Titus all will be on the November ballot. Senator Reid is retiring, and Senator Heller us up for reelection in 2018.




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Amid U.S. Forest Service firings and layoffs by the Trump administration, conservationists are honoring a former employee this week considered by many to be the "father of wildlife ecology." Aldo Leopold was a supervisor of New Mexico's Carson National Forest before his eventual relocation to Wisconsin.

Each year a foundation named in his honor hosts "Leopold Week" -- a three-day event featuring acclaimed authors who, like Leopold, write about the natural world.

Richard Rubin, former New Mexico medical doctor and Forest Service volunteer, has seen firsthand the importance of forest management.

"The local Forest Service people are really devoted; a lot of good people doing the best they can," Rubin explained. "It's been tough work. Even before all these firings, the Carson Forest had 40% open positions they couldn't fill."

New Mexico's federal lawmakers have spoken out about the Trump administration's firing of federal workers, including the state's 2,200 federal employees in probationary periods. In addition to the Forest Service, those agencies include the Veterans Health Administration, the Bureau of Land Management and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others.

Rubin volunteered with others to help restore Leopold's craftsman bungalow in Tres Piedras, N.M., which became a national historic site in 1993.

"So the status of the place became significant then, and then completely restored in 2005-06, to the original appearance as Aldo built it," he explained.

Leopold wrote several books over the course of his life, but Rubin favors a quote from his most well-known -- "A Sand County Almanac," published in 1949: "That the situation is hopeless should not prevent us from doing our best."

In addition to his writings, Leopold is credited with the idea to create a protected area on the Gila National Forest in southern New Mexico, which was 100 years old in 2024.

New legislation would help build more wildlife crossings across Oregon highways to make roads safer for people and animals.

Research shows that Oregon has the highest likelihood of wildlife crashes among West Coast states, with nearly 5,000 damaging or deadly collisions in 2022.

Wildlife collisions are costly and dangerous for drivers and take their toll on wildlife as well.

New legislation would help build more wildlife crossings across Oregon highways to make roads safer for people and animals.

Research shows that Oregon has the highest likelihood of wildlife crashes among West Coast states, with nearly 5,000 damaging or deadly collisions in 2022.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that nearly 15 million animals are killed on Oregon's roads each year.

Karl J. Findling is on the board for the Oregon Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. He said it is time for Oregon to do more to address the problem.

"Oregon is behind nearly all Western states, with only five and a potentially new sixth crossing," said Findling, "where some states such as Colorado have 50."

Crossings have been shown to significantly reduce wildlife collisions. For example, an underpass near Bend cut them by more than 85%.

Findling said that along with driving population declines in many species, when you factor in medical and vehicle repair costs, collisions with wildlife are pricey.

"I've seen numbers around $7,000 per collision with a deer," said Findling, "but what's striking is $73,000 when someone hits an elk."

Although polls show wildlife crossings have broad, bipartisan support across the state, Findling said funding wildlife crossings remains a challenge due to high costs.

But, said Findling, with all the money they save, crossings pay for themselves within 15 years.

"When we see these crossings go in," said Findling, "the returns are close to $3 for every dollar invested."

Support for this reporting was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.




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Concerns are growing in Ohio over the use of oil and gas waste for dust control on rural roads, a practice some environmental groups argued is exposing communities to radioactive materials without their knowledge.

An informational symposium is coming up at the Ohio Statehouse March 6, featuring experts and activists discussing the potential risks.

Anton Krieger, symposium organizer for the Buckeye Environmental Network, said the event aims to raise awareness among lawmakers and the public.

"It's a public education campaign," Krieger explained. "We're willing to work with everybody. They may not even know the full health ramifications of oil and gas waste brine. They may not even know that they're being exposed themselves. We're going to be educating our legislators about why radioactive waste doesn't belong on our roadways in Ohio."

Current Ohio law allows brine from oil and gas drilling to be used as a dust suppressant on roads. Supporters argued regulated brine application is practical and cost-effective, particularly for rural areas with unpaved roads. However, environmental advocates said state testing has shown the waste contains radioactive elements, raising concerns about long-term exposure.

Roxanne Groff, a former Athens County commissioner and longtime environmental advocate, thinks many people are unaware of what is being spread on their roads.

"It's radioactive. It's radioactive. It's radioactive. And the State of Ohio knows this," Groff asserted. "They admit it. They've tested it. They've said it's radioactive."

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which oversees oil and gas waste regulations, maintains its brine management policies align with state law. The agency has said it continues to review environmental and public health concerns while working within legislative directives.