Articles by Grist staff

Molybdenum? I Barely Know ’em!

Feds Sell Colorado Land to Mining Firm at Rock-Bottom Price Citing a provision in the federal Mining Act of 1872, the Bush administration has sold 155 acres of federal land near the resort community of Crested Butte, Colo., to a multinational mining company for $875. “For less than $1,000, Phelps Dodge has acquired 150 acres […]

A progressive ranching advocate answers questions

What environmental organization are you affiliated with? The Quivira Coalition, a nonprofit conservation organization based in Santa Fe, N.M. What’s your job title? Executive director and cofounder. What does your organization do? What, in a perfect world, would constitute “mission accomplished”? We work to build bridges between ranchers, environmentalists, public-land managers, scientists, and others in […]

Talking Trash

New Biomass Process Holds Great Promise Biomass — the process of converting carbon-based waste into fuel — is slowly but surely becoming a viable enterprise. At the forefront are companies like Changing World Technologies Inc.; its first commercial plant, recently built in Carthage, Mo., sees thousands of tons of turkey parts from a nearby Butterball […]

Watershed Down

California Law Threatens Watershed Restoration Projects An obscure California law may threaten watershed restoration efforts across the state. At issue are the use of volunteers — a common practice by watershed-restoration groups perpetually strapped for cash — and a 2001 law mandating that all workers on public-works projects be paid the prevailing market wage for […]