Climate Justice Forum: Noam Chomsky on Trump, Climate Change, & Nuclear Weapons, Bayou Bridge Pipeline Resistance, Appeal of Lake Pend Oreille Railroad Expansion, Tribal Canoe Journey Honoring Water, Train Rides for Idaho Officials, Montana Rail Bridge Wreck, Iowa Derailment-Oiled Debris in Landfill, Idaho Waste Injection Well Regulation Transfer, Pipeline Lawsuit Against Activists 8-8-18


The Wednesday, August 8, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features a Noam Chomsky interview about Trump administration policies, climate change, nuclear weapons, and human survival, and a video about Bayou Bridge pipeline resistance.  We also share news and reflections on an appeal of an Idaho agency permit for Lake Pend Oreille railroad expansion, a Kalispel tribe water-honoring canoe journey, train rides cajoling Idaho officials and emergency responders, a Montana rail bridge derailment, landfill deposits of oiled vegetation from an Iowa train wreck, transfer of oil and gas waste injection well regulation from Idaho to federal agencies, and a pipeline company lawsuit against direct activists.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Payette Oil & Gas Meeting, Waste Injection Well Regulation Transfer, Newport Silicon Smelter Scoping, Lake Railroad Expansion Permit Appeal, Kalispel Canoe Journey, Canada Tar Sands Megaload Highway 8-1-18


The Wednesday, August 1, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features news and reflections on a Payette County oil and gas meeting, transfer of oil and gas waste injection well regulation from Idaho to federal agencies, opening of the Newport silicon smelter permitting process, an appeal of a state permit for Lake Pend Oreille railroad expansion, a Kalispel water-honoring canoe journey, and a Trans-Canada highway for tar sands megaloads.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Sandra Steingraber on Fossil Fuel Impacts & Resistance, Idaho Oil & Gas Forced Pooling Hearing, Boise Fracking Jobs, Kalispel Canoe Journey for Water, Appeal of Idaho Permit for Lake Railroad Construction, Washington Oil Industry Expansion 7-25-18


The Wednesday, July 25, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features an interview with Sandra Steingraber, an upstate New York, anti-fossil fuels activist, ecologist, writer, and internationally recognized researcher on the environmental links to cancer.  We also share news and reflections on a federal hearing on Idaho forced pooling of private, oil and gas owners, an employment ad for Boise fracking jobs, the second Remember the Water canoe journey by Kalispel tribal members, an appeal of a state permit for Lake Pend Oreille railroad construction, and Washington, oil industry expansion.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Worldwide Renewable Energy, Idaho Activist Events, Oil Train Hazards, Defense Bill Limiting Public Input, Multi-Pipeline Construction Protests, Lakeside Gas Storage Rejection, Valve Turners’ Prison Release & Necessity Defense Trial 7-18-18


The Wednesday, July 18, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features news and reflections on renewable energy around the world, activist events across Idaho this week, deadly oil train hazards, a defense bill limiting public input on mining and drilling projects, indigenous and allied protests of Bayou Bridge, Keystone XL, and Trans Mountain pipeline construction, New York state agency rejection of a lakeside, propane storage facility, and tar sands valve turners’ release from prison and climate necessity defense trial.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Events Across Idaho This Week (July 18 to 21)


Wednesday, July 18, 7 pm, Sandpoint

WIRT & #No2ndBridge Meeting & Petition

Since two public hearings in Ponderay and Sandpoint on May 23, and two Second Lake Rail Bridge Discussions in Moscow and Sandpoint during June 2018, the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) issued a final order on Thursday, June 21, approving Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway’s encroachment permit application for its proposed Sandpoint Junction Connector project [1]. As explained in WIRT’s initial, draft analysis of the decision, IDL has deferred to antiquated, railroad land grant laws and 1000-plus pro-second bridge, BNSF, form letters [2].  Still requiring Clean Water Act water quality certification from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, dredge and fill approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and bridge permits from the lead, federal agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, BNSF plans to build two miles of doubled tracks, two temporary, work spans, and three permanent, parallel bridges west of existing rail infrastructure across Lake Pend Oreille, Sand Creek, Bridge Street, and downtown Sandpoint.

Grassroots, #No2ndBridge, and Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) activists are concerned about this near-conclusion of the state permitting process, and believe that our community should protect Lake Pend Oreille from this Northwest fossil fuels pipeline-on-wheels expansion, by resisting every advance of this proposal. Its construction could drill 1000 piles into train-spewed, lakebed, coal and other deposits in BNSF’s private right-of-way, releasing more pollution into regional, lake and aquifer, drinking water.  North Idaho groups and governments with greater capacity and non-profit status to litigate will probably not challenge dismissal by IDL and other state agencies of myriad, local concerns over significant, project impacts.  But we intend to dispute this permit through both conservative, Idaho courts and creative, frontline resistance, and are searching for attorney assistance around the IDL permit appeal filing deadline of Friday, July 20 [3].

Please participate in the third-Wednesday, monthly, WIRT, and #No2ndBridge meeting at 7 pm on Wednesday, July 18, at the Gardenia Center, 400 Church Street in Sandpoint. Event hosts invite everyone to bring and share snacks, refreshments, donations, and suggestions and referrals to lawyers who practice in Idaho and could advise or represent us before and after filing pro se in Bonner County district court.  We also ask that you print and circulate the accompanying, double-sided, informal #No2ndBridge Petition, and return it, filled with signatures, to WIRT at public events and farmers market outreach tables in Sandpoint and Moscow, on Saturdays throughout the season, where we hope to talk with you and provide printed material about this critical situation.

Visit the WIRT facebook and website pages for further, issue, and event updates and contact information for state and federal agencies reviewing BNSF applications and deliberating permit decisions. Request that local, state, and federal, elected, appointed, and agency officials conduct rigorous reviews and analyses of this north Idaho, railroad ‘funnel’ expansion, including federal, environmental impact studies and statements, and denounce, deny, and revoke all permits for this negligent and culpable project. Continue reading

Climate Justice Forum: Idaho Oil Train & Lake Bridge Opposition, Railroad Barge Mussels, Eagle Oil & Gas Ordinance, Great Falls Trump Protest, Aerial Oil Tanker Blockade, Farmer Resistance to Keystone Pipeline 7-11-18


The Wednesday, July 11, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features news and reflections on Stop Oil Trains in Idaho workshops, demonstrations, and outreach, Lake Pend Oreille rail bridge opposition, invasive mussels on railroad maintenance barges, an Eagle community-protective, oil and gas ordinance, protests at Donald Trump’s Great Falls rally, an aerial blockade of Trans Mountain oil tanker traffic, and South Dakota farmer resistance to the Keystone pipeline.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Idaho Oil Train Protests, Watershed Train Wrecks, Iowa Tar Sands Derailment, Portland Hazmat Leak, Newport Silicon Smelter, Vancouver Tanker Blockade, Tar Sands Line 3 Approval 7-4-18


The Wednesday, July 4, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features news and reflections on upcoming Stop Oil Trains in Idaho actions, North American oil train explosions, Montana and Idaho train wrecks, a tar sands derailment into Iowa floodwaters, a leaking, Portland, hazmat rail car, the proposed, Newport, silicon smelter, a Vancouver, B.C., oil tanker blockade, and Minnesota approval of the Line 3 tar sands pipeline.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Oil Train Protests, Idaho Approval of Second Lake Rail Bridge, Increased Train Traffic & Lengths, Montana Train Collision Death, Idaho Oil & Gas Reporting Discrepancies & Citizen-Protective Ordinance, Iowa Tar Sands Train Derailment 6-27-18


The Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features news and reflections on upcoming actions against oil trains, Idaho agency permit approval of parallel, railroad bridges over Lake Pend Oreille, increased fossil fuel train traffic across north Idaho, the train collision death of a Montana Native, discrepancies between Idaho oil and gas production and sales, a citizen-protective, Eagle oil and gas ordinance, a tar sands train derailment and spill in flooded Iowa, and a U.S. investigation of growing freight train lengths.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Megaload Author David James Duncan, Indigenous Activist Winona LaDuke, WIRT & Allied Events, Avista Sale Hearing, Washington Train Collisions, Longer Freight Trains 6-20-18


The Wednesday, June 20, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), features talks by anti-tar sands megaload, Montana author David James Duncan on the Heart of the Monster, and by indigenous, Minnesota pipeline opponent Winona LaDuke on the next energy economy.  We also share news and reflections on upcoming, WIRT and allied meetings, presentations, and fundraisers, an Idaho hearing on the Avista sale to a Canadian utility, 2018 Washington train collisions with pedestrians and vehicles, and longer freight trains across the U.S.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide opposition to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Wednesday, June 20: Second Lake Rail Bridge Discussion in Sandpoint


At 7 pm on Wednesday, June 20, please join #No2ndBridge and Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) activists and concerned, community members for refreshments and a Second Lake Rail Bridge Discussion and slideshow presentation, at the Gardenia Center, 400 Church Street in Sandpoint.  Event hosts of this free, open meeting invite participants to bring and share snacks, stories, images, and donations, and learn about the natural and human environment of Lake Pend Oreille, the ongoing and potential traffic, pollution, and derailment dangers of fossil fuel and hazardous freight trains, and the flawed infrastructure, earthquake resilience, and emergency response capacity of the north Idaho, railroad ‘funnel.’

Together, we plan to explore and consider the significant impacts of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway’s Sandpoint Junction Connector proposal to construct two temporary and three permanent, parallel bridges and two miles of doubled tracks across the lake, Sand Creek, and Sandpoint.  The project would affect regional, lake and aquifer water resources, air quality, noise, public and environmental health and safety, indigenous rights, wildlife, fish, and threatened bull trout and their habitat, wetlands and shorelines, historic sites, vehicle passage, boat navigation, recreation and tourism, businesses and residences, and other, public interest factors.

For further event information and issue updates, please visit the WIRT facebook and website pages and outreach tables at Sandpoint and Moscow farmers markets and public events during the emerging season, contact us with your concerns, and print and post the accompanying flyer.  We hope to talk with you and provide printed material about this critical situation on all of these occasions!  Ask the state and federal agencies reviewing BNSF applications and deliberating permit decisions to fully analyze this railroad expansion with an environmental impact study and statement, as requested by the Sandpoint city council and mayor.  Thanks!  #No2ndBridge!