Wyoming files lawsuit over EPA’s waste emissions charge
CHEYENNE (WNE) — The state of Wyoming and 22 other states have filed litigation in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia challenging a rule known as the “Waste Emissions Charge” issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Wyoming and other states argue that EPA exceeded its statutory authority in requiring a substantial fine for industries — particularly the oil and gas industry — when they emit gases, including CO2, in the course of their operations.
This legal challenge is the latest in a slew of litigation by many states, including Wyoming, challenging many anti-fossil fuel rules issued by the EPA during the Biden administration.
“In particular, this rule negatively impacts small independent producers in Wyoming,” Gov. Mark Gordon said in a news release. “I am hopeful that the many regulations damaging our Wyoming core industries will be overturned by the courts, or reversed or substantially modified by the incoming presidential administration.”

Missing pilot, plane found after fatal crash and search in Sweetwater County
ROCK SPRINGS (WNE) — The search for a missing pilot and aircraft that began on Tuesday culminated Wednesday, Jan. 15, with the discovery of the crash site in a remote area near Little Mountain, southwest of Rock Springs.

The pilot, identified as Kelly Melvin, 50, of Green River, was found dead at the crash site.
The intensive search operations, coordinated by the sheriff ’s office search and rescue team, involved numerous agencies.
The search began after the sheriff’s office received a missing person report on Tuesday afternoon for a Green River man whose Piper Comanche aircraft failed to arrive at its scheduled destination in California.
The crash site was discovered on Saturday at around 2 p.m. following a coordinated ground and aerial search. The sheriff ’s office secured the scene and notified state and federal aviation officials. The crash is under investigation.

Air National Guard on standby to assist California firefighters
CHEYENNE (WNE) — The Wyoming Air National Guard has been deployed to help contain the fires in the Los Angeles area.
While resources from the Wyoming State Forestry Division that were meant to be dispatched Tuesday are on hold at the request of California, three Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s from the 153rd Airlift Wing were activated Jan. 10 to support firefighting efforts in California.

The fires began on Jan. 7, destroying thousands of homes and killing at least 27 people, with more than 30 missing. The blaze has burned dozens of square miles, forced thousands from their homes and stretched firefighting resources thin.
The C-130s are equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, or MAFFS, and associated personnel were activated by U.S. Northern Command, according to a Wyoming Air National Guard news release.
MAFFS are the U.S. Forest Service’s portable fire-retardant delivery systems, which can be inserted into military C-130 aircraft without major structural modifications to convert them into air tankers when needed, according to the release.
They can discharge their entire load of up to 3,000 gallons of retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area a quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide, or they can make variable drops.
Since their arrival on Jan. 11, 16,000 gallons of retardant has been dropped on the fires, the largest of which, the Eaton and Palisades fires, are not yet contained.
“It has been difficult to watch the absolute devastation of the wildfires in California,” said Col. Brian Diehl, the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing commander. “We’re honored to be able to participate in our nation’s efforts to combat these fires and return normalcy to the people and communities of Southern California, and as soon as possible.”