http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/06/29/news/wyoming/28-fire-restrictions.txt

LARAMIE — The U.S. Forest Service has banned campfires and stove fires in the Medicine Bow National Forest in Albany County, except in grates and grills installed in developed campgrounds.

Diann Ritschard, a spokeswoman for the forest, said the measure was aimed at preventing forest fires, such as the Isabelle Fire near Lake Owen that burned about 1,200 acres earlier this month.

“Even though some areas of the forest look green, they don’t have a high moisture,” Ritschard said. “Even if they look green, they can burn fast and hot.”

http://www.hungryhorsenews.com/articles/2006/06/28/news/news1.txt

About 50 people attended a meeting last week to voice concerns about gravel pit mining in the Flathead Valley, including a pit that’s about an eighth of a mile from Glacier National Park.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality hosted the public meeting in Kalispell to take comments on issues that might be covered in an environmental impact statement on sand and gravel mining in the Flathead.

“I understand with the increases in the number of proposed gravel pits people are getting concerned,” said Greg Hallsten with the DEQ.