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Last updated:
April 16, 2001
Workshops/Events || Regional News ||
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REGIONAL NEWSAdd your news, event or
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Results from the SAE Clean Snowmobile 2001 Collegiate Design Competition |
The Clean Snowmobile Challenge is the Society of Automotive Engineer's newest collegiate design competition. It challenges engineering students to reengineer an existing snowmobile for improved emissions and noise while maintaining or improving the performance characteristics of the original snowmobile. These modified snowmobiles are also expected to be cost-effective so that snowmobile outfitters could afford to purchase them and still make a profit. Although last year’s results were very impressive, the inaugural Clean Snowmobile Challenge featured a short development timeline that kept some of the teams from implementing their best technologies. This year the field doubled, with 13 entries, and competition was tighter and tougher. Areas of competition included Emissions, Fuel Economy/Range, Acceleration/Noise, Cold Starts and Hill Climbing.
The winning team from Waterloo, Ontario, had planned to enter a four-stroke machine, but a few weeks prior to competition it became apparent they needed more testing and development time for their machine. So, they dusted off their two-stroke model, which placed second in the 2000 event. By making improvements to the injection and exhaust systems, they were able to take top honors in 2001. Competition results included second place Kettering University’s reduction in combined emissions by 97%, when compared to the “control” sled. The steep hill-climb course was a real challenge for any snowmobile. Not only did some of the unmodified competition machines make it up, but they could not be heard by the crowd after they went over the first rise while the regular, pro snowmobiles could be heard all over town.
The SAE Clean Snowmobile 2001 Collegiate Design
Competition succeeded as an opportunity to demonstrate how technology can
be a means to improved lifestyle. To read the full 2001 competition news
release, click here. For
daily competition results, on-line photos, and further information go to
the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge 2001 site at: http://www.sae.org/students/snow.htm.
Farming Conservation Improves Watersheds (4/9/01)
British Company Involved in Montana Reforestation ( 4/9/01)
Agricultural Profits in Energy Crops (4/9/01
First-Ever Biotech Crop Ban Considered in North Dakota, (3/29/01)
Park Snowmobiles Still an Issue (3/28/01)
Cement Plant’s Controversial Plan to Burn Tires (3/28/01)
American Prairie Exhibit Tours, (3/19/01)
Public Comment on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, (3/19/01)
Montana Pest Information Network Established, (3/19/01)
State of the Art NxLeveL Curriculum Available On-Line, (3/19/01)
Aerospace Technology in Agriculture, (3/1/01)
Montana Drought Monitoring 2001 On-Line, (2/28/01)
Distributed Energy Resources Center Established by NREL, (2/27/01)
Electric Cooperative in Delta-Montrose, Colorado, Recognized, (2/27/01)
REGIONAL NEWS SPOTLIGHTS
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Ongoing Coverage: |
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Libby, Montana |
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PEAKS TO PRAIRIES
PROJECT NEWS
Auto Body News
P2 Enviro-Rangers Club (exits Peaks to Prairies)
P2 for Agricultural and Vocational Educators
P2RX News from Other Regions (exits Peaks to Prairies)
Region 8 Roundtable
Residential Construction News
Peaks to Prairies Fall, 2000 Semi-Annual Report (pdf file)
OTHER REGIONAL NEWS SITES (exit Peaks to Prairies)
EPA Region 8 News
Releases (http://yosemite.epa.gov/r8/r8media.nsf/)
EPA
Region 8 Environmental Information Service Center (www.epa.gov/region8/library/infocent/infocent.html)
State Energy Officials News
(http://www.naseo.org/News/)
US
Army Environmental Center Region 8 Western Region Review
This monthly, regional newsletter presents:
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federal news and regulatory developments
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conferences, symposiums and training
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state specific regulatory updates for each state in the region
(http://aec-www.apgea.army.mil/prod/usaec/ro/western/wreo.htm#reviews)
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"Problems cannot be
solved at the same level of awareness that created them." |
Farming Conservation Improves Watersheds (4/9/01)
The Environmental News Service reports: Changes in
Farming practices have played a major role in improving water quality in
Lake Erie, a recent study suggests. An Ohio State University researcher
compared pollutant emissions in 1985 to those 10 years later for two
watersheds that drain into the lake. He then compared those results to how
British Company Involved in Montana Reforestation
(4/9/01)
The London office of Sustainable Forestry Management
(SFM) has concluded a transaction involving the purchase of emissions
reduction offsets through reforestation of tribal lands of the
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana. The proceeds from this
transaction will be used to reforest land that was decimated by forest
fires in 1994. The trade was facilitated by the Montana Carbon Offset
Coalition, which is helping farmers and foresters to participate in the emerging carbon markets. For
more information contact: Environmental Financial Products at
1-312/554-3350 or Sustainable Forestry Management at 44-207/589-9650.
Agricultural
Profits in Energy Crops (4/9/01
The
next generation of farmers could double their net income by growing
alternative energy crops. Witnesses before the Senate Agriculture,
Nutrition and Forestry Committee told committee chair Senator Richard
Lugar, an Indiana Republican, that production of crops such as corn, which
can be made into clean burning ethanol, could replace much of the nation's
imported oil. "We are on the threshold of additional income for
farmers but also an opportunity that improves the environment and
increases the energy security of the country," Lugar said. For more
information see: http://ens-news.com/ens/mar2001/2001L-03-30-09.html.
First-Ever Biotech Crop Ban Considered in North Dakota,
(3/29/01)
North Dakota legislators are considering a bill that would make North
Dakota the first state to ban a genetically modified crop. The bill, which
has support from the state's farmers, would impose a two year moratorium
on growing genetically modified wheat (bioengineered to be resistant to
Monsanto’s herbicide, Roundup) until August 1, 2003. To view the entire
article see: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/mar2001/2001L-03-26-09.html.
Park Snowmobiles Still an Issue (3/28/01)
The Environmental News Service reports: Senator Craig Thomas has introduced a bill that would
limit the ability of the National Park Service to protect Yellowstone and
Grand Teton national parks. The "National Park Service Winter Access
Act" (S 365) would maintain snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand
Teton, despite recent moves by the National Park Service to restrict
winter motorized access to the parks. Critics warn the bill could set a
dangerous precedent by overturning a National Park Service decision based
on an established public review process. But Thomas says he just wants to
replace a snowmobile ban with new emission and noise standards. For more
information see: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/mar2001/2001L-03-26-09.html
Cement Plant’s Controversial Plan to Burn Tires (3/28/01)
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports: Holnam Inc., the cement manufacturing company located near
Trident for nearly 100 years, has submitted a proposal to the Montana
Department of Environmental Quality to receive, store and use solid
wastes, mainly tires, as an added source of fuel and raw materials for its
cement kiln. Critics believe that more than reusing tires, this burning
would cause toxic air emissions. For more information see: http://news.mywebpal.com/index.cfm?pnpid=311.
An exhibit on the American prairie that has been on display in a
Smithsonian museum since November will soon appear in 20 U.S. libraries as
part of a national tour. "Listening to the Prairie: Farming in
Nature's Image" focuses on the flora, fauna, and agricultural output
of America's prairies. Co-funded by CSREES, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation,
and the American Library Association (ALA), the exhibit, which is at the
National Museum of Natural History through March 31, describes the
evolution of the vast grasslands region of the U.S. This region covers
parts of 12 states - Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and
Wyoming. For more information about the tour, contact the ALA at
800-545-2433, ext. 5054. Or go to the ALA website at http://www.ala.org/publicprograms/new.html
and scroll down to "Listening to the Prairie."
The public comment period ends May 2 on an EPA proposed rule to revise and
update two regulations that address impacts on water quality of manure,
wastewater, and other process waters generated by concentrated animal
feeding operations (CAFOS). For complete information on the meetings,
proposal background, and how to submit formal comments, see website http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2001/January/Day-30/w1976.htm
or contact dmcallister@reeusda.gov;
phone: 202-720-7185).