Army Corps will treat water

CHEYENNE - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will take over responsibility for cleaning up one source of Cheyenne's drinking water that has been reported to contain trichloroethylene, or TCE, officials said.

Officials said the water is currently safe because the city has been treating it since traces of TCE were first detected 10 years ago.

During the Cold War era, the chemical was used as a cleanser and lubricant in nuclear missile maintenance east of Cheyenne. The chemical can affect the central nervous system and cause liver and kidney damage.

Jane Francis, geological supervisor at the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, said the Corps has been studying TCE in Cheyenne's water for seven years. At least part of the contamination is believed to originate from the former Atlas No. 4 missile site, she said.

Paul Johnston, public affairs officer for the Omaha district of the Corps of Engineers, said the Department of Defense has charged the Corps with administering a program to clean up former defense sites, including missile sites. The Army Corps is still investigating a possible second source of TCE, he said.

In the meantime, the city is paying $20,000 annually to remove the TCE before it gets to residents' taps. The city also paid $600,000 to remove the chemical when it was first found 10 years ago.

BLM, others launch elk study

The Bureau of Land Management says it's undertaking a four-year study of an elk herd in the Fortification Creek area of Campbell County and how the animals are affected by coal-bed methane development.

Thirty-nine elk will be collared and monitored to determine the amount of development activity the animals can tolerate. The study will look at disturbances including traffic levels, noise and habitat loss.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the University of Wyoming and area landowners are also participating in the project.

The BLM says energy companies have also agreed to contribute. Anadarko Petroleum has purchased 39 elk collars; Marathon/Pennaco is paying for the capture operation; and Petro-Canada is assisting with funding the data collection.

The herd of about 230 elk currently occupies a plains type environment in the area of northern Wyoming.

Paper seeks veterans, families

The Casper Star-Tribune is seeking military men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to share their stories about the challenges of returning home.

We're also looking for military family members who can talk about how the return of their loved ones is affecting them and their families.

Military members who are coping with physical or physiological injuries or other obstacles and their families are especially encouraged to contact the newspaper.

Please contact capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or jared.miller@trib.com.