Take Note…
- Congress is in recess for the President’s day holiday. Most representatives will be hosting town hall meetings during this time. We urge you to attend these meetings. Bring one question on a topic you care about and ask it if you get a chance.
- Fees will be waived on national forests and parks on Monday, February 20, in honor of President’s day. We hope that you have the opportunity to get out and enjoy your public spaces!
Congress’s latest target for reversal: An Obama attempt to modernize how we manage public lands—The Washington Post
As Republican members of Congress continue their efforts to overturn federal regulations passed under the Obama administration, they are now taking aim at the process for managing public lands.
The United States of oil and gas—The Washington Post
Since 2010, the United States has been in an oil-and-gas boom. In 2015, domestic production was at near-record levels, and we now produce more petroleum products than any other country in the world. President Trump said he plans to double down on the oil and gas industry, lifting regulations and drilling on federal land. Here is the state of the petroleum extraction industry that the new administration will inherit.
Trump Lifts Hiring Freeze at Some Federal Agencies—Outdoor
Pesident Donald Trump’s temporary federal hiring freeze has been lifted for the U.S. Forest Service, according to an internal memo from the Department of Agriculture sent to staffers on Tuesday.
Outdoor Retailer is leaving Utah over public lands issues, a move Herbert calls ‘offensive’—The Salt Lake Tribune
The Outdoor Retailer show is leaving Salt Lake City. After an unproductive meeting between Gov. Gary Herbert and outdoor recreation business representatives…
After Malheur, Democrat allows debate on Oregon control of federal lands—The Oregonian
The bill would establish a task force to study transferring most of Oregon’s federal land to state control. Places like the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the Mount Hood National Forest would move a step closer to being owned by a state already on the brink of selling public land.
Nevada hunters shoot down broad public land transfer idea—Reno Gazette-Journal
A proposal that would unload millions of acres of federal public land in Nevada fell flat Friday in Carson City.
Grizzly Reintroduction Considered for North Cascades—FSEEE Ground Truth
Federal wildlife officials have launched a series of public forums to discuss a proposal to reintroduce grizzly bears to the North Cascade Mountains of Washington state and British Columbia.
BLM delays oil-drilling leases near Zion National Park amid concerns about tourism, groundwater—The Salt Lake Tribune
The Bureau of Land Management is giving the public another month to weigh in on a controversial proposal to issue oil and gas leases west of Zion Canyon after the National Park Service raised concerns about potential drilling on Zion National Park’s periphery.
Conservation groups sue forest over grazing plan—Billings Gazette
Two Montana conservation groups have appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to halt domestic sheep grazing on 50,000 acres of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in the Gravelly Mountains because of its effect on native bighorn sheep.
New timeline for revised Blue Mountains Forest Plan—Blue Mountain Eagle
It may be 12 years overdue, but the U.S. Forest Service is inching closer to revising the outdated Blue Mountains Forest Plan.
Forest Service ponders how to move swelling number of visitors to Aspen’s Maroon Bells—The Aspen Times
The U.S. Forest Service doesn’t want to limit the number of people visiting the scenic area, but it wants to find a better way of getting them there
Green means go—The Clovis Independent
Central Sierra Recovery and Restoration Project gets $3.3 million to improve nearby forest ecosystems threatened by drought, insect infestations
900-acre Lowcountry tract latest wetlands to be saved—The Post and Courier
The [Nature] Conservancy just signed over the 900-acre Tibwin Tract II to the U.S. Forest Service, nine years after the conservation group put together public money and its own fundraising to buy it for $8 million — forestalling possible development.
County puts off Forest plan lawsuit—Silver City Daily Press
The Grant County Commission tabled plans to discuss joining a lawsuit against the controversial Gila National Forest Travel Management Plan
Forest Service came to the rescue for turn-of-the-century Utah—The Salt Lake Tribune
When Utahns recreate in national forest lands close to population centers, the beauty of clear-flowing mountain streams, shaded public campgrounds, lush meadows and hills covered with pine trees and aspens can be taken for granted. Things were not always this way…
Some news websites create pop-up adds or surveys before allowing a user to view content. We have sourced the content using a free ad blocking extension that prevents these pop-ups when enabled. If you have trouble viewing the content of the linked sites, we suggest trying an ad block extension with your browser.
