Essayist Ellen Meloy’s posthumous collection is profound, outspoken and hilarious.
Bureau of Land Management
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After a wet winter, will Colorado forest managers increase prescribed burns?
The heavy snowpack could hinder this underused wildfire control tactic.
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Critics are wary of Bureau of Land Management relocation efforts
As the agency eyes a move West, critics say the change would be detrimental to public land policy.
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It’s time to move the Bureau of Land Management out of D.C.
(Most) of those living in the West have the public lands’ best interest at heart.
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
Memorial Rock; osprey survivor; fooling fish
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
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Interior Department’s coal reboot ignores tribes and curtails public input
The Obama administration wanted to rethink coal leasing; now, Trump is rushing forward.
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Court throws book at BLM over fracking Chaco
The agency failed to consider water use.
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
Interior Department border deployments are mired in secrecy
Law enforcement agents guarding wildlife refuges have been sent to the border, leaving public lands more exposed.
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
Mining laws have long been used for recreation
In Idaho, a law meant to boost mining actually allows for its end as recreation transforms the West’s economy.
Posted inMay 13, 2019: Atomic Tourists
Bears Ears’ only visitor center isn’t run by the feds
With the monument facing stripped-down protections and sky rocketing visitation, a local nonprofit built its own guerrilla visitor center to educate the masses.
Posted inMay 13, 2019: Atomic Tourists
How recreation boosts the economy
From travelers to new residents, outdoor enthusiasts make an impact on the West’s bottom lines.
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Study finds 96% of national parks have hazardous air quality
Popular parks such as Yosemite and Joshua Tree have pollution levels that threaten visitors and wildlife.
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5 reasons to keep geotagging
Public lands face far greater threats than recreational overuse.
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Judge orders industries to pay royalties for public land extraction
Tens of millions more dollars will flow into Western communities after a federal court throws out the Trump administration’s industry-friendly deal.
Posted inMay 27, 2019: Public Pushback
Fire-starting ranchers get a new blessing from BLM
The agency hopes the Hammonds’ cows will reduce fire risk in eastern Oregon.
Posted inApril 15, 2019: Scene of the Crime
Cliven Bundy case appealed by feds
Prosecutor says missteps were inadvertent.
Posted inMay 27, 2019: Public Pushback
Climate cases set the stage for oil and gas leasing reform
The decisions could curb greenhouse gas emissions from public lands.
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A silver lining to sage grouse rollbacks?
While there’s less protection overall, a few Western states restore regulations that match or surpass original plans.
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Oil industry leaders marvel at their access to Interior
‘We have unprecedented access to people that are in these positions who are trying to help us, which is great.’
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Mining companies pollute waterways. Citizens pay.
Nearly 2 billion pounds of toxic waste were dumped into western waterways in 2017, and taxpayers are left to clean up the mess.