The new implementation guidelines relax habitat protections and favor development.
Department of Interior
Posted inArticles
Land transfer advocate and longtime agency combatant now leads BLM
William Perry Pendley has been tasked with overseeing 245 million acres of public lands he’s argued the federal government shouldn’t own.
Posted inSeptember 2, 2019: In Bad Faith
Can Western states afford to break the boom-and-bust cycle?
Climate action on public lands would force a reckoning for fossil fuel dependent states and communities.
Posted inArticles
The Bureau of Indian Affairs steps up its harassment policy
Timeframes for responding to allegations and more show improvements from ‘zero tolerance’ rhetoric.
Posted inJuly 21, 2019: A Radical Return
Staffers allege misconduct at BLM’s busiest oil and gas office
Complaints to Interior’s Office of Inspector General reveal concerns that the Carlsbad Field Office broke laws to favor industry.
Posted inArticles
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.
Posted inArticles
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
Interior combatant confirmed to department
Endangered Species Act opposer Susan Combs officially takes role as assistant secretary after long delay.
Posted inArticles
Interior Department’s coal reboot ignores tribes and curtails public input
The Obama administration wanted to rethink coal leasing; now, Trump is rushing forward.
Posted inArticles
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 inJune 10, 2019: 'None of this happened the way you think it did'
The key to endangered species recovery? Communication.
A retired federal biologist says Trump’s Interior Department is more business as usual than critics claim.
Posted inArticles
Interior secretary blames Congress for his inaction on climate change
There’s no law to make him address the climate and biodiversity crises, David Bernhardt said: ‘You guys come up with the shalls.’
Posted inArticles
5 reasons to keep geotagging
Public lands face far greater threats than recreational overuse.
Posted inArticles
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 inArticles
David Bernhardt confirmed as Secretary of the Interior
The former oil lobbyist has connections with industries that could profit from his decisions managing the nation’s natural and cultural resources.
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.
Posted inArticles
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.
Posted inArticles
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.’