WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Maria Cantwell today introduced the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2018. The Act would permanently codify the Roadless Rule, which safeguards 58.5 million acres of pristine National Forest System lands across 39 states from logging and road building. Despite the Roadless Rule’s many successes and the millions of taxpayer dollars it saves, there have been multiple Congressional attempts to strip Roadless Rule protections from millions of acres of public lands.
Washington, DC-- Today, the House passed a FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In conference, lawmakers successfully stripped a number of harmful provisions from the bill that would have threatened protections for public lands, forests and imperiled wildlife-- but the version still includes a rider that significantly undermines the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
In response, Jordan Giaconia, federal policy associate at Sierra Club issued the following statement:
Washington, DC— Today, the House Appropriations Committee marked up a budget that includes $5 billion for a border wall— the most money that’s appeared in an appropriations bill to date.
Monday’s report in the Washington Post further proves that the Trump administration’s national monument review has been a predetermined exercise from the very beginning, designed to prioritize extractive uses of protected public lands and waters. It is clear that the Department of the Interior repeatedly ignored science, public opinion, local economic benefits, cultural resources and all other available evidence to arrive at recommendations to eliminate protections for national monuments.
Washington, DC -- Today, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who is facing numerous investigations, announced that his Department will no longer require fossil fuel companies to pay into environmental restoration funds which offset development on public lands.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
Salt Lake City -- Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is scheduled to visit Salt Lake City tonight where he’ll be participating in Pioneer Day celebrations. His visit comes just a day after news broke that the Interior Department ignored the benefits of public lands in their review of national monuments-- a review that ultimately led to the illegal elimination of Bears Ears National Monument and significant reductions in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. In advance of Zinke’s visit, Utahns are taking to social media to oppose Zinke’s efforts to sell out public lands using #StandwithBearsEars, #SaveGrandStaircase and #zinkesoldout.
Internal Interior Department documents publicized today by the
PHOENIX -- Rep. Gosar (R-AZ) has introduced an amendment to an Interior Department funding bill that would withhold funding to manage Ironwood Forest National Monument, de-facto stripping the area and its resources of protections afforded by the monument.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Lujan Grisham introduced legislation to safeguard and enhance national monuments. The America’s Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States (ANTIQUITIES) Act is the House companion to Sen. Udall’s bill already introduced in the Senate.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” actress joins Sierra Club Outing
Denver, CO-- According to AP, today, in response to mounting public pressure against the sellout of public lands for dirty fuels, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that the agency will defer the lease sale near Great Sand Dunes National Park and in the Huerfano River Valley Community until it consults further with the Navajo Nation.