National

 

In Show of Bipartisanship, House Approves a Sweeping Land Conservation Bill. “The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed its first significant public lands conservation bill in years, designating more than one million acres of wilderness for environmental protection and permanently reauthorizing a federal program to pay for conservation measures. The House passage of the bill, on a vote of 363-62, sends the measure, which was passed by the Senate this month, to the desk of President Trump. The vote Tuesday offered a rare moment of bipartisanship in a divided chamber and a rare victory for environmentalists at a time when the Trump administration is working aggressively to strip away protections on public lands and open them to mining and drilling.” [New York Times, 2/26/19 (+)]

Congress sends Trump lands bill that would protect more than 2 million acres. “A mammoth lands bill that would protect more than 2 million acres and permanently reauthorize a key land and water conservation program heads to President Donald Trump following the House's overwhelming approval Tuesday. The 363-62 vote to pass the Natural Resources Management Act came two weeks after the Senate approved the bill 92-8. Years in the crafting, the measure combines more than 100 separate bills that collectively would designate 1,340,000 acres of new wilderness, 367 miles of new scenic rivers, and 2,600 miles of new national trails.” [USA Today, 2/26/19 (+)]

Congress voted to protect millions of acres of public lands: Why it’s a huge win for conservationists. “On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to authorize a sweeping land protection package that would protect over two million acres of land across the country. The nearly 700-page package includes legislation that touches nearly every state, expanding wilderness areas from New Hampshire to Alaska, carving out new protections for rivers and state forests, and permanently protecting several vast tracts of land from future mining.” [National Geographic, 2/27/19 (+)]

Environmental groups to challenge Trump administration approval of Utah pipelines. “Conservationists are planning a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s decision to allow a company to build transmission lines and pipelines on federal lands in Utah. The Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and five other environmental groups on Tuesday filed an intent to sue, challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s September decision to allow an Estonia based company to start construction of the pipelines in Utah’s Uintah Basin.” [The Hill, 2/26/19 (=)]

Klayman case weds Nev. standoff, Russian interference. “Conservative attorney Larry Klayman is seeking $15 million in a civil defamation lawsuit against Pete Santilli, one of the participants in the 2014 armed standoff with federal agents near Bunkerville, Nev. — alleging in part that the radio host attempted to intimidate a witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.” [E&E News, 2/26/19 (=)]

 

Rep. Maloney makes another push for 5-state wilderness area. “New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D) has reintroduced sweeping legislation to permanently protect 23 million acres of pristine public lands and 1,800 miles of rivers and streams in five Western states, something she has pushed for more than a decade.” [E&E News, 2/26/19 (=)]

New bills on conservation, public lands, recreation. “House lawmakers have floated several new natural resources bills, including a conservation package and a measure to designate 23 million acres as wilderness. H.R. 1326, by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), would reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act for five years.” [E&E News, 2/27/18 (=)]

 

State and Local

 

DeSantis, Florida Cabinet approve $2.54 million in Florida Forever land acquisition. “Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet Tuesday voted to spend $2.54 million to buy land in Hamilton and Lake counties as part of the Florida Forever conservation program, the state's leading conservation and recreation lands acquisition program. The 83.4-acre property acquired in Lake County includes five continuous lakefront properties as part of the Wekiva-Ocala Greenway Florida Forever project. The parcels, which line Lake Norris, are worth a total $540,000.” [Tamp Bay Times, 2/26/19 (+)]

 

Idaho House OKs resolution to slash wilderness study areas. “” [Legislation urging Congress to remove hundreds of thousands of acres from wilderness study area designation in Idaho has passed the state House. The House voted 50-20 yesterday to approve the joint memorial put forward by Republican state Rep. Priscilla Giddings (Greenwire, Feb. 20).E&E News, 2/26/19 (=)]

Maine's Democratic governor turns away from pro-drilling group. “Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has reaffirmed her opposition to oil and gas drilling off the state's coast by declining to participate in a governors' group.” [E&E News, 2/27/19 (=)]

 

Op-Ed, Editorial, and Analysis

 

Op-Ed: Wheeler and Bernhardt are double trouble for national parks. “These are not the actions the American people expect from those responsible for protecting our most treasured public lands. We need an EPA administrator and an Interior secretary who will protect our heritage — not those who will actively undermine it. Wheeler and Bernhardt have already demonstrated they are not fit for those jobs.” [The Hill, 2/26/19 (+)]

 

Op-Ed: Government shutdown made clear a new deal is needed for America's public lands. “The government shutdown has shed light on how a lack of management can fundamentally harm our national parks and public lands. At the same time, the shutdown has also reinforced the personal connection that Americans have with these special places. While the damage that has occurred during the shutdown is very grave, those who care about our public lands should also focus on the issue of chronic underfunding. The bottom line is that we need to demand our elected officials ensure that long term damage does not occur to America’s national treasures.” [Desert Sun, 2/26/19 (+)]