National

Trump administration proposes expanding logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. “The Trump administration Tuesday proposed allowing logging on more than half of Alaska’s 16.7 million-acre Tongass National Forest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in North America. President Trump instructed federal officials to reverse long-standing limits on tree cutting at the request of Alaska’s top elected officials, on the grounds that it will boost the local economy. But critics say that protections under the so-called “roadless rule,” finalized just before President Bill Clinton left office in 2001, are critical to protecting the region’s lucrative salmon fishery and tourism operations.” [Washington Post, 10/15/19(=)]

Keep Local Land Decisions Inside Beltway, Acting BLM Chief Says. “The Bureau of Land Management’s acting director wants land decisions under the National Environmental Policy Act to be made at Interior Department headquarters, Bobby Magill writes.” [Bloomberg Environment, 10/16/19 (=)]

Democrats inch closer to issuing subpoenas for Interior, EPA records. “House committees are nearing the tipping point on their threat to issue subpoenas to agencies such as the Interior Department and Environmental Protection Agency, arguing Trump officials are failing to meet deadlines for document requests. Top lawmakers on the House Natural Resources Committee will meet this week to discuss subpoena actions they could soon take to force the Interior Department to respond to dozens of unmet records requests, a senior Democratic aide told The Hill.” [The Hill, 10/15/19(+)]

Trump formalizes picks for Interior, EPA and FERC. “The White House yesterday sent lawmakers nominations papers for EPA, the Interior Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The administration's action means committees can begin officially considering the president's picks and setting up confirmation hearings.” [E&E News, 10/16/19 (=)]

Pro-hunting panel meets amid legal crossfire. “A controversial Interior Department panel formed to boost international hunting will meet this week even as critics press ahead with a greenlighted legal challenge. In a two-day session that starts tomorrow at Interior headquarters, members of the International Wildlife Conservation Council will hear presentations and likely hash out what advice they're preparing for Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.” [E&E News, 10/15/19 (=)]

State and Local

BLM cites threat to environment as a reason for more border wall in San Diego. “Standing in the foothills of the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area, where San Diego’s 14 miles of border fence ends and rugged terrain begins, the acting director of the Bureau of Land Management wanted to see for himself on Tuesday the public land that will soon be the site of about two new miles of additional barrier. The visit by William Perry Pendley to San Diego comes about a month after his boss, the U.S. Department of the Interior secretary, transferred temporary jurisdiction of 560 acres of federal lands to the U.S. Department of the Army to construct 70 miles of new border fencing.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/15/19 (=)]

Interior-related jobs boost Colorado. “Activities managed by the Interior Department resulted in a $7.9 billion contribution to Colorado's gross domestic product during the 2018 federal fiscal year, more than three-quarters of that related to energy and mineral development.” [Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, 10/16/19 (=)]

Grand County, Moab unite against plan to allow ORVs in Utah’s national parks. “Elected leaders in southern Utah’s Grand County passed a resolution Tuesday imploring the National Park Service to reconsider its recent directive to Utah park managers to accommodate “street legal” off-road vehicles on park roads.” [Salt Lake Tribune, 10/15/19 (=)]