Denver, CO-- Today, Rep. DeGette introduced the 2019 Colorado Wilderness Act-- legislation that would safeguard more than 740,000 acres of land located in 33 critical wildlife and ecologically-sensitive areas in Colorado. The legislation emphasizes the value of recreation, protection of wildlife and clean water in protecting the lands permanently.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Energy and Natural Resources Committee Member Senator Maria Cantwell and House Natural Resources Committee Member Representative Ruben Gallego today introduced the Roadless Area Conservation Act. The bill would permanently codify the Roadless Rule and strengthen protections for 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. This effort by Representative Gallego and Senator Cantwell will ensure pristine National Forests for generations to come.
Salt Lake City, Utah -- On Earth Day, thirty people, including students, gathered outside of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) to urge SITLA to transform its practices to ensure a healthy future and great education for Utah and its students. The protest, organized by Utah Youth Environmental Solutions (UYES), continues Utah students’ momentum and commitment to stress concerns about climate change and its threat to Utah-- particularly its effect on young and future generations.
San Juan County has withdrawn its legal support for the Trump administration’s actions to shrink Bears Ears National Monument, which are currently being challenged in court by Tribal Nations and conservation groups, including the Sierra Club. The action follows a decision by the San Juan County Commission to reverse its official stance on changes to Bears Ears National Monumen
As major financial institutions and oil companies prepare to gather for their annual general meetings this spring, they’re facing growing pressure from shareholders and activists to commit not to engage in or give financial support for drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Las Vegas, NV-- Today, the US Forest Service issued their final Environmental Assessment on Nevada’s Ruby Mountains-- denying the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) request to offer parcels for leasing in the landscape. The decision comes after after an outpour of public opposition and restricts BLM from offering the sale of parcels in the Ruby Mountains for oil and gas development.
In response, Christian Gerlach of the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign released the following statement:
A diverse coalition of conservation organizations, community groups and Tribal communities will rally to urge the Nevada State Senate Committee on Natural Resource to pass a state resolution opposing the expansion of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) into the Desert National Wildlife Refuge.
Las Vegas, NV-- Late yesterday, Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto introduced legislation to protect the state’s Ruby Mountains from potential oil and gas development. According to her staff, the bill would prohibit oil and gas leasing anywhere within the Ruby Mountains Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The bill marks the first piece of federal legislation to safeguard the Rubies-- a unique landscape that is under threat of leasing to fossil fuel development.
LAS VEGAS — Conservation groups today announced a meeting in Las Vegas to educate the public about proposed oil leasing and fracking in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains, and to receive input from Nevadans about their vision for the iconic mountain range. The Rubies are widely known for their abundant wildlife, including Nevada’s largest mule deer herd, critical priority greater sage-grouse habitat, and streams teeming with trout.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Prompted by more than a dozen investigations into his behavior and actions -- including one that has been sent to the Department of Justice -- Donald Trump announced that Ryan Zinke is out at the Department of the Interior this morning. While serving, Zinke led the largest attack on America’s public lands and waters in history eliminating protections for more than 2 million acres of public lands and opening up all our coasts for oil and gas drilling
Oakland, CA— Today, Sierra Magazine released its third episode of The Overstory, a new podcast that offers the stories of changemakers, communicators, and people who see the world in a different light and from a new angle. The eight-minute features are first-hand, emotional accounts of our nation’s most urgent environmental issues. To listen to the first episodes of Overstory, click here. Select producers and story subjects available for interview.
The Department of the Interior has announced plans to review the management of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska with the goal of opening up more land to oil and gas drilling and pipelines.