1 00:00:00,545 --> 00:00:00,585 - 2 00:00:07,745 --> 00:00:09,625 - Sneezing our way through the end of the year. 3 00:00:09,695 --> 00:00:12,865 This is the last episode of the Landscape for 2023. 4 00:00:13,095 --> 00:00:14,825 It's your show about America's parks 5 00:00:14,825 --> 00:00:17,265 and public lands from the Center for Western priorities. 6 00:00:17,645 --> 00:00:18,825 I'm Erin Weiss in Denver. 7 00:00:19,805 --> 00:00:21,985 - And I'm Kate Retinger in Salt Lake City. 8 00:00:22,475 --> 00:00:26,265 Today we've got CW P'S executive director Jen Roula, here 9 00:00:26,685 --> 00:00:29,065 for a year, end Public Lands News Roundup, 10 00:00:29,085 --> 00:00:30,825 and a look ahead at 2024. 11 00:00:30,935 --> 00:00:31,945 Welcome back, Jen. 12 00:00:32,635 --> 00:00:33,905 - Great to be with you guys today. 13 00:00:34,895 --> 00:00:36,585 - Well, I'm really excited to do this 14 00:00:36,585 --> 00:00:40,905 because up until 2023, we had been somewhat guarded 15 00:00:41,085 --> 00:00:42,665 as an organization when it came 16 00:00:42,665 --> 00:00:44,545 to President Biden's public lands record. 17 00:00:45,095 --> 00:00:47,505 Over the course of the first half of his first term, 18 00:00:47,505 --> 00:00:49,505 there was some good, there was some bad, 19 00:00:49,605 --> 00:00:52,865 but a lot of incomplete up until 2023. 20 00:00:53,285 --> 00:00:56,145 And Janet seems like this year the president really did 21 00:00:56,145 --> 00:00:57,345 fill in a lot of blanks. 22 00:00:58,215 --> 00:01:01,105 - This has been an incredible year, uh, for conservation 23 00:01:01,125 --> 00:01:02,225 and for public lands. 24 00:01:02,365 --> 00:01:05,505 Uh, president Biden and his administration have really hit 25 00:01:05,505 --> 00:01:08,305 the accelerator when it comes to making progress. 26 00:01:08,805 --> 00:01:11,305 And, uh, this has just been a remarkable year. 27 00:01:12,095 --> 00:01:14,585 - Well, that's the Electric Motor Accelerator, of course. 28 00:01:14,585 --> 00:01:16,465 Exactly. So let's, let's get into it. 29 00:01:17,045 --> 00:01:19,705 Uh, January, really, it got off to a strong start. 30 00:01:19,845 --> 00:01:22,825 The administration right off the bat banned logging 31 00:01:22,965 --> 00:01:25,825 and road building on nearly 9 million acres 32 00:01:25,845 --> 00:01:28,545 of the Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska. 33 00:01:28,895 --> 00:01:30,305 That, of course, incredibly important 34 00:01:30,305 --> 00:01:33,345 because the Tongass is a massive carbon sink. 35 00:01:33,365 --> 00:01:35,545 It holds more than 40% 36 00:01:35,565 --> 00:01:38,705 of all the carbon stored in America's national forests. 37 00:01:39,385 --> 00:01:42,905 I learned that from Dr. Dominic Dalala former podcast guest, 38 00:01:43,325 --> 00:01:45,345 uh, this year worth listening to a couple 39 00:01:45,345 --> 00:01:46,665 of episodes we did with him. 40 00:01:47,125 --> 00:01:50,425 So protecting the Tongass, of course, incredibly important, 41 00:01:50,425 --> 00:01:52,105 but it is also some 42 00:01:52,105 --> 00:01:54,385 of the lowest hanging fruit when it comes 43 00:01:54,385 --> 00:01:55,745 to climate change solutions 44 00:01:55,935 --> 00:01:57,745 that the Biden administration could do. 45 00:01:58,355 --> 00:02:01,225 - Right. Um, and also in January, 46 00:02:01,605 --> 00:02:03,865 the administration took a huge step to protect 47 00:02:04,385 --> 00:02:07,745 Alaska's Bristol Bay from a proposed open pit copper mine 48 00:02:07,745 --> 00:02:08,785 called the Pebble Mine. 49 00:02:09,365 --> 00:02:13,985 Now, the Pebble mine has been lurking around since the 2010s 50 00:02:13,985 --> 00:02:15,905 and tribes have been trying to stop it. 51 00:02:16,445 --> 00:02:20,985 And essentially what the Biden administration did is the EPA 52 00:02:21,265 --> 00:02:24,385 vetoed the mine under section 4 0 4 C 53 00:02:24,385 --> 00:02:25,585 of the Clean Water Act. 54 00:02:26,125 --> 00:02:29,345 Um, and the reason this matters is that Bristol Bay contains 55 00:02:30,245 --> 00:02:33,265 the most productive wild salmon ecosystem in the world. 56 00:02:33,285 --> 00:02:35,785 So it's a huge economic driver for the tribes up there, 57 00:02:35,845 --> 00:02:38,705 and it's just been sort of in limbo for like over a decade. 58 00:02:38,845 --> 00:02:42,305 And it's great that the Biden administration finally put its 59 00:02:42,305 --> 00:02:43,945 foot down and ended that controversy. 60 00:02:44,885 --> 00:02:47,065 - Uh, well, yeah. And also in January, uh, 61 00:02:47,205 --> 00:02:50,545 the Biden administration announced a mineral withdrawal in, 62 00:02:50,605 --> 00:02:54,425 uh, boundary waters canoe area wilderness in Minnesota. 63 00:02:54,845 --> 00:02:58,425 And this announcement would protect over 200,000 64 00:02:58,515 --> 00:02:59,965 acres of federal land. 65 00:03:00,665 --> 00:03:04,045 And, uh, really the most important part is protecting the 66 00:03:04,045 --> 00:03:06,285 area from the threat of copper and nickel mining. 67 00:03:07,195 --> 00:03:09,725 - Alright, we have got to get through an entire year here, 68 00:03:09,725 --> 00:03:11,005 and that was just January. 69 00:03:11,425 --> 00:03:12,605 So let's move along. 70 00:03:12,985 --> 00:03:14,325 Uh, in February, the state 71 00:03:14,325 --> 00:03:17,925 of the Rockies project at Colorado College released its 13th 72 00:03:17,985 --> 00:03:21,725 annual conservation in the West poll, once again, finding 73 00:03:21,725 --> 00:03:23,885 that voters overwhelmingly support 74 00:03:23,885 --> 00:03:25,285 public lands conservation. 75 00:03:25,785 --> 00:03:27,325 Uh, and Jen this year, really, 76 00:03:27,325 --> 00:03:29,565 there was a big focus on water issues. 77 00:03:30,265 --> 00:03:33,245 - That's right, Aaron. Uh, you know, we've seen, you know, 78 00:03:33,275 --> 00:03:35,285 significant drought here in the West. 79 00:03:35,505 --> 00:03:38,165 And so, uh, Colorado College, the state 80 00:03:38,165 --> 00:03:41,085 of the Rockies Project wanted to really focus on water 81 00:03:41,945 --> 00:03:44,245 and, uh, the shortage of water. 82 00:03:44,665 --> 00:03:45,805 So what we found was, 83 00:03:45,905 --> 00:03:48,125 or what Colorado College found was that half 84 00:03:48,125 --> 00:03:49,765 of Western voters said the shortage 85 00:03:49,785 --> 00:03:51,325 of water was a serious crisis. 86 00:03:52,075 --> 00:03:55,245 Another 39% said that it was a significant problem. 87 00:03:55,945 --> 00:03:59,165 Uh, the poll also revealed a knowledge gap, uh, 88 00:03:59,195 --> 00:04:01,605 when it comes to what voters think, 89 00:04:02,305 --> 00:04:05,485 or who voters think is using the most water industry 90 00:04:05,485 --> 00:04:08,325 and business farmers and ranchers or people in their homes. 91 00:04:08,785 --> 00:04:11,605 And what we found is that only voters in Idaho, Montana, 92 00:04:11,625 --> 00:04:14,605 and Wyoming correctly identified that farmers 93 00:04:14,705 --> 00:04:18,205 and ranchers use the most water in other states voters 94 00:04:18,205 --> 00:04:19,365 thought it was industry. 95 00:04:19,465 --> 00:04:22,925 So there is a lot of education still to do, uh, 96 00:04:22,925 --> 00:04:25,045 when it comes to the water crisis in the West. 97 00:04:26,465 --> 00:04:28,845 - And I just wanna flag one other key finding from 98 00:04:28,845 --> 00:04:32,685 that conservation in the West poll, 84% of voters, 99 00:04:33,065 --> 00:04:35,405 and of course that means across the political spectrum, 100 00:04:35,405 --> 00:04:38,725 84% support presidents using their ability 101 00:04:38,745 --> 00:04:41,325 to protect public lands as national monuments. 102 00:04:41,665 --> 00:04:44,045 And among Gen Z voters, that climbs 103 00:04:44,145 --> 00:04:47,365 to a stunning 94% support 104 00:04:47,985 --> 00:04:50,885 for national monuments using the Antiquities Act. 105 00:04:51,875 --> 00:04:53,605 - Yeah. Turns out the kids are. All right. 106 00:04:54,425 --> 00:04:56,445 So let's time travel real quick to November. 107 00:04:56,475 --> 00:04:58,925 Obviously there were some smaller elections this year. 108 00:04:59,305 --> 00:05:00,525 Jen, do you think that any 109 00:05:00,545 --> 00:05:02,805 of the conservation in the West polling 110 00:05:02,805 --> 00:05:03,965 played out in those elections? 111 00:05:03,985 --> 00:05:06,805 Did we see, um, candidates talking about those issues 112 00:05:06,825 --> 00:05:08,765 and winning on any of those platforms? 113 00:05:09,835 --> 00:05:11,285 - Well, we didn't see candidates, 114 00:05:11,305 --> 00:05:14,165 but we did see a number of ballot measures, um, 115 00:05:14,555 --> 00:05:17,005 that focused on funding parks, uh, 116 00:05:17,665 --> 00:05:20,765 and other, uh, conservation related issues. 117 00:05:20,945 --> 00:05:24,845 And I would say absolutely we saw, uh, overwhelming support 118 00:05:25,185 --> 00:05:27,765 for ballot measures in Phoenix 119 00:05:28,025 --> 00:05:31,245 and Albuquerque where people voted to, uh, 120 00:05:31,605 --> 00:05:32,925 increase funding for parks. 121 00:05:33,185 --> 00:05:37,445 And a really interesting one was, uh, in Texas, uh, 122 00:05:37,445 --> 00:05:40,845 where Texans overwhelmingly approved a constitutional 123 00:05:40,845 --> 00:05:43,725 amendment, creating a new fund to acquire land 124 00:05:44,185 --> 00:05:45,525 and create more state parks. 125 00:05:45,905 --> 00:05:49,365 And as our listeners probably know that Texas is a state 126 00:05:49,365 --> 00:05:50,765 with very little public land. 127 00:05:51,475 --> 00:05:52,925 - Very true. I'm from Texas 128 00:05:53,105 --> 00:05:54,725 and I didn't know about public land 129 00:05:54,775 --> 00:05:56,525 until I moved to Utah . 130 00:05:56,705 --> 00:05:59,485 Um, and on that point, I was following that closely 131 00:05:59,585 --> 00:06:02,525 as a Texan, and every single county voted for that. 132 00:06:02,535 --> 00:06:04,565 There was not a single county in the state 133 00:06:04,595 --> 00:06:07,125 that did not approve that constitutional amendment. 134 00:06:07,965 --> 00:06:10,885 - A as always put conservation and parks on the ballot, 135 00:06:10,985 --> 00:06:13,125 and they will always win. 136 00:06:13,125 --> 00:06:17,085 Alright, that brings us to March, which was a wild ride. 137 00:06:17,465 --> 00:06:20,485 It was March 14th when the Biden administration announced 138 00:06:20,665 --> 00:06:23,925 its plans to propose a rule to end future oil 139 00:06:23,925 --> 00:06:25,405 and gas lease sales in parts 140 00:06:25,425 --> 00:06:27,885 of the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska, 141 00:06:28,415 --> 00:06:30,245 which will be known for the rest of this podcast 142 00:06:30,505 --> 00:06:32,365 as the NPRA rule. 143 00:06:33,035 --> 00:06:34,925 This was obviously very welcome news. 144 00:06:35,305 --> 00:06:38,525 We didn't see that actual language of the rule 145 00:06:38,535 --> 00:06:42,805 until September, but the very next day in March, March 15th, 146 00:06:42,905 --> 00:06:46,325 the Biden administration approved a controversial oil 147 00:06:46,325 --> 00:06:49,565 and gas project in Alaska, known as the Willow Project. 148 00:06:50,145 --> 00:06:51,885 It has been referred to by US 149 00:06:52,025 --> 00:06:55,605 and others as a carbon bomb for the amount 150 00:06:55,605 --> 00:06:57,485 of lifetime carbon that 151 00:06:57,485 --> 00:06:59,725 that project will emit into the atmosphere. 152 00:07:00,745 --> 00:07:02,605 Jen, the Center for Western Priorities, 153 00:07:02,725 --> 00:07:04,925 I think rightfully took the administration to task 154 00:07:05,065 --> 00:07:06,245 for that Willow approval. 155 00:07:06,865 --> 00:07:10,885 So did Willow make that NPRA rulemaking over the course 156 00:07:10,905 --> 00:07:12,325 of the year even more important? 157 00:07:13,905 --> 00:07:16,565 - Oh, absolutely. And, you know, 158 00:07:16,625 --> 00:07:20,125 we were extremely disappointed in the Willow approval, 159 00:07:20,625 --> 00:07:23,205 but celebrated, uh, the announcement 160 00:07:23,205 --> 00:07:26,725 that the administration was going to do the NPR rulemaking. 161 00:07:27,245 --> 00:07:29,925 I mean, the NPR rulemaking is incredibly important. 162 00:07:30,185 --> 00:07:34,565 It protects over 13 million acres in the NPRA, 163 00:07:34,665 --> 00:07:38,725 and this is an area where Alaska natives use this 164 00:07:38,905 --> 00:07:42,765 for hunting and, uh, food gathering. 165 00:07:42,985 --> 00:07:45,165 And, uh, it's just, it, 166 00:07:45,375 --> 00:07:47,565 while the Willow decision is very disappointing, 167 00:07:48,145 --> 00:07:52,245 the NPRA rulemaking is incredibly important in the 168 00:07:52,245 --> 00:07:54,965 president's, uh, goal of reaching 30 by 30. 169 00:07:55,935 --> 00:07:58,845 - Right. And then, um, continuing on in March, 170 00:07:59,295 --> 00:08:01,445 maybe piling on the good news there to, 171 00:08:01,465 --> 00:08:03,725 to withdraw some attention from Willow, 172 00:08:04,145 --> 00:08:06,645 the president designated a quame 173 00:08:06,785 --> 00:08:10,325 and Kasner range national monuments at the 2023 174 00:08:10,325 --> 00:08:11,845 Conservation and Action Summit. 175 00:08:12,345 --> 00:08:14,845 We were obviously really excited about these announcements 176 00:08:14,845 --> 00:08:16,845 being a public land conservation group. 177 00:08:17,305 --> 00:08:19,685 Um, but only one of them was actually a surprise. 178 00:08:19,945 --> 00:08:21,325 We knew about quame. 179 00:08:21,345 --> 00:08:23,645 We knew it was coming because the president announced his 180 00:08:23,645 --> 00:08:27,605 intention to protect Quame at the White House Tribal Nation 181 00:08:27,605 --> 00:08:30,205 Summit back in November, 2022. 182 00:08:30,465 --> 00:08:32,165 So a few months before, 183 00:08:32,905 --> 00:08:35,245 and then he decided to just wait, which was kind 184 00:08:35,245 --> 00:08:36,845 of a strange strategy. 185 00:08:36,905 --> 00:08:39,765 And I'm curious, uh, how do you think that worked, Aaron? 186 00:08:41,045 --> 00:08:43,765 - I, I suspect that was dotting i's and crossing t's 187 00:08:43,885 --> 00:08:45,165 and making sure that 188 00:08:45,165 --> 00:08:48,605 that Monument Proclamation had everything that it needed. 189 00:08:49,065 --> 00:08:50,405 Uh, because I think it shows 190 00:08:50,585 --> 00:08:54,645 how intentional the Biden administration is being when it 191 00:08:54,645 --> 00:08:56,325 comes to protecting 30 by 30 192 00:08:56,505 --> 00:08:59,085 and using these monument proclamations 193 00:08:59,105 --> 00:09:02,125 to help advance the country closer to that goal. 194 00:09:02,665 --> 00:09:05,765 Uh, we just saw a report, uh, this week from the Center 195 00:09:05,765 --> 00:09:07,925 for American Progress adding up 196 00:09:07,925 --> 00:09:10,685 that in total the president protected more than 12 197 00:09:10,745 --> 00:09:14,645 and a half million acres of public lands in 2023. 198 00:09:15,185 --> 00:09:18,565 Uh, that is, of course, a very large number, uh, 199 00:09:18,905 --> 00:09:20,285 12.5 million. 200 00:09:20,355 --> 00:09:22,725 It's about half a percent in terms 201 00:09:22,745 --> 00:09:26,045 of the country's entire, uh, land area. 202 00:09:26,465 --> 00:09:29,525 So we are making progress slow 203 00:09:29,525 --> 00:09:31,765 but steady towards 30 by 30. 204 00:09:32,145 --> 00:09:33,485 And that is, I think, 205 00:09:33,745 --> 00:09:35,325 really the big takeaway from this 206 00:09:35,325 --> 00:09:36,445 year. It's something to celebrate. 207 00:09:36,555 --> 00:09:38,325 - Totally. That number surprised me 208 00:09:38,325 --> 00:09:39,405 when their report came out. 209 00:09:39,425 --> 00:09:41,645 Um, it's obviously more than just the monuments, 210 00:09:41,715 --> 00:09:45,925 it's protections for, honestly, I don't know. 211 00:09:45,925 --> 00:09:46,925 What do you think it is, ? 212 00:09:47,395 --> 00:09:48,445 - It's, it, it, well, it's, 213 00:09:48,445 --> 00:09:50,125 it's Tonga, it's old Growth Forest. 214 00:09:50,675 --> 00:09:54,605 It's, uh, it, it's things like the, the Roadless rule 215 00:09:54,605 --> 00:09:59,085 that we've, uh, seen, uh, confirmed again and again. 216 00:09:59,465 --> 00:10:02,045 So, yeah, it, it is all over the place. 217 00:10:02,385 --> 00:10:05,165 Um, and the Antiquities Act, as we've said, is one 218 00:10:05,165 --> 00:10:08,285 of the many tools in the Conservation toolbox, 219 00:10:08,305 --> 00:10:11,685 but there are a lot more at this administration's disposal. 220 00:10:11,985 --> 00:10:14,605 - That's true. And if you wanna see the, the details on 221 00:10:14,605 --> 00:10:15,885 that, we will drop the link to 222 00:10:15,885 --> 00:10:17,405 that cap report in our show notes. 223 00:10:18,265 --> 00:10:20,405 Um, alright, so let's move on to April. 224 00:10:20,825 --> 00:10:22,605 The administration kicked off the month 225 00:10:22,605 --> 00:10:24,045 by announcing a proposed rule 226 00:10:24,045 --> 00:10:27,125 that would put conservation on equal footing with other uses 227 00:10:27,125 --> 00:10:30,325 of public lands like grazing, mining, and oil and gas. 228 00:10:30,905 --> 00:10:32,645 It would also encourage BLM field offices 229 00:10:32,785 --> 00:10:35,085 to be more proactive in designated areas 230 00:10:35,145 --> 00:10:38,605 of critical environmental concern or Ace eecs. 231 00:10:39,025 --> 00:10:41,205 Um, Jen, why is this rule such a big deal? 232 00:10:42,595 --> 00:10:45,765 - This is really important, uh, when it comes to managing, 233 00:10:46,145 --> 00:10:47,565 uh, BLM lands 234 00:10:47,785 --> 00:10:51,205 and putting conservation on equal footing 235 00:10:51,275 --> 00:10:53,405 with other uses for public lands. 236 00:10:53,785 --> 00:10:55,845 It, it shouldn't be so surprising, uh, 237 00:10:55,945 --> 00:10:57,565 but it is incredibly important, 238 00:10:57,745 --> 00:11:00,365 and I think I'm gonna, you know, use a quote that, uh, 239 00:11:00,365 --> 00:11:03,165 former Senator Tom Udall used to say is that 240 00:11:03,855 --> 00:11:06,325 we're gonna protect the best and restore the rest. 241 00:11:06,545 --> 00:11:10,485 So this gives, uh, ranchers industry the opportunity 242 00:11:11,025 --> 00:11:15,685 to restore lands that have been, um, either overgrazed 243 00:11:15,785 --> 00:11:18,605 or, uh, there's been oil and gas development. 244 00:11:18,605 --> 00:11:20,845 It also gives conservation leaders 245 00:11:20,865 --> 00:11:24,605 and opportunity to restore lands that, that need 246 00:11:24,605 --> 00:11:26,965 to be protected and restored. 247 00:11:28,065 --> 00:11:29,885 - And when the public comment period on 248 00:11:29,885 --> 00:11:31,965 that proposed rule closed in July, 249 00:11:32,105 --> 00:11:36,045 we looked at all the comments that came in, 92% of them 250 00:11:36,595 --> 00:11:37,805 supported that rule. 251 00:11:37,825 --> 00:11:39,005 And that, of course, aligns with 252 00:11:39,005 --> 00:11:41,405 what we'd seen in the Colorado College polling. 253 00:11:41,405 --> 00:11:43,405 It's what we see in our own winning. 254 00:11:43,425 --> 00:11:46,405 The West Poll, the public overwhelmingly supports 255 00:11:46,405 --> 00:11:48,885 conservation of nature and public lands. 256 00:11:49,345 --> 00:11:51,965 Uh, that rule, of course, not yet final. 257 00:11:52,265 --> 00:11:54,965 We will get to that a bit more when we talk about what's 258 00:11:54,965 --> 00:11:56,485 coming in 2024. 259 00:11:57,375 --> 00:11:59,405 Let's barrel on into May. 260 00:11:59,595 --> 00:12:00,925 Senator Martin Heinrich 261 00:12:01,065 --> 00:12:03,525 and Congressman Rel Alva introduced a bill 262 00:12:03,525 --> 00:12:06,885 that would overhaul the General Mining Act of 1872. 263 00:12:07,665 --> 00:12:12,445 Uh, also in May, Nevada Senator Katherine Cortez Masto 264 00:12:12,445 --> 00:12:15,845 and representative Susie Lee, also of Nevada represent, 265 00:12:16,695 --> 00:12:20,005 introduced also that month, 266 00:12:20,025 --> 00:12:22,245 Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto 267 00:12:22,305 --> 00:12:24,645 and representative Susie Lee of Nevada 268 00:12:25,485 --> 00:12:26,685 reintroduced their legislation 269 00:12:26,685 --> 00:12:28,325 that would end speculative oil 270 00:12:28,385 --> 00:12:30,405 and gas leasing on public lands. 271 00:12:30,795 --> 00:12:33,445 Both of those good bills, unfortunately, neither seems 272 00:12:33,445 --> 00:12:36,485 to be going anywhere in this Congress, especially on heels, 273 00:12:37,025 --> 00:12:40,445 uh, of reports, especially coming on the heel of a report 274 00:12:40,445 --> 00:12:44,245 that this current house was the least productive in history 275 00:12:44,545 --> 00:12:47,205 in terms of actually passing bills into law. 276 00:12:47,745 --> 00:12:50,525 Uh, Jen, what are your thoughts on, on the gridlock 277 00:12:50,525 --> 00:12:52,925 and the dysfunction that we are seeing, particularly 278 00:12:53,505 --> 00:12:55,125 in the house, uh, does 279 00:12:55,125 --> 00:12:57,565 that increase the pressure on the administration 280 00:12:57,985 --> 00:13:00,085 to get these policy changes done another way? 281 00:13:01,485 --> 00:13:03,685 - Absolutely. I mean, it's unfortunate that Congress is 282 00:13:03,745 --> 00:13:06,085 so dysfunctional when it comes to passing 283 00:13:06,815 --> 00:13:08,285 meaningful legislation. 284 00:13:08,605 --> 00:13:12,605 I mean, we're operating, um, under a mining law 285 00:13:12,605 --> 00:13:15,885 that is over 150 years old, which 286 00:13:16,625 --> 00:13:18,485 is just, it's just crazy. 287 00:13:18,625 --> 00:13:21,245 And obviously that benefits the mining industry. 288 00:13:21,455 --> 00:13:26,125 We've put out a number of reports about the, uh, impact 289 00:13:26,145 --> 00:13:29,405 of lobbying and campaign contributions, uh, 290 00:13:29,435 --> 00:13:33,685 that the mining industry has given to keep the status quo. 291 00:13:33,865 --> 00:13:36,645 And even there, there are some additional legislation that, 292 00:13:36,865 --> 00:13:39,485 uh, would even be worse in than the General Mining 293 00:13:39,585 --> 00:13:40,765 Act of 1872. 294 00:13:41,465 --> 00:13:45,005 So the administration needs to do what it can do 295 00:13:45,005 --> 00:13:46,245 through rulemaking process. 296 00:13:46,945 --> 00:13:50,165 But these two bills in particular are really important, uh, 297 00:13:50,175 --> 00:13:51,725 bills that have to be passed 298 00:13:51,785 --> 00:13:54,405 by Congress if we're gonna see these types 299 00:13:54,405 --> 00:13:55,605 of changes implemented. 300 00:13:56,265 --> 00:14:00,165 - Um, okay, so sticking in May here we also saw the three 301 00:14:00,445 --> 00:14:03,845 Colorado River Lower Basin states, which are Arizona, 302 00:14:03,845 --> 00:14:04,925 California, and Nevada. 303 00:14:05,455 --> 00:14:08,285 Agree to voluntarily conserve 3 million acre feet 304 00:14:08,285 --> 00:14:11,285 of water over the next three years in exchange 305 00:14:11,385 --> 00:14:13,125 for $1.2 billion in 306 00:14:13,125 --> 00:14:14,645 compensation from the federal government. 307 00:14:15,105 --> 00:14:16,645 Now, it was kind of a surprise 308 00:14:16,645 --> 00:14:18,565 that the three base lower basin states could 309 00:14:18,565 --> 00:14:19,605 even come to an agreement. 310 00:14:19,785 --> 00:14:23,045 And, um, the Interior Department was very pleased with that. 311 00:14:23,045 --> 00:14:25,725 And they said in October, later this year 312 00:14:26,155 --> 00:14:28,165 that the plan was good enough for now. 313 00:14:28,465 --> 00:14:31,365 Um, but of course we know that they have to, 314 00:14:31,545 --> 00:14:33,925 the basin states have to renegotiate a new, 315 00:14:34,305 --> 00:14:35,845 new guidelines by 2027. 316 00:14:36,065 --> 00:14:37,685 So the drama is far from over. 317 00:14:38,185 --> 00:14:40,445 Um, in fact, it already ramped up again, 318 00:14:40,765 --> 00:14:44,245 apparently at the annual Colorado River Basin, um, 319 00:14:44,415 --> 00:14:48,005 water manager meeting in Vegas, which happened in December. 320 00:14:48,585 --> 00:14:52,965 Um, apparently the, the tensions were, were on display 321 00:14:52,965 --> 00:14:55,365 between the upper and lower basins about who's gonna cut 322 00:14:55,365 --> 00:14:58,925 more, who's gonna, um, give up more water going into, 323 00:14:59,185 --> 00:15:00,485 um, 2027. 324 00:15:01,265 --> 00:15:03,645 - But I, I think the, the key takeaway there is 325 00:15:03,645 --> 00:15:06,845 that $1.2 billion, as we've talked about in a bunch 326 00:15:06,845 --> 00:15:09,725 of podcast episodes about the Colorado River crisis. 327 00:15:10,345 --> 00:15:12,805 Uh, the fundamental question here is do you have 328 00:15:12,805 --> 00:15:13,805 to blow everything up 329 00:15:13,865 --> 00:15:16,165 or can you just throw money at the problem? 330 00:15:16,825 --> 00:15:20,725 And this would suggest that for now at least, yes, 331 00:15:21,105 --> 00:15:22,845 you can throw some money at the problem 332 00:15:22,985 --> 00:15:25,605 to kick the can down the road by another couple years. 333 00:15:26,665 --> 00:15:29,445 Uh, alright, we have made it to June, almost halfway there. 334 00:15:29,615 --> 00:15:32,205 We're gonna really pick up the speed here. Alright. 335 00:15:32,265 --> 00:15:35,605 In June, the Biden administration issued an executive order 336 00:15:35,805 --> 00:15:38,285 establishing a 20 year mineral withdrawal 337 00:15:38,285 --> 00:15:39,445 around Chaco Canyon 338 00:15:39,825 --> 00:15:42,885 that's gonna protect a 10 mile buffer surrounding Chaco 339 00:15:42,885 --> 00:15:44,565 culture, national Historical Park. 340 00:15:44,985 --> 00:15:46,325 And that withdrawal really, Jen, 341 00:15:46,385 --> 00:15:47,765 has been a long time coming. 342 00:15:48,605 --> 00:15:52,245 - Absolutely. Uh, this has been decades in coming. 343 00:15:52,485 --> 00:15:55,045 I mean, there's been campaigns to protect 344 00:15:55,665 --> 00:15:58,685 the 10 mile buffer surrounding Chaco, uh, for 345 00:15:58,685 --> 00:15:59,965 as long as I can remember. 346 00:16:00,185 --> 00:16:03,325 And, uh, it was just, it was great 347 00:16:03,325 --> 00:16:04,965 to see this announcement in June. 348 00:16:05,675 --> 00:16:08,485 - Awesome. So next up we have Senators, Wyden 349 00:16:08,485 --> 00:16:10,725 and Merkley who reintroduced a bill 350 00:16:10,865 --> 00:16:12,885 to protect more than 1 million acres 351 00:16:12,885 --> 00:16:15,525 of public land in the Wahi Canyon lands in Oregon. 352 00:16:16,265 --> 00:16:18,685 Um, the Wahi Canyon Lands area is a huge, 353 00:16:18,685 --> 00:16:22,005 largely undeveloped, um, sage brush stronghold. 354 00:16:22,225 --> 00:16:24,805 The act is called the Maller Community Empowerment 355 00:16:24,985 --> 00:16:26,165 for the Oae Act. 356 00:16:26,165 --> 00:16:27,325 Kind of a mouthful there. 357 00:16:27,665 --> 00:16:29,285 And it would put 1 million acres 358 00:16:29,305 --> 00:16:31,165 of public land in southeast Oregon 359 00:16:31,425 --> 00:16:34,765 and a 15 mile stretch of the Oae River under the protection 360 00:16:34,765 --> 00:16:37,485 of the National Wilderness Preservation System and the Wild 361 00:16:37,485 --> 00:16:39,005 and River Scenic Rivers system. 362 00:16:39,905 --> 00:16:42,165 Um, so this, this bill, you know, 363 00:16:42,405 --> 00:16:43,525 we just talked about Congress, 364 00:16:43,525 --> 00:16:44,885 they're not really getting anything done. 365 00:16:45,175 --> 00:16:49,085 We're not really expecting this bill to go anywhere. As 366 00:16:49,085 --> 00:16:50,165 - Great as that would be if it did 367 00:16:50,485 --> 00:16:51,485 - as great. 368 00:16:51,485 --> 00:16:52,525 Yeah, of course. We're, we are supported, 369 00:16:52,525 --> 00:16:54,485 but it's, uh, you know, we're realists here, 370 00:16:54,905 --> 00:16:57,605 but there is a coalition working to protect the oi 371 00:16:57,605 --> 00:16:58,885 that is asking Biden 372 00:16:58,945 --> 00:17:01,445 to consider in Antiquities Act designation. 373 00:17:02,065 --> 00:17:04,045 And we are working on a film about that. 374 00:17:04,105 --> 00:17:05,645 So stay tuned to learn more. 375 00:17:06,875 --> 00:17:09,565 - Well, and on the topic of monuments, members 376 00:17:09,585 --> 00:17:13,005 of the California delegation Congressional delegation also 377 00:17:13,005 --> 00:17:15,245 asked President Biden to use the Antiquities Act 378 00:17:15,245 --> 00:17:18,725 to add over 100,000 acres to the San Gabriel 379 00:17:19,285 --> 00:17:21,165 Mountain's National Monument in California. 380 00:17:21,755 --> 00:17:24,485 This is another of the National Monument proposals 381 00:17:24,485 --> 00:17:28,045 that we could see move in 2024 if President Biden wants 382 00:17:28,045 --> 00:17:31,725 to take big steps towards achieving, uh, a 30 by 30. 383 00:17:32,555 --> 00:17:35,165 - Alright, onto July, when we saw the Bureau 384 00:17:35,165 --> 00:17:37,725 of Land Management released it's proposed oil 385 00:17:37,845 --> 00:17:42,165 and gas rule that would affect how public lands are leased 386 00:17:42,185 --> 00:17:43,525 to oil and gas companies. 387 00:17:44,065 --> 00:17:46,165 The rule on one hand would just implement 388 00:17:46,235 --> 00:17:50,395 what the Inflation Reduction Act, uh, put into law in 2022. 389 00:17:50,935 --> 00:17:54,515 But beyond that, it would also update the minimum bonding 390 00:17:54,515 --> 00:17:57,835 requirements that are woefully inadequate for making sure 391 00:17:57,835 --> 00:18:00,155 that oil and gas companies clean up after themselves. 392 00:18:00,445 --> 00:18:03,475 There was, of course, a public comment period for that rule. 393 00:18:03,575 --> 00:18:04,635 It ended in September, 394 00:18:04,735 --> 00:18:07,635 and we found that this one really took me by surprise. 395 00:18:08,175 --> 00:18:12,875 99% of the comments submitted supported this rule. 396 00:18:12,945 --> 00:18:14,155 Like I did this analysis 397 00:18:14,155 --> 00:18:16,835 and thought it was wrong at first till I really looked in 398 00:18:16,835 --> 00:18:18,275 like, no, you have to go look. 399 00:18:18,375 --> 00:18:21,555 For anyone who thinks this is a bad idea, 400 00:18:22,385 --> 00:18:24,275 that rule is still working its way 401 00:18:24,275 --> 00:18:26,035 through the federal rulemaking process. 402 00:18:26,465 --> 00:18:29,235 That is, of course, a theme here in this episode. 403 00:18:29,975 --> 00:18:31,115 But Jen, I wanna take a moment 404 00:18:31,135 --> 00:18:33,595 to ask about these public comment periods. 405 00:18:34,255 --> 00:18:37,515 Why is it worth looking at tens of thousands, hundreds 406 00:18:37,515 --> 00:18:41,395 of thousands of public comments the way we do here at CWP? 407 00:18:42,265 --> 00:18:44,995 - Well, public, the public comment period is 408 00:18:44,995 --> 00:18:46,035 incredibly important. 409 00:18:46,135 --> 00:18:50,195 It gives the public, uh, you and me and, 410 00:18:50,415 --> 00:18:52,235 and people who, you know, 411 00:18:52,235 --> 00:18:54,435 live near these landscapes the opportunity 412 00:18:54,615 --> 00:18:57,115 to comment on something 413 00:18:57,115 --> 00:18:59,195 that the administration is considering 414 00:18:59,515 --> 00:19:00,955 implementing a rule about. 415 00:19:01,215 --> 00:19:04,155 So it it, it, it gives people the opportunity 416 00:19:04,335 --> 00:19:06,035 to say whether they support something, 417 00:19:06,465 --> 00:19:07,675 they don't support something. 418 00:19:07,735 --> 00:19:10,315 And it also gives the administration 419 00:19:10,375 --> 00:19:11,435 the information they need. 420 00:19:11,435 --> 00:19:13,075 Like, what does the public think about this? 421 00:19:13,375 --> 00:19:16,915 And, uh, are we headed in the right direction, uh, 422 00:19:16,985 --> 00:19:20,155 when we're going to make, you know, some major changes, uh, 423 00:19:20,215 --> 00:19:22,955 to oil and gas leasing on public lands. 424 00:19:24,015 --> 00:19:25,755 - So moving on to July, 425 00:19:25,935 --> 00:19:28,875 the BLM held a public meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona 426 00:19:28,935 --> 00:19:31,515 to get feedback on the proposed BJJ Njo, 427 00:19:31,705 --> 00:19:34,155 IITA Coveney ancestral footprints 428 00:19:34,155 --> 00:19:35,675 of the Grand Canyon National Monument. 429 00:19:36,295 --> 00:19:38,595 Um, one of the longest national monument 430 00:19:38,605 --> 00:19:39,955 names we've seen . 431 00:19:40,175 --> 00:19:42,795 Um, the monument is over a million acres 432 00:19:42,855 --> 00:19:44,315 and it's split into three sections 433 00:19:44,315 --> 00:19:46,115 that surround Grand Canyon National Park. 434 00:19:46,575 --> 00:19:49,915 Now I went to that meeting and it was really moving. 435 00:19:49,975 --> 00:19:52,675 It was incredible how many people there were in favor 436 00:19:52,695 --> 00:19:54,075 of the Monument designation. 437 00:19:54,735 --> 00:19:58,195 Um, and, and the things that they talked about, the the fact 438 00:19:58,195 --> 00:20:01,475 that there is a real threat of uranium mining 439 00:20:01,575 --> 00:20:02,595 to the Colorado River 440 00:20:02,695 --> 00:20:05,595 and to the tribes that rely on the water table 441 00:20:05,775 --> 00:20:08,715 around the Grand Canyon for their, um, livelihood. 442 00:20:09,255 --> 00:20:11,275 And that's the Havasupai, the Alap Pie, 443 00:20:11,735 --> 00:20:12,875 um, and a couple of others. 444 00:20:13,215 --> 00:20:16,715 And, um, the BLM apparently got the message loud and clear 445 00:20:16,715 --> 00:20:18,955 because President Biden did designate 446 00:20:18,955 --> 00:20:22,115 that monument less than a month after the meeting in August. 447 00:20:23,055 --> 00:20:25,395 Jen, why do you think the president moved so fast? 448 00:20:25,545 --> 00:20:26,835 This was a, this was really quick. 449 00:20:26,855 --> 00:20:28,235 It actually took us by surprise. 450 00:20:28,295 --> 00:20:30,395 We were, we were off work the day that it, 451 00:20:30,415 --> 00:20:31,875 the news came in 452 00:20:32,395 --> 00:20:33,395 - . 453 00:20:33,865 --> 00:20:36,075 Well, I think what the president 454 00:20:36,415 --> 00:20:39,915 and his administration saw, not only at the public meeting, 455 00:20:40,175 --> 00:20:44,035 but over the course of many years in public polling, is 456 00:20:44,035 --> 00:20:46,315 that there was broad support 457 00:20:46,985 --> 00:20:50,645 to designate this national monument in its broad 458 00:20:50,745 --> 00:20:52,205 and bipartisan support. 459 00:20:52,505 --> 00:20:54,725 And yeah, back in 2016, 460 00:20:54,785 --> 00:20:58,325 we actually thought President Obama was gonna designate, uh, 461 00:20:58,475 --> 00:21:00,565 this monument at the end of his administration. 462 00:21:00,565 --> 00:21:04,045 And so there has been a long ongoing campaign 463 00:21:04,225 --> 00:21:08,165 to protect the, the, the area around the Grand Canyon, 464 00:21:08,225 --> 00:21:09,725 the watershed around the Grand Canyon. 465 00:21:10,825 --> 00:21:12,205 - One other flag from August, 466 00:21:12,345 --> 00:21:15,245 that's when a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed 467 00:21:15,265 --> 00:21:16,285 by the state of Utah 468 00:21:16,285 --> 00:21:18,565 that challenged President Biden's restoration 469 00:21:18,905 --> 00:21:20,605 of Bear's Ears in Grand Staircase. 470 00:21:20,885 --> 00:21:24,725 Escalante National Monuments, Utah of course, appealed 471 00:21:24,725 --> 00:21:25,765 that dismissal. 472 00:21:26,645 --> 00:21:29,285 National Monument opponents are hoping this makes it 473 00:21:29,285 --> 00:21:30,365 to the Supreme Court. 474 00:21:30,835 --> 00:21:32,285 Unclear if that will happen. 475 00:21:32,585 --> 00:21:36,125 But the bottom line there, even with this Supreme Court, is 476 00:21:36,125 --> 00:21:39,165 that Monument opponents are up against a hundred years 477 00:21:39,505 --> 00:21:42,325 of case law regarding the Antiquities Act 478 00:21:42,625 --> 00:21:44,725 and the powers that it gives the president. 479 00:21:44,995 --> 00:21:46,765 Alright, keep moving on. 480 00:21:47,675 --> 00:21:50,245 - Well, we're still in August. Oh boy. Sorry to say . 481 00:21:50,605 --> 00:21:52,845 just can't seem to leave August behind. 482 00:21:53,385 --> 00:21:54,685 Um, in August, 483 00:21:54,705 --> 00:21:57,805 the BLM released new resource management plans, four parts 484 00:21:57,805 --> 00:22:00,165 of Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho. 485 00:22:00,855 --> 00:22:04,845 These RMPs got a bit buried under the other big headlines 486 00:22:04,845 --> 00:22:06,085 that we just talked about in August. 487 00:22:06,425 --> 00:22:08,365 Um, but they're actually really important. 488 00:22:08,585 --> 00:22:13,125 Um, they, they decide how hundreds of thousands of acres 489 00:22:13,125 --> 00:22:14,285 of public land will be managed. 490 00:22:14,745 --> 00:22:18,165 Um, the Colorado plan proposes new conservation designations 491 00:22:18,265 --> 00:22:20,725 for around a hundred thousand acres of public land 492 00:22:21,265 --> 00:22:22,965 in south southwest Colorado 493 00:22:23,545 --> 00:22:27,205 and would close, um, around 1.6 million acres to new oil 494 00:22:27,205 --> 00:22:30,125 and gas leasing, which is a pretty big deal. 495 00:22:30,985 --> 00:22:32,605 - And the Wyoming plan, which is known 496 00:22:32,605 --> 00:22:34,685 as the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan 497 00:22:34,915 --> 00:22:38,125 that would cover over 3 million acres of public land, 498 00:22:38,305 --> 00:22:40,485 it would create 16 new areas 499 00:22:40,585 --> 00:22:42,365 of critical environmental concern. 500 00:22:43,225 --> 00:22:46,765 That's a plan that has caused quite a bit of hand wringing, 501 00:22:47,005 --> 00:22:48,685 I think unnecessarily in Wyoming. 502 00:22:48,935 --> 00:22:50,725 We've got an episode all about that, 503 00:22:50,725 --> 00:22:52,085 that we'll toss into the show notes 504 00:22:52,505 --> 00:22:55,125 and the Idaho plan, which has gotten maybe less attention, 505 00:22:55,145 --> 00:22:56,645 but is also a really big deal. 506 00:22:57,145 --> 00:23:00,165 It created a new backcountry conservation area 507 00:23:00,625 --> 00:23:04,005 and it also closed areas with low or no potential of oil 508 00:23:04,005 --> 00:23:06,205 and gas development to future leasing. 509 00:23:06,225 --> 00:23:08,885 And those backcountry conservation areas are, uh, 510 00:23:08,885 --> 00:23:10,685 relatively new designation 511 00:23:10,995 --> 00:23:15,765 that helps BLM prioritize habitat conservation without 512 00:23:15,855 --> 00:23:18,885 fully closing the land to the potential of extraction. 513 00:23:19,425 --> 00:23:22,685 Uh, and, and Gen RMPs, I think as Kate mentioned, 514 00:23:22,825 --> 00:23:25,365 are a very big deal that fly under the radar a lot. 515 00:23:26,385 --> 00:23:28,165 - No, exactly. RMPs are 516 00:23:28,255 --> 00:23:30,125 where the rubber hits the road in terms of, 517 00:23:30,145 --> 00:23:31,445 in terms of land management. 518 00:23:31,955 --> 00:23:33,685 They're not always high profile. 519 00:23:34,185 --> 00:23:36,285 Um, and they take years to create, 520 00:23:36,665 --> 00:23:39,645 but they are in effect for at least a decade or more. 521 00:23:39,665 --> 00:23:43,605 So they're really important tools to both protecting 522 00:23:43,705 --> 00:23:46,645 and figuring out how these public lands are used. 523 00:23:47,335 --> 00:23:48,445 - Right. I would just add 524 00:23:48,445 --> 00:23:52,045 that when Congress can't do anything, um, the r 525 00:23:52,045 --> 00:23:54,725 and ps are a good way to get some lands protected. Yep. 526 00:23:55,065 --> 00:23:56,565 - Mm-Hmm. , because you have, you have 527 00:23:56,565 --> 00:23:57,685 to do them and Congress has told 528 00:23:57,805 --> 00:23:59,045 BLM you have to do them right. 529 00:24:00,355 --> 00:24:02,925 - Wait, we're still in August. Okay. This is shocking. 530 00:24:02,955 --> 00:24:03,965 I'll keep this one quick. 531 00:24:04,305 --> 00:24:07,365 Um, at the end of August, Noah released a proposal 532 00:24:07,705 --> 00:24:10,885 to designate over 5,000 square miles off the coast in 533 00:24:10,885 --> 00:24:12,685 central California as the Chumash 534 00:24:13,205 --> 00:24:14,765 Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. 535 00:24:15,185 --> 00:24:17,845 Now we did a video on this, it's in our postcards series. 536 00:24:17,985 --> 00:24:19,365 Um, so if you wanna learn more about that, 537 00:24:19,665 --> 00:24:22,045 go check out the video, we'll drop a link. 538 00:24:22,475 --> 00:24:24,005 - Alright. We've made it through the summer. 539 00:24:24,145 --> 00:24:25,365 We are into September 540 00:24:25,855 --> 00:24:28,605 where the Biden administration canceled all 541 00:24:28,625 --> 00:24:30,085 of the seven remaining oil 542 00:24:30,085 --> 00:24:33,045 and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 543 00:24:33,195 --> 00:24:35,125 That happened under the Trump administration. 544 00:24:35,545 --> 00:24:38,125 And then we also saw the text of that proposed rule 545 00:24:38,505 --> 00:24:41,485 for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 546 00:24:41,635 --> 00:24:43,005 that we talked about in March. 547 00:24:43,585 --> 00:24:47,285 Uh, and after the 90 days of public comment on that one, 548 00:24:47,365 --> 00:24:49,925 a big public comment period, we went back and looked 549 00:24:49,945 --> 00:24:54,045 and once again, nine out of 10 public comments said Yes, 550 00:24:54,155 --> 00:24:55,845 protect the Arctic and, 551 00:24:55,985 --> 00:24:58,605 and put in these common sense 552 00:24:59,235 --> 00:25:02,525 protections on the most fragile areas of the NPRA. 553 00:25:03,215 --> 00:25:07,765 - Right. Also in September, um, we saw the final oil 554 00:25:07,765 --> 00:25:11,485 and gas lease within the Badger two Medicine area withdrawn 555 00:25:11,625 --> 00:25:13,845 or, or retired by the oil 556 00:25:13,845 --> 00:25:16,805 and gas company that held it back in 2016, 557 00:25:17,765 --> 00:25:20,805 Congress permanently withdrew the entire Badger two medicine 558 00:25:20,805 --> 00:25:22,725 from oil and gas leasing and 559 00:25:22,965 --> 00:25:25,805 provided tax incentives for existing lessees who 560 00:25:25,905 --> 00:25:28,125 to voluntarily relinquish their leases. 561 00:25:28,125 --> 00:25:30,205 This one company chose not to, 562 00:25:30,265 --> 00:25:32,285 and so they did finally reach an agreement 563 00:25:32,285 --> 00:25:34,245 with the federal government to give it up, um, 564 00:25:34,245 --> 00:25:36,245 which protects the Badger two Medicine area, 565 00:25:36,365 --> 00:25:38,605 which is just this really important part of Montana 566 00:25:38,605 --> 00:25:40,365 that sits between Glacier National Park, 567 00:25:40,385 --> 00:25:41,765 the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, 568 00:25:41,825 --> 00:25:43,565 and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. 569 00:25:44,785 --> 00:25:46,725 - Uh, so also in September, 570 00:25:47,445 --> 00:25:51,485 Southern California residents lawmakers, uh, uh, coalition 571 00:25:51,485 --> 00:25:55,205 of Conservation leaders asked, uh, president Biden 572 00:25:55,265 --> 00:25:57,765 to designate the Chuck Walla National Monument 573 00:25:57,905 --> 00:26:00,045 and expand Joshua Tree National Park. 574 00:26:00,715 --> 00:26:05,165 This is, uh, an area of six over 600,000 acre landscape, 575 00:26:05,455 --> 00:26:09,085 which is located to the south of Joshua Tree National Park 576 00:26:09,305 --> 00:26:11,165 and northeast of the Salton Sea. 577 00:26:12,025 --> 00:26:15,325 The proposed monument includes, uh, vital habitat 578 00:26:15,425 --> 00:26:17,805 for threatened and endangered desert wildlife, 579 00:26:17,805 --> 00:26:21,565 including the Desert Tortoise, Bighorn Sheep and Chuck Wall, 580 00:26:21,585 --> 00:26:22,925 and the Chuck Walla lizard. 581 00:26:23,475 --> 00:26:26,685 It's also the proposed location for the reintroduction 582 00:26:26,685 --> 00:26:28,605 of the Sonoran Pronghorn Antelope. 583 00:26:29,345 --> 00:26:32,525 Uh, this area offers important outdoor recreation 584 00:26:32,525 --> 00:26:34,965 opportunities, uh, for nearby communities. 585 00:26:35,105 --> 00:26:38,565 Uh, we're actually working on a film about Chuck Walla, 586 00:26:38,565 --> 00:26:41,605 which we should release, uh, sometime early in the new year. 587 00:26:42,305 --> 00:26:43,445 - I'm looking forward to that. 588 00:26:43,595 --> 00:26:46,845 Alright, we have made it to October into the fourth quarter 589 00:26:46,845 --> 00:26:47,965 where we saw the departure 590 00:26:48,305 --> 00:26:52,605 of Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Boudreaux replacement was 591 00:26:52,615 --> 00:26:56,405 Laura Daniel Davis, uh, as the acting Deputy Secretary. 592 00:26:56,585 --> 00:26:59,765 And Jen, I know you have known Laura for a very long time. 593 00:27:00,305 --> 00:27:02,845 Uh, how big a deal is that, uh, to have Laura 594 00:27:02,865 --> 00:27:04,125 as the number two at interior? 595 00:27:04,945 --> 00:27:06,045 - It, it's a big deal 596 00:27:06,105 --> 00:27:10,765 and I think Laura is just the, a a great person to, 597 00:27:10,945 --> 00:27:12,365 uh, take over that role. 598 00:27:13,055 --> 00:27:16,605 She's worked, uh, in the Department of Interior for decades, 599 00:27:16,985 --> 00:27:20,605 uh, having worked under in the Obama administration, 600 00:27:21,065 --> 00:27:22,245 the Clinton administration, 601 00:27:22,465 --> 00:27:23,925 and now the Biden administration. 602 00:27:24,125 --> 00:27:27,485 I think Laura knows the department inside and out 603 00:27:27,505 --> 00:27:31,405 and is just a great, uh, a great addition to that position. 604 00:27:32,305 --> 00:27:35,165 - So also in October, the BLM released a travel plan 605 00:27:35,165 --> 00:27:36,965 for over 300,000 acres 606 00:27:37,065 --> 00:27:40,885 of public land near Moab called the Labyrinth Canyon Gemini 607 00:27:40,885 --> 00:27:41,925 Bridges Travel Plan. 608 00:27:42,275 --> 00:27:43,725 That plan was really huge 609 00:27:43,725 --> 00:27:46,565 because it prioritizes conservation on those lands 610 00:27:46,625 --> 00:27:49,725 by actually closing around 400 miles of dirt road 611 00:27:49,725 --> 00:27:51,685 that are largely used by ATVs. 612 00:27:52,065 --> 00:27:54,285 We talked to an attorney from the Southern Utah Wilderness 613 00:27:54,565 --> 00:27:57,005 Alliance on this podcast a few months ago, 614 00:27:57,245 --> 00:27:58,525 I guess back in October. 615 00:27:59,065 --> 00:28:01,165 Um, and you can go listen to 616 00:28:01,165 --> 00:28:02,645 that if you wanna learn more about that. 617 00:28:03,545 --> 00:28:04,765 - Jen, take us into November. 618 00:28:05,985 --> 00:28:07,285 - Wow, we're already to November. 619 00:28:07,665 --> 00:28:10,565 Um, which actually brought some really concerning news out 620 00:28:10,565 --> 00:28:13,045 of Wyoming about a plan to auction off a parcel 621 00:28:13,065 --> 00:28:17,125 of state-owned land within Grand Teton National Park. 622 00:28:17,915 --> 00:28:20,205 This area is known as the Kelley Parcel. 623 00:28:20,595 --> 00:28:25,085 It's 640 acres and the state of Wyoming owns the land 624 00:28:25,465 --> 00:28:28,725 and it is constitutionally obligated to use it to make money 625 00:28:28,785 --> 00:28:29,925 for public education. 626 00:28:30,665 --> 00:28:33,165 Um, to do that, the state wants to auction off the parcel, 627 00:28:34,025 --> 00:28:37,925 uh, with a minimum bid of between 80 and $100 million. 628 00:28:38,305 --> 00:28:41,645 But through a series of public meetings, Wyoming Heights, 629 00:28:41,785 --> 00:28:43,965 uh, responded to the proposed auction with 630 00:28:43,985 --> 00:28:45,005 so much opposition 631 00:28:45,555 --> 00:28:47,525 that the State Land Board decided to pause. 632 00:28:47,905 --> 00:28:50,605 Uh, and it's now up to the governor 633 00:28:50,605 --> 00:28:54,165 and the legislature to put together a plan to sell the land 634 00:28:54,165 --> 00:28:56,045 to the park service or swap it 635 00:28:56,045 --> 00:28:57,685 for other federal land in Wyoming. 636 00:28:58,225 --> 00:29:00,245 Uh, so stay tuned, uh, 637 00:29:00,305 --> 00:29:02,165 for what's gonna happen with the Kelly parcel. 638 00:29:03,275 --> 00:29:05,605 - Yeah, more stuff to watch in 2024. 639 00:29:05,605 --> 00:29:07,725 Alright, well that brings us into December. 640 00:29:07,785 --> 00:29:11,525 We have made it to the end so far, knock on wood, 641 00:29:11,625 --> 00:29:13,885 or this piano that I'm sitting in front of right now, 642 00:29:14,405 --> 00:29:15,445 December's been kind of quiet. 643 00:29:15,675 --> 00:29:18,205 It's December 21st as we're recording this. 644 00:29:18,225 --> 00:29:20,165 So if you hear this and there's some big announcement 645 00:29:20,165 --> 00:29:22,605 that we haven't mentioned, that's why, uh, 646 00:29:22,605 --> 00:29:25,365 but we did see this month the Biden administration take a 647 00:29:25,365 --> 00:29:27,445 step toward protecting old growth forests 648 00:29:27,865 --> 00:29:30,565 by banning all commercial logging in them. 649 00:29:31,225 --> 00:29:34,645 Uh, we just did a little mini episode with Dr. 650 00:29:34,645 --> 00:29:37,725 Dominic Dala, our Go-to Forest guy 651 00:29:37,985 --> 00:29:40,485 who thinks it is strong but not perfect. 652 00:29:40,625 --> 00:29:41,845 So go back and listen to 653 00:29:41,845 --> 00:29:44,405 that if you want the details on old growth forests. 654 00:29:45,375 --> 00:29:47,885 - Right. And earlier in this month of December, 655 00:29:48,065 --> 00:29:50,725 the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a 656 00:29:50,725 --> 00:29:52,765 meeting on a bunch of conservation bills. 657 00:29:53,265 --> 00:29:55,685 The committee actually voted to advance a few of them, 658 00:29:55,685 --> 00:29:59,165 including the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act. 659 00:29:59,165 --> 00:30:02,765 That's the core act which would protect over 400,000 acres 660 00:30:02,765 --> 00:30:04,205 of public land in Colorado. 661 00:30:04,715 --> 00:30:06,365 They also advanced legislation 662 00:30:06,365 --> 00:30:08,165 to protect the Dolores River area, 663 00:30:08,835 --> 00:30:12,125 Dolores River Canyons area, um, through the creation 664 00:30:12,125 --> 00:30:13,605 of a national conservation area. 665 00:30:13,995 --> 00:30:16,285 Unfortunately, as we've already mentioned, 666 00:30:16,675 --> 00:30:20,165 this legislation is still unlikely to go anywhere. 667 00:30:20,265 --> 00:30:21,645 It would have to make it through the house, 668 00:30:21,645 --> 00:30:22,965 which is a gauntlet. 669 00:30:23,625 --> 00:30:26,925 So that's why we are asking the president to step in 670 00:30:26,925 --> 00:30:28,805 and protect the Dolores River Canyon area 671 00:30:29,035 --> 00:30:30,805 with a national Monument designation. 672 00:30:31,425 --> 00:30:34,285 - And Jen, as you mentioned in the Denver Post this month, 673 00:30:34,635 --> 00:30:36,285 that bill, uh, 674 00:30:36,665 --> 00:30:38,845 is actually a separate area from 675 00:30:38,845 --> 00:30:40,165 the National Monument proposal. 676 00:30:40,225 --> 00:30:42,805 You've got, uh, kind of a dual track going here 677 00:30:42,945 --> 00:30:44,085 to protect the Dolores. 678 00:30:44,715 --> 00:30:46,365 - Yeah, that's right. Uh, the, 679 00:30:46,465 --> 00:30:50,045 the legislation actually protects, uh, the southern section 680 00:30:50,225 --> 00:30:54,805 of the Dolores and there the northern section, 681 00:30:55,015 --> 00:30:56,405 which is in Mesa 682 00:30:56,625 --> 00:31:00,805 and Montrose counties, uh, should be a national monument. 683 00:31:01,165 --> 00:31:06,125 I mean, we, the CWP team visited the Dolores, uh, river, uh, 684 00:31:06,125 --> 00:31:09,005 canyon area back in uh, September. 685 00:31:09,265 --> 00:31:11,885 And it is an incredible landscape. 686 00:31:12,265 --> 00:31:15,605 Uh, and it's definitely on our watch list for next year. 687 00:31:16,185 --> 00:31:19,485 The legislation that is being sponsored by Michael Bennett 688 00:31:19,505 --> 00:31:20,565 and John Hickenlooper 689 00:31:20,905 --> 00:31:24,605 and Congresswoman Lauren Bober leaves out the most 690 00:31:25,005 --> 00:31:27,525 ecologically important area of the River Canyon. 691 00:31:27,905 --> 00:31:32,525 Um, so it'd be great if President Biden, uh, designated, 692 00:31:32,745 --> 00:31:35,605 uh, a monument that would cover the northern part, 693 00:31:35,755 --> 00:31:38,645 including, uh, the areas included in, uh, 694 00:31:38,795 --> 00:31:39,925 Mesa and Montrose counties. 695 00:31:40,515 --> 00:31:44,525 - Awesome. Well, that brings us into 2024 696 00:31:44,825 --> 00:31:46,605 and we promised we'd come back to a lot of topics. 697 00:31:46,705 --> 00:31:48,325 So let's start with the proposed rule. 698 00:31:48,675 --> 00:31:51,645 There's the NPRA rule, the Public Land Rule, 699 00:31:51,745 --> 00:31:53,085 and the oil and gas rule. 700 00:31:53,585 --> 00:31:55,605 And all three of these rules are really important. 701 00:31:56,005 --> 00:31:58,205 Honestly, it would be hard to even stack them up against 702 00:31:58,205 --> 00:32:00,445 each other and say, which is the most important, 703 00:32:00,905 --> 00:32:03,205 but unfortunately the President does not have 704 00:32:03,205 --> 00:32:04,325 much time to get them done. 705 00:32:04,825 --> 00:32:07,725 That's because of this thing called the Congressional Review 706 00:32:07,945 --> 00:32:10,565 Act or the CRA, which allows Congress 707 00:32:10,565 --> 00:32:13,365 and the president to overturn rulemakings within 60 708 00:32:13,755 --> 00:32:15,885 legislative days of the rule being 709 00:32:15,885 --> 00:32:17,285 published in the Federal Register. 710 00:32:17,825 --> 00:32:19,605 That's the final rule being published, 711 00:32:20,145 --> 00:32:21,725 and that means the administration needs 712 00:32:21,725 --> 00:32:23,405 to complete these rulemakings well 713 00:32:23,405 --> 00:32:24,525 ahead of the next election. 714 00:32:24,625 --> 00:32:26,925 In fact, to be safe of the cutoff, they actually need 715 00:32:26,925 --> 00:32:28,725 to be completed sometime in April. 716 00:32:28,985 --> 00:32:32,885 So, um, we're gonna have to hit 2024 hit, 717 00:32:32,905 --> 00:32:34,765 hit the ground running in 2024 if 718 00:32:34,765 --> 00:32:35,805 these rules are gonna get done. 719 00:32:36,555 --> 00:32:38,925 - Yeah, it's gonna be a very busy spring. 720 00:32:39,185 --> 00:32:41,485 And part of the challenge there, as you mentioned, is that 721 00:32:41,485 --> 00:32:45,005 that NPRA cutoff deadline is a moving target 722 00:32:45,225 --> 00:32:47,365 and you don't know what it actually is 723 00:32:48,015 --> 00:32:50,685 until Congress adjourns for the year 724 00:32:50,685 --> 00:32:52,925 because it is backwards looking. 725 00:32:53,265 --> 00:32:55,685 If Congress adds a bunch of days onto the calendar, 726 00:32:55,745 --> 00:32:59,405 the NPRA deadline, uh, drags out a bit more. 727 00:32:59,785 --> 00:33:02,605 If Congress wraps up early and goes home 728 00:33:02,605 --> 00:33:03,685 because there's nothing to do 729 00:33:03,745 --> 00:33:06,245 or they're all running for reelection, then the, 730 00:33:06,345 --> 00:33:09,245 and the CRA deadline moves up in the year. 731 00:33:09,625 --> 00:33:10,885 Uh, so for that reason, 732 00:33:10,945 --> 00:33:13,645 the interior Department is under a lot of pressure 733 00:33:13,825 --> 00:33:17,245 to get this stuff out the door quickly in the first 734 00:33:17,265 --> 00:33:18,765 and second quarters of 2024. 735 00:33:19,755 --> 00:33:21,085 - Another thing we'll be watching 736 00:33:21,085 --> 00:33:23,805 for in the new year is the Rock Springs RMP process. 737 00:33:24,615 --> 00:33:26,085 We'll probably see a new draft 738 00:33:26,085 --> 00:33:28,685 of the RMP sometime in the early spring. 739 00:33:28,755 --> 00:33:31,165 Hopefully the BLM will stick with its plan 740 00:33:31,165 --> 00:33:32,725 to prioritize conservation 741 00:33:33,305 --> 00:33:36,205 and not bend to the hysterics of Wyoming officials. 742 00:33:37,145 --> 00:33:39,485 - And finally, we'll be tracking the progress of a number 743 00:33:39,485 --> 00:33:41,725 of monument campaigns, um, that many 744 00:33:41,725 --> 00:33:43,645 that we've mentioned already, as well 745 00:33:43,645 --> 00:33:44,725 as releasing some new videos, 746 00:33:44,815 --> 00:33:47,965 which we've also mentioned about Wahi and Chuck Walla. 747 00:33:48,395 --> 00:33:51,245 There's so many good monument proposals in play right now. 748 00:33:51,245 --> 00:33:54,805 It's actually incredible how many have come up this year. 749 00:33:54,865 --> 00:33:57,725 We went, we came into this year with only a few, um, 750 00:33:58,085 --> 00:34:00,285 monuments in play like Aqua May and Kassner, 751 00:34:00,285 --> 00:34:01,565 and we're coming out of this year 752 00:34:01,565 --> 00:34:04,885 with just a massive grab bag to, to choose from. 753 00:34:05,145 --> 00:34:07,165 Um, and Jen, I'm curious, 754 00:34:07,265 --> 00:34:09,845 do you think it being an election year will galvanize 755 00:34:09,845 --> 00:34:12,285 President Biden to protect any of these places? 756 00:34:13,955 --> 00:34:16,725 - Well, I think what we see is all 757 00:34:16,725 --> 00:34:18,485 of these campaigns coming together. 758 00:34:18,785 --> 00:34:21,885 So regardless of it being an election year, I think the, 759 00:34:22,225 --> 00:34:25,125 the pieces are in place, uh, for the president 760 00:34:25,125 --> 00:34:28,165 to protect these, uh, national monuments. 761 00:34:28,425 --> 00:34:31,885 Uh, what we do see though in an election year is that voters 762 00:34:32,795 --> 00:34:34,205 support conservation. 763 00:34:34,235 --> 00:34:36,165 They wanna see more national monuments. 764 00:34:36,165 --> 00:34:38,805 They support the President using the Antiquities Act. 765 00:34:39,225 --> 00:34:43,165 And so I think public opinion is on the president's side, 766 00:34:43,345 --> 00:34:45,685 and I expect that we will see a number 767 00:34:45,685 --> 00:34:47,045 of new national monuments. 768 00:34:48,265 --> 00:34:49,885 - And I think it's important to remember 769 00:34:49,885 --> 00:34:53,285 that national monuments are not a zero sum game. 770 00:34:53,355 --> 00:34:56,245 It's not like the president can just do Chuck Walla 771 00:34:56,245 --> 00:34:59,085 and that takes oi, he Canyon lands off the table. 772 00:34:59,265 --> 00:35:01,365 The, there is a very real possibility 773 00:35:01,365 --> 00:35:04,245 that the president looks and says, hang on, I can do all 774 00:35:04,245 --> 00:35:07,965 of these and that can be both my legacy 775 00:35:08,225 --> 00:35:09,645 and something to run on 776 00:35:09,645 --> 00:35:12,645 because we see from these public comment periods 777 00:35:12,665 --> 00:35:13,765 and from polling over 778 00:35:13,825 --> 00:35:16,645 and over again, there's no political downside. 779 00:35:16,745 --> 00:35:21,205 It is all good both for the country and politically. 780 00:35:21,355 --> 00:35:23,125 Alright, I'll get off my soapbox there. 781 00:35:23,125 --> 00:35:24,445 If you wanna learn more about any 782 00:35:24,445 --> 00:35:26,605 of these monument proposals that are on the table, 783 00:35:26,655 --> 00:35:28,765 check out the postcards series. 784 00:35:28,865 --> 00:35:31,085 We will drop a link to that in the show notes. 785 00:35:31,315 --> 00:35:33,165 There's more in there that we didn't talk about, 786 00:35:33,235 --> 00:35:35,405 like the ESA Snow mountain expansion. 787 00:35:35,825 --> 00:35:38,125 Um, it's all very exciting. 788 00:35:38,675 --> 00:35:40,605 - Alright, well I think that's a wrap. 789 00:35:40,985 --> 00:35:43,085 Jen, thank you so much for joining us today. 790 00:35:43,345 --> 00:35:45,805 And Erin, um, lovely to talk to you as always. 791 00:35:46,625 --> 00:35:49,605 - As always, see you in 2024. Thank you. 792 00:35:59,035 --> 00:36:01,205 From all of us at the Center for Western Priorities, 793 00:36:01,205 --> 00:36:03,325 we hope you're having a restful holiday, 794 00:36:03,535 --> 00:36:06,005 maybe even enjoying our public lands. 795 00:36:06,365 --> 00:36:08,205 I hear the desert is beautiful in winter. 796 00:36:08,315 --> 00:36:11,045 Just saying if you wanna reach us, of course you can email, 797 00:36:11,045 --> 00:36:13,645 podcast@westernpriorities.org 798 00:36:14,305 --> 00:36:15,365 - And happy New Year's 799 00:36:15,425 --> 00:36:18,125 and thank you as always for listening to the landscape.