Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Oil spill contaminates drainage in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
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Friday, October 6, 2023
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument; Credit: BLM/Flickr ([link removed])
An oil spill in Utah contaminated a drainage that runs through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument last month. The spill happened September 13, according to the Bureau of Land Management ([link removed]) .

As of September 22, the accident had spilled 163 barrels of oil and 6,430 barrels of contaminated water ([link removed]) , according to Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality. Cleanup is ongoing, according to the Washington Post ([link removed]) .

“Within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, impacts have occurred within a heavily vegetated rocky canyon that is difficult to access and thorough cleanup efforts are expected to take time,” the BLM told the Post. ([link removed])

The spill originated outside the national monument ([link removed]) on U.S. Forest Service land but made its way onto BLM land inside the monument, according to The Insider ([link removed]) , the local news outlet which first reported the story. The oil and water mixture ran into Willow Creek ([link removed]) and Alvey Wash ([link removed]) , which are located within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Rain may have helped push the oil and produced water down the drainage.


** Happy Indigenous People's Day
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Look West will be off to observe Indigenous People's day on Monday. There's a lot to celebrate this year, including President Joe Biden's recent designation of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument at the behest of Native American Tribes. If you haven't read the proclamation establishing the monument ([link removed]'tah%20Kukveni%E2%80%93) , this is a good time to do so. And if you want to learn more about Tribal co-management of public lands, check out this report by the Congressional Research Service ([link removed]) published earlier this year.


** Quick hits
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White Sands National Park footprints offer earliest evidence of humans in U.S.

Washington Post ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe attempts to recover endangered fish with $8 million dam revamp

Boise State Public Radio ([link removed])

Biden administration allows more border wall construction, as Gov. Ducey's border shipping containers go up for auction

Associated Press ([link removed]) | Arizona Republic ([link removed])

Wyoming passes up federal money because oil companies would have to monitor for methane leaks

WyoFile ([link removed])

Effort to protect land adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park gains momentum

Native News Online ([link removed])

Tribes at odds over drilling ban around Chaco Canyon

KUNM ([link removed])

Colorado rancher loses bid to raise $198,000 fine against oil company that poisoned his cows

Colorado Sun ([link removed])

State leaders don’t want Utah’s wet year to slow momentum for water conservation

KUER ([link removed])

Interior insiders brace for Beaudreau's exit

E&E News ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” When it comes to adding Indigenous voices and expanding the time frame for Indigenous peoples in the Americas, there is still a lot of racism and bias in American archaeology.”

—Paulette Steeves, Indigenous archaeologist at Algoma University, W ([link removed]) a ([link removed]) shington Post ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
In Southeastern Utah lies a stunning geological formation that rises dramatically from the flat desert landscape — Factory Butte Recreation Area. This diverse landscape shows off Earth's history in a way that few other places do.

The area draws adventurers, geology enthusiasts and nature lovers from around the world who come to witness its captivating beauty. Managed by @mypubliclands ([link removed]) , the area is popular for off-road vehicle riding, mountain biking, hiking and photography.

Photo by Mitch Warnick

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