Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** House passes huge outdoor recreation bill
------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Gunnison Recreational River, Colorado. Bureau of Land Management, Flickr ([link removed])
The House on Tuesday approved ([link removed]) the EXPLORE Act, a bipartisan bill that increases access to public lands and boosts the nation's outdoor economy. Among its sweeping set of provisions, the bill would make it easier to get permits for activities on public lands, develop more biking trails, and codify the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, a fund that provides outdoor opportunities in urban and low-income communities.
Introduced by Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman of Arkansas and co-sponsored by Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva of New Mexico, the legislation enjoys diverse support.
Supporting the EXPLORE Act should be an easy decision for Western representatives who prioritize their voters' interests—70 percent ([link removed]) of voters in the West want their representatives to place more emphasis on protecting clean water, air quality, and wildlife habitats while providing opportunities to visit and recreate on public lands.
“Public support for public lands and access to outdoor recreation continues to grow each year, and the EXPLORE Act will help advance the idea that the outdoors really are for everyone,” said ([link removed]) New Mexico Representative Teresa Leger Fernández.
Correcting The Heritage Foundation's (many) falsities
In March, the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation ran an op-ed in the Washington Times ([link removed]) and on its website ([link removed]) arguing that the Supreme Court should review the Antiquities Act, a century-old law that has allowed presidents to protect some of America’s most iconic natural areas and historic treasures, from the Grand Canyon to the Statue of Liberty. In less than 700 words, Heritage lined the article with false statements and dishonest arguments.
On Wednesday, the Center for Western Priorities released a blog post ([link removed]) that includes the full article with annotations added to correct the numerous misleading and downright false assertions made by Heritage.
It's especially important to note the abundance of false statements in this short article because Heritage is promoting a much larger product, Project 2025 ([link removed]) , which is a 900-page book that provides policy and personnel recommendations for a potential new anti-conservation administration come 2025. Given the chance, Heritage will use misguided principles to undermine public land management across the country.
** Quick hits
------------------------------------------------------------
In a first, EPA sets limit for ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
Associated Press ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed]) | Axios ([link removed]) | Arizona Republic ([link removed])
Analysis: Mapping America's access to nature, neighborhood by neighborhood
Washington Post ([link removed])
Redline: Everything The Heritage Foundation gets wrong about national monuments and the Antiquities Act
Westwise ([link removed])
Activists protest in trees, file lawsuit to block old growth logging on BLM land
Oregon Capital Chronicle ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
BLM takes final steps to curb methane pollution in oil patch
E&E News ([link removed])
Water pouring out of rural Utah dam through 60-foot crack, putting nearby town at risk
Associated Press ([link removed])
Epic dinosaur trackway in Colorado is now officially public land
Denver Post ([link removed])
Wupatki at 100 years: A look back at the history of the national monument near Flagstaff
Arizona Daily Sun ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
------------------------------------------------------------
” We are one huge step closer to finally shutting off the tap on forever chemicals once and for all.”
—Michael S. Regan, EPA administrator, New York Times ([link removed])
** Picture This
------------------------------------------------------------
@grand_canyon_conservancy ([link removed]) and @grandcanyonnps ([link removed])
🌌 It’s International Dark Sky Week!
👉 Did you know that Grand Canyon National Park is an International Dark Sky Park?
To learn more about how GCC is supporting Dark Skies at Grand Canyon National Park visit the link in GCC’s bio.
📸 @nkoehlerphotography ([link removed])
============================================================
** Website ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
Copyright © 2024 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
