Also: Behind the scenes of the Bears Ears draft management plan
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Review begins for first 'FAST-41' critical minerals project in Arizona
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Monday, May 13, 2024
A landscape near Patagonia, Arizona. Phillip Capper via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 ([link removed])
The U.S. Forest Service has begun accepting public comments ([link removed]) on the South32 Hermosa project in southern Arizona. The proposed mine, if approved ([link removed]) , will produce manganese, zinc, silver, and lead—all important to batteries and other renewable energy technologies. In particular, manganese and zinc are included on the U.S. Geological Survey's 2022 list of 'critical minerals,' ([link removed]) a list USGS is required to update every three years under the Energy Act of 2020. That law defines critical minerals as non-fuel minerals or mineral materials essential to U.S. economic or national security and which have supply chains
"vulnerable to disruption."
The presence of critical minerals at the Hermosa site made the project eligible to apply to participate in the FAST-41 program ([link removed]) , named for Title 41 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015, which is intended to centralize and coordinate federal environmental reviews. The Hermosa project is the first critical minerals project approved to participate ([link removed]) in FAST-41.
The site of the proposed mine is within southern Arizona's Patagonia Mountains, a unique and important area known for its diversity of animals and plants. According to ([link removed]) the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance, an advocacy organization working to protect the area, the Patagonia Mountains are "the pollinator capitol of the United States," home to hundreds of species of birds, and a migratory corridor for jaguars and ocelots.
Behind the scenes of the Bears Ears draft management plan
In the latest episode ([link removed]) of the Center for Western Priorities podcast, The Landscape ([link removed]) , Aaron and Kate are joined by Davina Smith, who represents the Navajo Nation on the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition ([link removed]) , and Lauren Henson, who is the Collaborative Management and Tribal Support Specialist for the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, to talk about the Bears Ears draft monument management plan, which came out in March ([link removed]) . They talk about how the draft plan came together and how to get involved.
** Quick hits
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At state's energy summit, Wyoming promises to 'make sure our fossil fuels have a future'
Inside Climate News ([link removed])
Biden administration announces $60 million to save water along Rio Grande
Associated Press ([link removed])
New rail safety office could help protect Colorado residents, environment
Colorado Newsline ([link removed])
New Mexico considers proposed produced waste water rule
Albuquerque Journal ([link removed])
As Lake Mead recedes, illegal roads threaten environment, cultural sites
Nevada Independent ([link removed])
The ever-resilient pupfish makes a comeback at Death Valley
New York Times ([link removed])
As Klamath River dams are demolished, attention turns to recovery
USA Today ([link removed])
Federal, state officials laud funding for fish passage in southwest Colorado
Durango Herald ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” Recognizing that we are at a pivotal point in time where we must preserve, protect and properly manage our public lands, the new rule will bring balance to how we do that now and how we plan to pass these treasured lands to future generations.”
—Becky Edwards and Jen Clanahan, Mountain Mamas, Missoula Current ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
Few sights are more beautiful than an avalanche slope or an alpine meadow aglow with the color of wildflowers amidst Glacier Park’s towering peaks.
The park offers nearly a thousand species of wildflowers for the enthusiast. Subtle flowers like clematis, chlorophyll-free pinesaps and Indian pipes are common in the lowlands. In late summer, purple asters paint the meadows between aspen groves on the east side.
Photos by @glaciernps ([link removed])
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