Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** REI speaks out against Burgum's attack on national monuments
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Friday, February 14, 2025
REI sporting goods store in Mountain View, California. Coolcaesar, Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])
In an Instagram post ([link removed]) , outdoor recreation company REI came out against Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's recent order ([link removed]) directing the Interior department to evaluate redrawing the boundaries of public lands protected from oil and gas drilling and mining. The company specifically mentioned its opposition to reconsidering the boundaries of America's national monuments.
“That’s why we’re calling on Secretary Doug Burgum to rescind the sweeping orders undermining the public lands enjoyed by millions of Americans each year,” the company wrote. “We will not stand by as the secretary considers redrawing the boundaries of all public lands currently protected from fossil fuel and mining development—including 160 national monuments.”
The secretarial order ([link removed]) is aimed at bolstering President Donald Trump's “energy dominance” agenda. It specifically directs the Interior department to “review and, as appropriate, revise all withdrawn public lands,” which includes millions of acres of American lands protected by previous presidents as national monuments.
Shrinking national monuments is widely unpopular among the public—only 27 percent ([link removed]) of Western voters support removing protections on existing national public lands, and by contrast, 85 percent ([link removed]) support creating new protected areas for outdoor recreation. Additionally, if Trump or Burgum attempt to downsize or erase protections for national monuments, it will be a move to score petty political points ([link removed]) rather than lower energy costs for Americans.
** Quick hits
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NOAA is told to make list of climate-related grants, setting off fears
New York Times ([link removed])
Swamps are thought to be useless. They may help save the world
Washington Post ([link removed])
Anti-public lands lawmakers reup bill to dismantle Biden public lands rule
E&E News ([link removed])
Trump killed a major report on nature. Authors are trying to publish it anyway
New York Times ([link removed])
‘It’s demoralizing’: Trump’s climate funding freeze has left tribes and community groups in limbo
Grist ([link removed])
Trump memo delays new rule giving Native Tribes another shot at U.S. recognition
KQED ([link removed])
U.S. Forest Service to terminate 3,400 workers, union leader says
Bloomberg Law ([link removed])
Opinion: Amodei’s bill to gut Antiquities Act proves he’s not interested in representing our best interests
Nevada Current ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” As we breathed the land, we found communion with it and each other.”
—Peter C. Eckhardt, Salt Lake City resident, Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
Located just outside of Las Vegas, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers visitors nearly 200,000 acres to experience unique sandstone escarpments, thickets of Joshua trees, beautiful flowers and the beloved desert tortoise.
Red Rock Canyon is considered one of the finest rock-climbing areas in the world. It features hundreds of established sports, bouldering and traditional climbs, with commercial guides and resources available, even for beginners.
Visitors must have a timed entry reservation for each day they plan to enter, October 1 to May 31, visit recreation.gov for more details.
Photo by Michael Balen
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