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


** Animas River threatened by gasoline spill impacting Tribal land
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Monday, May 12, 2025
The Animas River in southwestern Colorado, Mike McBey via Wikimedia Commons ([link removed]) /CC BY 2.0 ([link removed])

As the ten-year anniversary of the Gold King Mine waste water spill approaches, the Animas River in southwestern Colorado is threatened by another major spill. In December 2024, a pipeline operated by Enterprise Products spilled 23,000 gallons of gasoline on the Southern Ute Reservation near Durango. Both Tribal and state officials have discovered ([link removed]) benzene, a component of crude oil products with known health impacts, is now seeping into intermittent springbeds and residential wells, and may be making its way towards the Animas River, a half-mile away from the site of the spill.

Tribal leaders have become frustrated with the pace of cleanup over the past five months. In a press release ([link removed]) , the Southern Ute Tribe calls on Enterprise Products to "immediately act with more urgency and transparency" to address the spill. "We will not stand by while our ground and surface water, Tribal resources, and the health of our Tribal Members are put at risk," said ([link removed]) Chairman Melvin J. Baker. "It is our duty as leaders and original stewards to protect the land that has been home to our ancestors since time immemorial and will be home for our future generations to come."

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is responsible for the investigation and for oversight of the cleanup, the department did not send someone to visit the site until May 1, according to ([link removed]) the Southern Ute Tribe. Now that the spill threatens to impact the Animas River, a water of the U.S., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued ([link removed]) a Notice of Federal Interest and will be "engaged in oversight" of the cleanup effort.


** Quick hits
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Push to sell public lands in the West is reigniting a political fight

Associated Press ([link removed])

15 states sue Trump admin over declaration of 'energy emergency'

New York Times ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed])

Trump promised 'energy dominance.' Instead, energy companies are faltering

Washington Post ([link removed])

U.S. judge halts plan to transfer Oak Flat land for contested Arizona copper mine

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

Survey: National park visitors willing to pay more to support wildlife habitat conservation on private land

Outdoor Life ([link removed])

A dry winter on the Colorado River has big reservoirs on track for trouble

KUNC ([link removed])

Five ways summer vacations depend on public lands

Forbes ([link removed])

Opinion: Remember that some things aren't for sale

WyoFile ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” The people of Wyoming — contrary to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s belief — have never treated our public lands as just 'national assets' on a balance sheet. We have never wanted these lands to be liquidated to pay for some short-term project like a temporary tax cut or to be transformed into a tiny pyrrhic band-aid on the societal wound that is a lack of housing supply.”

—Ryan Semerad, lead attorney representing the hunters in the 'corner-crossing' case, WyoFile ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
The beautiful white-faced Ibis, with its colorful purple, crimson, teal, and gold feathers, is sure to brighten your day!

While white-faced Ibises often appear mostly dark reddish-brown from a distance, when sunlight hits their feathers, especially during breeding season, they reveal incredible iridescent colors!

Photo at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Utah by Leslie Scopes Anderson

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