Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Senate committee proposes selling 3 million acres of public land
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Thursday, June 12, 2025
Utah Senator Mike Lee. Photo by Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])
On Wednesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee released its proposed text for the budget reconciliation package that would require the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of national public lands.
Specifically, the bill requires the Interior secretary to identify up to 1.8 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land and 1.4 million acres of U.S. Forest Service land for sale to be used for housing development.
The land sale does not require any consultation with the American people, which is a major issue considering 82 percent ([link removed]) of Americans prefer building more housing within or close to existing communities over selling off public lands to develop housing.
The bill text includes no affordability requirement, no maximum lot size, and would sell off public lands in every Western state except for Montana, where the state's U.S. senators have shown opposition ([link removed]) to public land sell-offs.
“Senator Lee might think he can buy off the support of Montana’s congressional delegation by excluding Montana’s public lands, but these lands belong to every American,” said ([link removed]) Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala. “Anyone who cares about hiking, hunting, fishing, or camping would lose access to the lands that they rely on for outdoor recreation.”
Trump admin seeks to reverse mining ban near Minnesota's Boundary Waters
The Trump administration said ([link removed]) it is taking initial steps to reverse a Biden-era 20-year moratorium on mining near Minnesota's iconic Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The move comes just one day after congressional leaders struck down ([link removed]) language in the budget reconciliation bill that would have allowed mining to take place.
** Quick hits
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Senate committee releases megabill text with land sales
Washington Post ([link removed]) | Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) | Outdoor Life ([link removed]) | High Country News ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | WyoFile ([link removed]) | Wes Siler's Newsletter ([link removed]) [column]
Trump administration says it will move to allow mining near Boundary Waters, after Congress pulls back
MPR News ([link removed]) | Duluth News Tribune ([link removed])
Chevron announces root cause of giant Colorado oil spill
9NEWS ([link removed])
Uinta Basin Railway backers want $2.4 billion in tax-exempt transportation bonds as construction costs soar
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Opinion: Public land—our great equalizer
WyoFile ([link removed])
Major US climate website likely to be shut down after almost all staff fired
The Guardian ([link removed])
National monument supporters rally to defend public lands from Trump cutbacks
Arizona Republic ([link removed])
Savvy 13-year-old Teton wolf almost breaks all-time age record
WyoFile ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” If we [preserve public lands], we’ll be able to bequeath the legacy of democratically held land to our great-grandchildren from a generation that loves them and wants them to enjoy what is rightfully theirs.”
—Rod Miller, lifetime Wyoming resident, WyoFile ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@zionnps ([link removed])
“It would take more than a lifetime to really know Zion: but in a week you might come to know yourself. And that’s even better.” -Freeman Tilden
Freeman Tilden is a founder of one of the styles of natural and heritage interpretation. Our interpretation rangers in the park still use his style in practice today, connecting visitors with our park’s resources.
What does Zion mean to you?
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