Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Congress uses CRA to repeal BLM resource management plans, inviting chaos on public lands
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Thursday, October 9, 2025
The Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area in Montana is managed by the Miles City Field Office. Alyse Backus/BLM Montana ([link removed])
The U.S. Senate voted yesterday ([link removed]) to pass Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions ([link removed]) targeting the Bureau of Land Management resource management plans (RMPs) for the Miles City Field Office ([link removed]) in Montana and the North Dakota Field Office ([link removed]) .
RMPs provide the foundation for stability and order on America’s public lands, guiding how millions of acres are managed for energy, recreation, and conservation. These plans have never been treated as “rules” under the CRA, and approving CRA resolutions to overturn these plans breaks decades of precedent—inviting chaos across the nation’s public lands system ([link removed]) .
Using the CRA on RMPs in this way casts doubt on the legitimacy of every RMP ([link removed]) adopted since the CRA’s passage in 1996, throwing the management of hundreds of millions of acres of public lands into chaos.
“Teddy Roosevelt is rolling over in his grave,” said Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich ([link removed]) . “Imagine sweeping away years and years of input, conversations, not just about the public lands on one landscape but to public lands across this country, all because you what? Found a quicker, easier way?”
The Senate is expected to vote on another CRA resolution targeting the Central Yukon RMP ([link removed]) in Alaska later this week.
Emails show tension between Senate staffer and Interior official over DOI downsizing plans
Emails obtained by E&E News ([link removed]) reveal frustration between a Senate staffer and Interior department DOGE operative Tyler Hassen earlier this year. Daniel Mencher, the clerk for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, emailed Hassen seeking information and requesting a briefing about the Trump administration’s voluntary staff downsizing programs. “Many of my members are concerned and hearing DOI/NPS plans might alleviate said concerns,” said Mencher via email ([link removed]) .
The series of emails that followed shows Mencher's increasing frustration as Hassen delayed scheduling a briefing. “Tyler - How about you acknowledge you’re either not going to brief me or we get this on the books? At this point you’re just being rude,” Mencher wrote ([link removed]) shortly before the briefing was scheduled on June 8.
** Quick hits
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Congress repeals Biden land use plan for Montana
E&E News ([link removed]) | KTVH ([link removed]) | Center for Western Priorities ([link removed]) [press release]
Forest Service lags on prescribed burns after California loses 600-year-old trees to wildfire
SFGate ([link removed])
The Trump administration is allowing waste, fraud, and abuse to fester in the federal oil and gas program
Center for American Progress ([link removed])
Bandelier National Monument sees trespassing as fears over vandalism on public lands rise amid shutdown
Santa Fe New Mexican ([link removed])
Opinion: Thank you, public land patriots
Durango Herald ([link removed])
Trump’s major coal sales flop in Wyoming and Montana
WyoFile ([link removed])
New bill from Senator Lee would butcher the Wilderness Act under the guise of border security
Outdoor Life ([link removed])
Thousands of acres of federal land now open for coal leases are adjacent to Utah national parks
Utah News Dispatch ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” This vote is a power grab by a fossil-fuel friendly majority in Congress that will likely backfire spectacularly. By using the Congressional Review Act in this way, Congress is opening Pandora’s box on public lands, throwing the management of millions of acres into chaos. Ironically, oil and gas companies could be stripped of thousands of leasing permits thanks to this vote.”
—Center for Western Priorities Policy Director Rachael Hamby, press release ([link removed])
** Picture This
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[link removed]
@mtstateparks ([link removed])
Montana Landmarks!
One of our favorites is located in Tower Rock State Park!
Tower Rock was a landmark for native tribes, the Corps of Discovery, fur trappers, traders and many more that followed in their footsteps.
What is your favorite Montana landmark??
Learn more about Tower Rock State Park with the link in our story!
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