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


** Western leaders push back against overturning BLM Public Lands Rule
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Friday, November 7, 2025
Veterans fire crew helps plant whitebark pine. Source: BLM Flickr ([link removed]) .

More than 180 local elected leaders ([link removed]) from across the West are urging the Trump administration to abandon its push to roll back the Bureau of Land Management's Public Lands Rule ([link removed]'s%20Public%20Lands,already%20a%20way%20of%20life.) .

The letter ([link removed]) signed by county commissioners and supervisors, mayors, and council members and trustees states that any rollback of the Public Lands Rule will negatively impact Western communities’ wildlife habitat, treasured recreation areas, critical water resources, and Indigenous cultural sites.

Finalized in 2024, the rule finally put conservation, ecosystem restoration ([link removed]) , and community access on equal footing with extractive uses like mining, drilling, and grazing. A Center for Western Priorities analysis showed that 92 percent of public comments submitted ([link removed]) in the spring of 2023 during the comment period supported the Public Lands Rule.

The BLM's 60-day comment period on the proposed rule rescission closes on Monday, November 10. To submit a comment, please visit regulations.gov ([link removed]) .

Report: The health costs of fossil fuel pollution

A new collaborative report developed by health and medical experts examines the direct health impacts of fossil fuel pollution across every system of the body and every stage of fossil fuel use. The report, “Fueling Sickness: The Hidden Health Costs of Fossil Fuel Pollution, ([link removed]) ” highlights how fossil fuel pollution is affecting the health of all Americans. The air pollution created when coal and oil and gas are extracted and used to generate electricity, power vehicles, heat buildings, and fuel industrial activities releases pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and others that contribute to asthma attacks, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and premature death. To learn more, download a copy of the full report ([link removed]) on the Physicians for Social Responsibility website.


** Quick hits
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Trump nominates Steve Pearce for BLM director

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed]) | NOTUS ([link removed]) | The Guardian ([link removed]) | Colorado Politics ([link removed]) | Albuquerque Journal ([link removed]) | KOAT7 ([link removed]) | Deseret News ([link removed])

Native activists protest against more oil and gas drilling in the Greater Chaco landscape

SourceNM ([link removed])

Only a few days left to comment on plan to scrap the BLM Public Lands Rule

Field & Stream ([link removed])

The shutdown is pushing Forest Service staff to the brink

NOTUS ([link removed])

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reverses recovery plan for gray wolves

National Parks Traveler ([link removed])

New study estimates economic value of bear sightings in Yellowstone

Outside ([link removed])

The impacts of the record-breaking government shutdown on energy and environmental agencies

E&E News ([link removed])

Opinion: Attacks on Arizona's national monuments undermine public opinion, local voices

Arizona Daily Star ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” The BLM wants to wish you a happy Native American Heritage Month by selling your resources, by selling your water to oil and gas.”

—Cheyenne Antonio, speaking at a protest against more drilling in the Greater Chaco landscape, SourceNM ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@nvstateparks ([link removed])
Carson Kit Fox’s first fall season! 🎃🦊

He had the best time celebrating with everyone, starting with the Fall Festival at @sandharborstatepark ([link removed]) where he met so many amazing friends (including princesses, dragons, and superheroes!), and then dancing in his very first Nevada Day Parade!

Here’s to even more adventures across our beautiful Nevada State Parks! 🍂

#carsonkitfox ([link removed]) #nvstateparks ([link removed]) #sandharbor ([link removed]) #spookyvibes ([link removed]) #parade ([link removed]) #nevadaday ([link removed]) #fall ([link removed]) #adventures ([link removed]) #explore ([link removed]) #highfive ([link removed])

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