** House panel blocks military control of Nevada wildlife refuge
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Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada. Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region ([link removed])

A congressional committee voted last Friday ([link removed]) to block the United States Air Force's proposal to expand the Nevada Test & Training Range further into the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. The proposal was included as part of a military spending bill and would have given the Air Force greater authority for the management of the refuge.

The Desert National Wildlife Refuge ([link removed]) is the largest in the lower 48 states, covering 2,500 square miles of the Mojave Desert across six mountain ranges. The refuge is home to endangered desert bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and 320 species of birds, and also includes ancestral tribal lands ([link removed]) and recreation areas. Consequently, the expansion of the testing range was opposed ([link removed]) by tribal nations, conservation organizations, sportsmen, military veterans and anti-war activists, and even the state legislature and governor.

The amendment to allow the Air Force the final say in managing their activities within the refuge was offered by Utah Representative Rob Bishop ([link removed]) without the knowledge of the Nevada congressional delegation. Patrick Donnelly, Nevada state director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement ([link removed]) , “We have beaten back the Bishop amendment and the Air Force's sneaky maneuver. This is the result of a massive organizing effort, mobilizing tens of thousands of people across the country, and the years of coalition building that we've done.”


** Report: People of color are three times more likely to live in areas without access to nature
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The findings from a new report ([link removed]) released today from the Hispanic Access Foundation and the Center for American Progress indicate that Black, Indigenous, Latino, and other racial minority communities are three times more likely ([link removed]) to live in areas without access to nature. Unequal access to natural areas has significant health implications in the form of disparities in air quality and the ability to enjoy the benefits of parks and shaded areas in urban environments.
Quick hits


** Tests of sewage confirm presence of coronavirus in Yosemite National Park
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Associated Press ([link removed]) | San Francisco Chronicle ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Report: People of color are more likely to live in areas with limited access to nature
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** Montana is suing the Trump administration to block William Perry Pendley from leading the BLM in acting role
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Associated Press ([link removed]) | Great Falls Tribune ([link removed]) | Missoula Current ([link removed])


** Report: New renewable energy generation is cheaper to produce than coal
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S&P Global ([link removed])


** Opinion: William Perry Pendley is not fit for the job of BLM Director
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** House panel blocks expansion of military training range in Nevada national wildlife refuge
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Las Vegas Sun ([link removed]) | Nevada Independent ([link removed])


** Coalition of states, tribes, NGOs is suing to block the Trump administration from leasing federal coal
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The Hill ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed])


** Border wall construction threatens sacred spring in southern Arizona
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National Geographic ([link removed])
Quote of the day
As someone who spent more than three decades working at the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, I know first-hand the dedication and commitment of BLM employees to follow the agency’s mission to 'sustain the health, diversity and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.' It’s not always easy. The myriad of demands from outdoor recreationists, ranchers and energy companies can often be at odds. But I was proud to be part of a team that understood the importance of public lands and the need for a balanced approach in managing those lands. William Perry Pendley has no such understanding and is in no way fit to lead this agency."
—Mike Penfold ([link removed]) , retired BLM state director & U.S. Forest Service forest supervisor
Picture this


** @BLMNational ([link removed])
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Happy #NationalMoonDay ([link removed]) from #publiclands ([link removed]) managed by the Bureau of Land Management - Wyoming! Thank you to guest photographer Alan Krakauer for this awesome pic snapped near Hudson, Wyoming. #RecreateResponsibly ([link removed])

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