** August, in brief
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Smoke from the Cameron Peak Fire, seen from Rocky Mountain National Park | InciWeb ([link removed])


** Key news from August:
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* After finally nominating anti-public lands extremist William Perry Pendley to be director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)—long after he was legally allowed to remain acting director—the Trump administration pulled Pendley's nomination after public and political outrage ([link removed]) . Pendley has a history of calling for the sale of public lands ([link removed]) , working to dismantle public lands protections and access, overt racism ([link removed]) toward Native tribes, denial ([link removed]) of climate change, and anti-immigration and LGBTQ sentiments. Despite Pendley's inability to be confirmed by the Senate, Secretary Bernhardt intends to keep Pendley in
his role at the BLM. Pendley himself signed ([link removed]) the succession order that keeps him in power, which is likely illegal ([link removed]) . Forty-seven ([link removed]) U.S. Senators, Montana Governor Steve Bullock ([link removed]) , conservation groups ([link removed]) , and an outdoors group ([link removed]) composed of hunters and anglers have ratcheted up their calls for Pendley to be removed.
* The Trump administration approved a plan ([link removed]) to open up 1.5 million acres of the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling. The plan ([link removed]) opens the refuge's Coastal Plain, overturning 6 decades of protections for the largest remaining wilderness in the United States, which is sacred to indigenous tribes. However, financial institutions have recently expressed resistance ([link removed]) to financing drilling in ANWR or the Arctic. Multiple lawsuits have been filed ([link removed]) against Interior's plan.
* After decades of bipartisan work, the Great American Outdoors Act ([link removed]) was finally signed into law. The law permanently funds LWCF and dedicates $9.5 billion to address the maintenance backlog on public lands. While the bill is great news for public lands, environmentalists were quick to point out that President Trump is the most anti-conservation president in history ([link removed]) , and only signed the GAOA after it passed both houses of Congress with veto-proof bipartisan majorities.
* The increasing effects of climate change have turbocharged ([link removed]) this year's wildfire season, which erupted this month. Colorado's largest fire ([link removed]) on record is still burning, and is only one of dozens ([link removed]) of fires in the southwest. California fires ([link removed]) have gone hand-in-hand with smog, lightning, power outages, and heat records. Fires have impacted national monuments and national and state parks ([link removed]) . However, earlier this month, it was reported that state and federal
agencies are not tracking or sharing ([link removed]) COVID-19 information. Smoke in the West has prompted respiratory health warnings ([link removed]) even as the COVID-19 pandemic ([link removed]) continues to rage across the country.
* After far-reaching opposition ([link removed]) , the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reversed its decision ([link removed]) to include land near Utah's stunning Arches and Canyonlands National Parks near Moab in its planned September oil and gas lease sale. However, the Trump administration resumed oil and gas lease sales, with drillers showing far less interest ([link removed]) than in the past. Despite the lack of industry interest and lack of a fair return for taxpayers, Interior Secretary Bernhardt and the Bureau of Land Management are plowing ahead ([link removed]) with major
lease sales across the West. The BLM is also pushing ahead ([link removed]) with a land use plan that could increase drilling around New Mexico's Chaco Culture National Historical Park, despite not being able to meaningfully consult nearby tribes, which is legally required. Tribes and the congressional delegation have raised concerns ([link removed]) .
* The Trump administration weakened a major methane regulation ([link removed]) , freeing oil and gas companies from the need to detect and repair leaks. The new rules effectively deregulate methane storage and transmission ([link removed]) , even though methane is a potent greenhouse gas that causes climate change and leaks have been on the rise.
* Interior's internal watchdog released a report that found political appointees at the department withheld public documents mentioning ([link removed]) Interior Secretary David Bernhardt ahead of his confirmation hearing. The report also bolsters lawmakers' claim that Interior Solicitor Daniel Jorjani lied ([link removed]) to members of Congress.
* Despite objections, the Bureau of Land Management finalized its headquarters relocation ([link removed]) . The move to Grand Junction, Colorado cost the agency more than 70 percent ([link removed]) of its D.C.-based employees, with the new headquarters struggling ([link removed]) to fill vacant positions.
* Documents revealed that the Trump administration prevented federal laboratory research from seeing the light of day. That research ([link removed]) could have modernized the power grid, reduced reliance on coal, and saved consumers billions of dollars.
* Western mining was in the news all month. After five years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Utah reached a settlement ([link removed]) to resolve the lawsuit resulting from the Gold King Mine toxic waste release. A new report ([link removed]) found that nearly half of our nation's critical mineral deposits are in trout and salmon habitat, and one in ten deposits lies beneath protected public lands. And Wyoming
([link removed]) is on track to complete 96 mine reclamation projects by the end of the
year, generating $200 million for local economies and employing hundreds of workers… but the future of mine cleanup funds is in doubt.


**
What to watch for in September:
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* Controversy over William Perry Pendley has continued all month. Expect more of it in September as we wait to see if Interior Secretary Bernhardt removes the anti-public lands extremist from the head of the Bureau of Land Management.
* Fire season is far from over. Blazes still burn all across the West, and will continue to make headlines.
* Public land oil and gas lease sales have started back up despite a lack of interest from the industry. Look for the outcome of numerous lease sales in September, many of which have extensive conservation conflicts.
* The Trump administration's pattern of environmental rollbacks written by extractive industries has continued. Watch for more rollbacks as we move through September.
* The Road to 30 Virtual Tour ([link removed]) will be holding its fifth event in New Mexico. Stay tuned for details!

Best Reads of the Month


** Surging tourism amid pandemic strains Yellowstone gateway town of Jackson Hole
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National Geographic ([link removed])


** National Parks are overcrowded despite covid-19 risk
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National Public Radio ([link removed])


** Colorado ecologists look to Yellowstone for lessons on wolf reintroduction
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Vail Daily ([link removed])


** Women battle blazes and barriers as wildland firefighters
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National Geographic ([link removed])


** Public lands get big play in Western 2020 elections
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HuffPost ([link removed])


** Donald Trump, Kanye West, and a weird western bird are all somehow involved in a major conservation battle
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Mother Jones ([link removed])
From the Center for Western Priorities:


** A force of nature: New ads highlight growing outdoor voting bloc
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This month, the Center for Western Priorities released two new video ads highlighting the Mountain West’s growing outdoor voting bloc — estimated to be 2 million voters strong.

The ads are part of our Winning the West project, which over the past several election cycles has documented how public land conservation is a winning campaign issue, due to a growing number of bipartisan Westerners who vote to keep the West’s public lands, protected and accessible. Research from our recent Winning the West 2020 ([link removed]) poll shows in the midst of a global pandemic, Mountain West voters’ connection to the outdoors has never been deeper and support for public lands conservation is growing.

As we near November’s historic elections, it is worth keeping an eye on outdoor voters. Public lands and the lifestyles they support are bringing people together in a time of isolation, distance, and political tension — and we can expect Westerners to bring their passion for the outdoors to the polls.
Read the blog ([link removed])

[link removed]

“Mailboxes” personifies the West’s outdoor voting bloc. In it we see a outdoor enthusiasts in action, each of them carrying a ballot in hand. Along their treks, each individual drops their ballot into a mailbox, symbolizing the unique role outdoor issues play in the choices Western voters make.

[link removed]

In an ever-dividing political climate,“Voting Booth” shows the ways in which public lands unite voters in the West. The ad shows nine individuals hiking separately and eventually converging. They assemble around a voting booth, united in their support for the outdoors and public lands issues.


** The Road to 30 Virtual Tour: Montana
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This month, the Road to 30 virtual tour continued with a stop in Montana. This month’s event emphasized local conservation and the role of sportsmen and women at the forefront of land and water protection and access efforts. The event featured Frank Szollosi, Executive Director of Montana Wildlife Federation ([link removed]) (MWF), Rachelle Schrute with Montana Artemis Alliance ([link removed]) , a sportswomen and conservation organization, and Nick Gevock, MWF’s Conservation Director.

We discussed the importance of protecting 30 percent of America by 2030, the role that Montana can play in reaching that goal, and how climate change is impacting Montana's ecosystems.
Watch the Montana event ([link removed])
Read the event summary ([link removed]-----------------------)
Visit the campaign website ([link removed])
[link removed]


**
Westwise Blog:
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** August Update: ([link removed]) The Trump Administration’s Unfinished Business on Public Lands ([link removed])
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** Tracking the Interior Department’s remaining policy changes impacting lands, water, and wildlife
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The fight to save Bristol Bay ([link removed])

With the clock ticking on a final Record of Decision ([link removed]) regarding the controversial Pebble Mine ([link removed]) project in Alaska, a conversation with documentary film director Mark Titus ([link removed]) and United Tribes of Bristol Bay ([link removed]) ‘s Alannah Hurley about Mark’s film, The Wild ([link removed]) .
Quote of the month


** "That’s baloney. That’s not how it works. You don’t want the deputy director of policy and programs being able to dictate who’s in charge of the (bureau.) It’s too important an agency... He needs to be removed."
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** — Montana Senator Jon Tester on William Perry Pendley's involvement with the Bureau of Land Management succession plan, A ([link removed]) ssociated Press ([link removed])
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Picture this


** Check out and share more graphics about outdoor voters on Twitter with #OutdoorVoter
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