November, in brief

Key news from November:

• As Westerners took to the voting booth, public lands played a key role in a number of tight elections. In Colorado, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper promoted proposals to expand wilderness and protect historic landscapes while defeating incumbent Senator Cory Gardner, who campaigned heavily on his conservation record. In Montana, Senator Steve Daines touted the recent passage of the Great American Outdoors Act on his path to defeating Governor Steve Bullock, who spoke frequently about protecting and expanding access to public lands. In Arizona, Mark Kelly touted his support for climate action and protecting the Grand Canyon from uranium mining in his victory over incumbent Martha McSally. Polling by the Center for Western Priorities finds that 81 percent of voters in Mountain West states say public lands, parks, and wildlife will be important in deciding which candidates to support.
• People across the West also voted on ballot measures impacting public lands, wildlife, and energy. In Nevada, voters approved a constitutional amendment to reach 50 percent renewable electricity by 2030. In Colorado, voters narrowly approved a ballot proposition to reintroduce wolves in the state. Utahns overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment establishing a constitutional right to hunting and fishing and declaring hunting as the primary method to manage and control wildlife within the state.
• As vote counts continued to roll in, it became clear that Indigenous voters in Arizona were a key voting bloc that put Biden on his path to winning the state. The unified tribal turnout is a strong repudiation of the Trump administration's anti-Indigenous policies.
• As the Biden administration begins their transition, the first 100 days could mean a drastic shift for America's public lands. The administration could act quickly on the environment through actions such as restoring monuments and signing an executive order setting a goal of protecting 30 percent of American lands and waters by 2030. Recommendations from climate experts also include creating a climate council to advise the Interior Secretary and bringing the leadership of the Bureau of Land Management back to Washington, DC.
• Even as Biden prepares to protect the environment after taking office, the Trump administration has begun its race against the clock to finish a long list of environmental rollbacks. As part of its agenda, the Trump administration has begun a rushed process to offer oil and gas leases in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In addition, the Trump administration announced plans to ease protections for sage-grouse in the West and relaxed rules against killing migratory birds. The U.S. Forest Service gutted environmental reviews to speed logging and extraction, excluding scientific review and community input. An analysis found that the Trump administration has rolled back more than 125 environmental safeguards, with dozens more in the works.
• Even as the Trump administration moves forward with stripping environmental protections, its "energy dominance" agenda continued to lose in court and following environmental reviews. A federal judge blocked new oil and gas drilling permits in Wyoming until the Bureau of Land Management adequately assesses climate change impacts; the second time that the court has rebuked environmental assessments on these particular leases. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also struck a devastating blow against the proposed Pebble Mine near Alaska's Bristol Bay, saying that the project proponent's plan to deal with waste “does not comply with Clean Water Act guidelines,” and, “the proposed project is contrary to the public interest.”
• Just after the election, Interior Department and Trump administration undermined the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). They missed a key deadline for the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), failing to identify Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) projects. Even after submitting lists to Congress, the Interior Department has been continually vague about allocations for the new funding. Additionally, a new Interior Department order undermines the program, requiring state and county government approval for purchasing land from voluntary sellers.
• In wildlife corridor news, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon selected members of the state's first migration corridor working group, representing a diverse range of interests.

What to watch for in December:

• With two months left in the Trump administration, here are the environmental rollbacks it is trying to accomplish.
• Biden has begun to name his cabinet nominees, putting focus on Senator Tom Udall and House Representative Deb Haaland, both of New Mexico, as potential Interior Secretary. Haaland would be the first Native American Interior Secretary. Keep an eye out for announcements!
• Congress is once again poised to pass major conservation legislation. Negotiators for the House and Senate are hoping to reach an agreement on a must-pass defense spending bill, including provisions that would protect iconic landscapes across the West.