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


** Biden signs public lands digital mapping act into law
------------------------------------------------------------
Monday May 2, 2022
The Bodie Hills region in California totals 121,500 acres of BLM lands, adjacent to Forest Service and privately owned land. BLM/Flickr ([link removed])

President Joe Biden has signed into law ([link removed]) legislation that will digitize and make mapping data available to help the public access federal lands.

The database will include ([link removed]) easements and rights of way on private land; whether roads and trails are open; types of vehicles allowed on roads and trails; boundaries where hunting or recreational shooting is regulated or closed; and the boundaries of any portion of a body of water closed to entry. The data publication is slated to be completed ([link removed]) within the next four years.

The Modernizing Access to Our Public Land, or MAPLand, Act directs the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service and the Army Corps of Engineers to work together to compile the data and make it available online. Utah Rep. Blake Moore ran the bill ([link removed]) , which passed the House in March with nearly unanimous support and the Senate in April. New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich co-sponsored the legislation ([link removed]) .

"Great to see @POTUS ([link removed]) sign this bipartisan legislation into law. Digitizing land mapping helps to increase public access to America's lands and waters so everyone can experience the outdoors," Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a tweet ([link removed]) on Friday.
Quick hits


** California 100 percent powered by renewables for first time
------------------------------------------------------------

Desert Sun ([link removed])


** Poop on public lands a growing problem in Montana
------------------------------------------------------------

Bozeman Daily Chronicle ([link removed])


** Opinion: Biden should make a national monument in California from Yosemite to Kings Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------

Fresno Bee ([link removed])


** Over 30,000 acres of BLM land in Utah leased for geothermal project
------------------------------------------------------------

Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** Biden order to speed mining may not have intended affect
------------------------------------------------------------

Associated Press ([link removed])


** Report: Utah’s low-producing wells emit half of methane emissions
------------------------------------------------------------

Utah News Connection ([link removed])


** Senate committee set to vote on Colorado's CORE Act tomorrow
------------------------------------------------------------

E&E News ([link removed])


** What went wrong in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest?
------------------------------------------------------------

Anchorage Daily News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” “We are disappointed in the Biden administration for supporting this Trump-era travesty and hope that a broad panel of the Ninth Circuit will take this appeal and roll back a decision made by two judges that disregards the laws that protect our nation’s lands, waters, and wildlife.”
—Bridget Psarianos, staff attorney with Trustees for Alaska, on the proposed Izembek road, E&E News ([link removed])
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
The Tetons are one of the youngest mountain ranges in North America. They have been uplifting for less than 10 million years, making them "adolescent" mountains, compared to the Rockies (50-80 million years old) or the Appalachians (300+ million years old). Photo: @GrandTetonNPS ([link removed])

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
Copyright © 2022 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.

Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])