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


** Biden: Feds to fund 100% of immediate recovery for New Mexico wildfire
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Monday, June 13, 2022
Satellite image of the the Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak fire in New Mexico, the largest in state history. Source: NASA Earth Observatory ([link removed])

During a visit to New Mexico last weekend, President Biden said the federal government will pay for 100% of the recovery effort for the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire that was accidentally started by a prescribed burn conducted by the U.S. Forest Service ([link removed]) .

“We have a responsibility as a government to deal with the communities who are put in jeopardy,” Biden said in remarks at the emergency operations center in Santa Fe ([link removed]) . “And today I’m announcing the federal government is covering 100 percent of the cost of debris removal and emergency protective measures for the next critical months.”

The White House released a follow-up statement ([link removed]) clarifying the 100% cost coverage applies to "the first 90 days of the incident period," an increase from the 75% federal coverage under the New Mexico Disaster Declaration issued in May. “This additional support will help ensure that New Mexico has no financial limitations related to immediate lifesaving and life sustaining operations related to the ongoing wildfires, including urgent debris removal,” the White House said of Biden’s order. The clock is already ticking for post-fire restoration efforts ([link removed]) to begin in previously burned areas in order to protect waterways from sediment runoff and erosion.

The U.S. Forest Service acknowledged ([link removed]) it was responsible for the two fires that merged last month to form the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire as a result of escaped federal pile burns. The fire has become the largest in the state's history, burning more than 300,000 acres to date ([link removed]) .


** Sec. Haaland announces Indian Youth Service Corps
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Interior Secretary Deb Haaland joined tribal leaders, community partners, and Indigenous youth to celebrate the launch of the Indian Youth Service Corps ([link removed]) , a new partnership-based program that will provide meaningful education, employment, and training opportunities to Indigenous youth through conservation projects on public and Indian lands, and Hawaiian homelands. “In addition to completing much-needed conservation projects that will enhance landscapes and ecosystems on tribal and public lands, the Indian Youth Service Corps will have considerable focus on vocational skills training, economic empowerment and career development for Indigenous youth,” said Secretary Haaland ([link removed]) . The Indian Youth Service Corps will work on publicly managed and tribal lands with help
from$1 million in funding from the National Park Foundation and up to $5 million more from the U.S. Forest Service ([link removed]) .
Quick hits


** Yellowstone to rename peak honoring massacre leader to "First People's Mountain"
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The Hill ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Joe Neguse didn't run for Congress to fight wildfires, but climate change had other plans
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TIME ([link removed])


** Report: More than 8 million acres of public land in limbo over legality of corner crossing
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Billings Gazette ([link removed])


** Tensions rise over plans to drill 40 water wells in Bears Ears for livestock
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** Hudbay vastly overhauls mining plans for Tucson's Santa Rita mountains
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Arizona Daily Star ([link removed])


** Biden: Federal govt. to fund 100% of recovery for wildfire sparked by U.S. Forest Service
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The Hill ([link removed]) | CNN ([link removed]) | Las Cruces Sun News ([link removed]) | Reuters ([link removed])


** How to plan a hike during wildfire season in Colorado
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Rep. Dina Titus: Make Avi Kwa Ame Nevada's next national monument
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Las Vegas Sun ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” Our ancestors have stewarded this land and passed on traditions that teach us how to respect and care for not only the land, but for one another. That’s why I’m inviting Indigenous youth like myself to become involved with public lands that are also the traditional homeland of our people."
—Brittany Chavarria ([link removed]) , Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps intern at the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico
Picture this


** @BLMWyoming ([link removed])
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You’re never too young to start fishing! Take your kids out during #FishingandBoatingWeek ([link removed]) ! Photo: Bryan Nealy

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