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


** Wyoming governor attempts to block public access, sale of private land
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Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Governor Mark Gordon. Mikes Groover via Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon announced late Friday ([link removed]) that he would seek to block the sale of Marton Ranch ([link removed]) to the Bureau of Land Management, which purchased over 35,670 acres and opened access to 40,000 acres of previously inaccessible public land ([link removed]) thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

“Once again, anti-conservation extremists have revealed their true agenda: keeping the public off of public land, and telling private landowners what they can and cannot do with their property," said Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala in a statement ([link removed]) . "Governor Gordon should be celebrating a sale that is a win for hunters, anglers, wildlife, and the Marton family, not trying to stop it."

A report from the Center for Western Priorities this year identified Wyoming as the worst state in the West ([link removed]) for public land protections, having protected no new acres of national public land over the last decade. In the 2022 Conservation in the West Poll ([link removed]) from the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project, two thirds of Wyoming voters supported protecting 30 percent of American lands and waters by 2030 ([link removed]) , and 7 of 10 Wyoming voters supported creating new national parks, national monuments, national wildlife refuges, and tribal protected areas.


** New report shows oil and gas executives are ripping off consumers and taxpayers
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A report from Public Citizen ([link removed]) used Interior Department data to calculate how much extra money oil and gas companies would have paid if a 18.75% royalty rate were in place when leases were sold instead of the outdated 12.5% rate. According to the report, the 20 U.S. oil and gas companies doing the most drilling on public lands would have returned up to $5.8 billion to U.S. taxpayers between 2013-2021 under an 18.75% royalty rate. The Biden administration announced ([link removed]) it will use the 18.75% rate for the new lease sales ([link removed]) later this month but has not made the higher rate permanent.
Quick hits


** U.S. Forest Service releases report on Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire
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New York Times ([link removed]) | W ([link removed]) ashington Post ([link removed]) | KOAT New Mexico ([link removed])


** BLM, Forest Service, Tribes commit to historic co-management of Bears Ears
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Navajo-Hopi Observer ([link removed]) | S ([link removed]) ource New Mexico ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | Deseret News ([link removed]) | Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** Yellowstone National Park aims for a quick reopening after floods
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Associated Press ([link removed]) | M ([link removed]) ontana Free Press ([link removed]) | Outside ([link removed]) | Deseret News ([link removed])


** After-action report finds numerous shortcomings in Marshall Fire emergency communications
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Pay to pedal? Wyoming to explore mountain bike user fees
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WyoFile ([link removed])


** Infrastructure bill to provide pay raise for federal firefighters
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Associated Press ([link removed]) | R ([link removed]) euters ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed])


** Colorado River crisis giving Tribes new opportunities to right century-old water wrongs
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Water Desk ([link removed])


** Opinion: In the scramble for a campsite, everyone deserves an equal chance
New York Times ([link removed])
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Quote of the day
” Like all national parks, we have a story. Our story is specific to a group of people who were mistreated, deprived of their constitutional rights, unjustly defined as an enemy when we had no part in that designation. Now, the story speaks to racism and how racism can be so dangerous.”
—Tanigoshi Tinker, survivor of Amache prison, C ([link removed]) ourthouse News Service ([link removed])
Picture this


** @usi ([link removed]) nterior ([link removed])
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Happy Summer Solstice! ☀️

The first day of summer is a great time to start planning your next outdoor adventure. Get started now: www.recreation.gov

Photo @grandtetonnps ([link removed]) by Josh Packer | @packtography ([link removed])

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