The agency failed to consider water use.
Bureau of Land Management
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
Interior Department border deployments are mired in secrecy
Law enforcement agents guarding wildlife refuges have been sent to the border, leaving public lands more exposed.
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
Mining laws have long been used for recreation
In Idaho, a law meant to boost mining actually allows for its end as recreation transforms the West’s economy.
Posted inMay 13, 2019: Atomic Tourists
Bears Ears’ only visitor center isn’t run by the feds
With the monument facing stripped-down protections and sky rocketing visitation, a local nonprofit built its own guerrilla visitor center to educate the masses.
Posted inMay 13, 2019: Atomic Tourists
How recreation boosts the economy
From travelers to new residents, outdoor enthusiasts make an impact on the West’s bottom lines.
Posted inArticles
Study finds 96% of national parks have hazardous air quality
Popular parks such as Yosemite and Joshua Tree have pollution levels that threaten visitors and wildlife.
Posted inArticles
5 reasons to keep geotagging
Public lands face far greater threats than recreational overuse.
Posted inArticles
Judge orders industries to pay royalties for public land extraction
Tens of millions more dollars will flow into Western communities after a federal court throws out the Trump administration’s industry-friendly deal.
Posted inMay 27, 2019: Public Pushback
Fire-starting ranchers get a new blessing from BLM
The agency hopes the Hammonds’ cows will reduce fire risk in eastern Oregon.
Posted inApril 15, 2019: Scene of the Crime
Cliven Bundy case appealed by feds
Prosecutor says missteps were inadvertent.
Posted inMay 27, 2019: Public Pushback
Climate cases set the stage for oil and gas leasing reform
The decisions could curb greenhouse gas emissions from public lands.
Posted inArticles
A silver lining to sage grouse rollbacks?
While there’s less protection overall, a few Western states restore regulations that match or surpass original plans.
Posted inArticles
Oil industry leaders marvel at their access to Interior
‘We have unprecedented access to people that are in these positions who are trying to help us, which is great.’
Posted inArticles
Mining companies pollute waterways. Citizens pay.
Nearly 2 billion pounds of toxic waste were dumped into western waterways in 2017, and taxpayers are left to clean up the mess.
Posted inArticles
Should energy interests outweigh wildlife?
In Wyoming, Trump’s energy dominance mandate could irreparably devastate mule deer migrations.
Posted inJanuary 21, 2019: What Killed Washington's Carbon Tax?
Feds to open most of Arctic refuge coastal plain to drilling
Despite ecological harm, energy development moves forward in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Posted inMarch 18, 2019: Arizona's Wild Horse Paradox
Arizona’s wild horse paradox
Activists and agencies try to balance the West’s horse mythology against herd impacts.
Posted inArticles
More plans, less protection for sage grouse
A final environmental assessment weakens drilling restrictions on millions of acres.
Posted inArticles
Wyoming’s data trespass laws remain defeated
The state did not appeal a ruling striking down portions of the laws over free speech.
Posted inDecember 10, 2018: Critical Mass
Latest: BLM abandons plan to surgically sterilize wild horses
The agency will focus on increasing adoption of horses and research other methods.