When did it become open season on our open spaces? First, Congress slashed conservation and environmental programs. Then we saw a backroom deal that stopped the BLM’s new Wildlands policy in its tracks. Now, to add insult to injury, we’re facing a new bill that could end efforts to protect approximately 60 million acres. Read more

It appears that the oil and gas industry can’t get their talking points straight about the energy potential of all the public wild lands they’re after. On one hand, when asked how much oil and natural gas a coveted area holds, industry lobbyists make bold predictions about abundant supply.  But once industry actually has access to public land the prospects dim considerably.  Read more

Uranium mining near the Grand Canyon? It may seem hard to believe, but up until recently, the government has allowed such dangerous mining to be conducted in the sensitive Grand Canyon ecosystem, threatening the Colorado River and Grand Canyon itself with contamination. Fortunately an end may be in sight. The Bureau of Land Management is currently considering banning new mining claims under the antiquated 1872 Mining Law in the greater Grand Canyon ecosystem. But if and how much land they protect is uncertain. Read more