Muddy Creek in the San Rafael Swell, Utah                                                                                (Mike Painter)

 
March 31, 2017

Dear CalUWild friends—

We’ll leave the April Fool’s Day jokes for tomorrow, as there’s a lot to be aware of this month. The new administration in Washington is forging ahead, trying to undo much of the progress we’ve made in the U.S. on many fronts. Unfortunately, public lands are no exception, and Congress is going right along with the effort and spearheading initiatives of its own.

But the situation isn’t hopeless, as citizens are increasingly and actively speaking out to make their opinions known to politicians. That’s what CalUWild has been encouraging since our founding in 1997, so we’ll keep on providing you with the tools and information you need to be effective advocates on the important issues facing wilderness and public lands.

 
As always, many thanks for your interest and support,
Mike

 
 
IN UTAH
1.   Red Rock Wilderness Bill Introduction Next Week
          (ACTION ITEM)
2.   Keep Up the Support for the Bears Ears National Monument
          CALLS NEEDED
          (ACTION ITEM)

IN GENERAL
3.   Legislative Rundown
          (ACTION ITEMS)
          a.   Rep. Bishop: Budget Request
          b.   Rep. Chaffetz: Local Law Enforcement
          c.   Rep. McClintock: Bikes in Wilderness
          d.   New BLM Planning Rules Revoked
4.   April Environmental Events
          (ACTION ITEMS)
          a.   National Parks Week
                    April 15-23
          b.   March for Science
                    April 22
          c.   People’s Climate March
                    April 29

IN OREGON
5.   Guilty Verdicts in Second Malheur Occupation Trial

IN THE PRESS & ELSEWHERE
6.   Links to Articles and Other Items of Interest

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IN UTAH
1.   Red Rock Wilderness Bill Introduction Next Week
          (ACTION ITEM)

We’ve just learned that Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-47) of Long Beach is planning to reintroduce America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (ARRWA) on April 6. This has been CalUWild’s #1 legislative priority since we were founded in 1997. The bill would designate over 9 million acres of BLM land in Utah as Wilderness.

For information on the history of ARRWA, click here. You may find a map of the various areas proposed for designation, click here.

When the bill is introduced, it is important that there be a large number of cosponsors—other members who want to show their strong support for it. This signals that it’s an important piece of legislation. Cosponsors also can usually be counted on to defend the areas in question when threats to their integrity arise. California, with its 53 House members, has always an important part of that support network, even more so, now that ARRWA’s chief sponsor is from California, too.

In addition to Rep. Lowenthal, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-2), Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-9), and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-14) have committed to us to sign on as original cosponsors. If you live in one of their districts, please contact their offices to say Thank You!

We would like to see the following House Members from California sign on, as well. Those with an asterisk (*) next to their names have cosponsored in the past.

Rep. Lowenthal’s office has not sent out a list yet of cosponsors, so some of these representatives may have already signed on. Therefore, when calling, it’s best to phrase your request as: “If Rep. X has not already signed on as an original cosponsor, I’d like him/her to contact Rep. Lowenthal’s office to do so.”

Though wilderness has long been a non-partisan issue, in recent years, designations have received little support from Republican officeholders, especially here in the West. Therefore, we are not listing any GOP targets for the cosponsor campaign. If you are represented by a Republican, though, it is a good idea to contact the office with the message that you support wilderness, public lands, and national monuments. They need to hear that message from as many of their constituents as possible.

Complete contact information for representatives may be found by following the links here.

In the U.S. Senate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D) is new, so it is important that she hear from many Californians in support of the bill. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) will be the chief Senate sponsor once more, though no date for reintroduction has been announced. Here is contact information for Sen. Harris:

          Phone:   202-224-3553
          Other contact info

 
2.   Keep Up the Support for the Bears Ears National Monument
          CALLS NEEDED
          (ACTION ITEM)

The calls for the revocation or shrinking of Bear Ears National Monument in Southeastern Utah continue, mostly coming from Utah’s politicians. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has given no indication of his thinking on the issue. He stated that among his first actions would be to travel to Utah to talk to various interested parties about the monument. So far he has not set a date for a visit.

Last month we asked for calls to the Secretary’s office in support of the monument. The number to call is:

Reports are that calls have been pouring into the Interior Department, so other numbers to try are:

If you haven’t called, please do. And if you have already, please call again to reiterate your support. And don’t forget to also mention that you oppose any modification to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument’s boundaries. (Utah politicians are eyeing the coal deposits in the Kaiparowits Plateau there.)

Our friends at the Center for Western Priorities have created a short video titled What Would Teddy Do?, explaining in 2 minutes and 25 seconds, the controversy and the connection to Ryan Zinke (who professes to be an ardent admirer of Teddy Roosevelt. Watch it!

If you watch or listen to PBS’s NewsHour, you will have noticed over the past month that Patagonia, the outdoor gear company, has become a sponsor of the program. They’ve included a 15-second piece about the Bears Ears with their sponsorship notice. They’ve also worked with Google to produce a series of ten short films on various aspects of Bears Ears National Monument, with 360° filming, so you can drag your cursor around to see the full scene. Check them out!

The monument continues to attract widespread attention in the press. Just one example: An article appeared in the National Catholic Reporter: Bears Ears National Monument, sacred to native tribes, faces challenge to its status.

 
IN GENERAL
3.   Legislative Rundown
          (ACTION ITEMS)

There have been a few proposals and bills of general interest introduced in the new Congress.

          a.   Rep. Bishop: Budget Request

Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) made a last-minute budget request of $50 million to facilitate the transfer of federal public lands to state control. Please call Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee

          202-225-5034

and Rep. Ken Calvert R-CA-42), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment & Related Agencies

          202-225-1986

and tell them that their spending bills must not include Bishop’s proposal to give away public lands

         b.   Rep. Chaffetz: Local Law Enforcement

We wrote last month about two bills introduced by Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R). H.R. 622 would strip law enforcement powers from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management and turn it over to local sheriffs. This is a backdoor approach to turning over our federal lands to local control, as the local authorities would then have discretion as to which laws they wanted to enforce and how strictly. Call your representatives opposing this bill. In response to public outcry, Mr. Chaffetz said he would kill the other bill to dispose of over 3 million acres of our public lands. Maybe this bill will meet the same fate.

         c.   Rep. McClintock: Bikes in Wilderness

California’s Rep. Tom McClintock (R-4) has introduced H.R. 1349, a bill to amend the Wilderness Act, allowing bicycles and other means of mechanical transport in wilderness areas. As mountain biking has grown in popularity over the years, there has been a push to open designated wilderness area to bicycle use. We have always strongly opposed the idea, because it contradicts the very values of leaving the modern world behind when going into wilderness. The International Mountain Biking Association has also opposed proposals like this in the past, so with your help, we hope the bill doesn’t go anywhere.

For Items 3.b & 3.c, please call your congressional representative.

         d.   New BLM Planning Rules Revoked

Over the last few years, the BLM undertook a thorough revision of its planning rules and released them last year. The new rules, called Planning 2.0, were created—with much public input—to streamline what is often an unwieldy and time-consuming process. (Former BLM Director Neil Kornze said that land use plans often took up to eight years to complete, by which time conditions and priorities might have changed.)

One would think that the Republicans in Congress would be happy with the new rules, but it appears as if they never even bothered to read them. I generally don’t ascribe motivations to people, but, in a move that is so counter-intuitive that it can only be interpreted as anti-Obama animus, the GOP turned to the Congressional Review Act, passed in 1996 as part of the so-called Contract with America.

This law allows Congress to disapprove any federal regulations finalized within the previous 60 legislative days (i.e., days when Congress actually in session, not calendar days. Since the 114th Congress was not in session much last year, the timeframe stretches back to May 2016.) If the president signs a given resolution, the rules are revoked. Additionally, the agency is prohibited from subsequently developing new rules that are substantially the same, without express permission from Congress. According to Wikipedia, prior to the 115th Congress, the law had only been invoked once, in 2001. As of today, the administration has signed eight resolutions into law, including the one for the BLM Rules on March 27. Five more await a signature or veto from the White House.

After the signing ceremony, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke tweeted: “Proud to stand behind @POTUS today for BLM 2.0 repeal. Now it’s time to get to work toward #EnergyIndependence”

He’s new on the job, but this tweet doesn’t bode well for Secty. Zinke’s tenure. Though it’s too late to stop this, please call his office to voice your objection.

 
4.   April Environmental Events
(ACTION ITEMS)

In addition to Earth Day, there are a few special events worth bringing to your attention.

          a.   National Parks Week
                    April 15-23

The 118 National Park Service sites that normally charge entrance fees will offer free admission on the weekends bracketing the week: April 15, 16, 22, and 23. Information on special events and activities at Park Service sites around the country may be found here.

 
Science and climate change play a significant role in the management and conditions of wilderness and public lands. The White House has been systematically rolling back progress on both. Major changes in the regulatory framework are underway, and the New York Times just reported on the large number of unfilled science advisory posts in the administration.

Two major events are scheduled for the last two Saturdays in April in cities around the world.

          b.   March for Science
                    April 22

The March for Science on April 22 is scheduled to coincide with Earth Day. The main march will be in Washington, DC, but there are 428 satellite marches scheduled (as of this writing). Click here to find one near you. The organizers ask that you sign up so they can get an accurate number of participants.

          c.   People’s Climate March
                    April 29

April 29, the following Saturday, will see the People’s Climate March, again with the main march in the nation’s capital and satellite marches elsewhere. Click here for more information.

 
IN OREGON
5.   Guilty Verdicts in Second Malheur Occupation Trial

A federal jury in Portland found four defendants guilty of charges related to the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Oregon. Two defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to impede federal officers, and two others were found guilty of deprivation of federal property, but acquitted on the conspiracy charges. One was found guilty of carrying a firearm in a federal facility.

Though the facts were the same as those in last year’s trial of Ammon and Ryan Bundy and other occupiers, the outcome was different, a vagary of the American jury system.

A sentencing date has not been announced. Those convicted of conspiracy face up to six years imprisonment.

Oregon Public Broadcasting has a comprehensive archive of news articles related to the occupation.

 
IN THE PRESS & ELSEWHERE
6.   Links to Articles and Other Items of Interest

If a link is broken or otherwise inaccessible, please send me an email, and I’ll fix it or send you a PDF copy. As always, inclusion of an item in this section does not imply agreement with the viewpoint expressed.

Public lands in general

Video links

 
 
 
 
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