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Trump Administration Advances Roadless Rule Repeal at the Expense of Wildlife, Clean Water and Public Will
The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released its proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement seeking to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a bedrock law that protects 45 million acres of national forests managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Judge Vacates Land Exchange, Halts Road Through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
A federal judge today vacated an illegal closed-door deal between the U.S. Department of the Interior and a for-profit Alaska Native corporation, King Cove Corp., that exchanged a 10.5-mile corridor of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness lands to enable a road connecting King Cove and Cold Bay.
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Defenders Strongly Opposes USDA Proposal to Dismantle Long-Standing Protections for National Forests
The United States Department of Agriculture today announced that the U.S. Forest Service has filed a proposed rule to fully rescind the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule — a bedrock conservation policy that has protected nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forests for over two decades.
Press Releases
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Congress Urges Interior Dept. To Abandon Reinterpretation of 100-Year-Old Law Protecting Migratory Birds
Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), today, joined with House colleagues Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Francis Rooney (R-FL), and 48 other House Members in calling
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How Climate Change Impacts Fires in the West
The U.S. is facing a deadly record-breaking fire season, with nearly 70 (down from 128 two weeks ago) wildfires burning across 12 states.
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Seismic blasting efforts halted in Atlantic Ocean
A status conference on seismic litigation revealed today the industry will not pursue efforts to employ seismic blasting to search the Atlantic Ocean for offshore petroleum deposits this year, and possibly for several years.
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Defenders of Wildlife Condemns Racist Act at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This week, Defenders of Wildlife joined 51 other conservation and outdoor recreation organizations in sending a letter to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash condemning the recent racist act that took place at the entrance of the park’s Foothills Parkway.
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Gov. Newsom Approves Two Critical Environmental Protection Bills
Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 1788, the California Ecosystems Protection Act of 2020 and earlier this week approved the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (Senate Bill (SB) 587).
jcovey@defenders.org
