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Charles J. Sharp
WASHINGTON, D.C.

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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Running brown bear, Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

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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Ashley National Forest
WASHINGTON, D.C.

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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close up of Red Wolf walking in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, DC

National Academy of Sciences Confirms Red Wolves Are a Valid Species

A new report concludes that the endangered Red Wolf is a taxonomically valid species and a species that must be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
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Mexican Gray Wolf
Washington, DC

Study Confirms Taxonomic Validity of the Mexican Gray Wolf

A new report confirmed the Mexican gray wolf as a valid taxonomic subspecies of gray wolf.
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Washington, DC

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Holds Hearing on the Nomination of an Ex-Oil and Gas Lobbyist for Interior Secretary

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing today on the nomination of current Acting Secretary David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the Interior.
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Grizzly Bear and Cub

U.S. Forest Service Moves Forward with Massive Timber Sale

The project entails widespread old-growth clearcutting on the largest island in our nation’s largest forest.
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Greater_Sage-Grouse_male
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Rolls Back Sage-Grouse Protections Across the West

Revisions to the Obama-era plans will lessen protections for the sage-grouse on tens of millions of acres across the West.
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268
Communications Specialist
estern@defenders.org
202-772-0243