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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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Snowy owl
Washington, DC

Dual Congressional Hearings Focus on Climate Change

Congress is holding its first hearings on climate change in the last eight years, covering the impacts of climate change and what actions are needed now to address extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, wildfires and droughts that are exacerbated by a warming planet.
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Scientists' Call to Action: The U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Threatens Biodiversity and Binational Conservation
Washington, DC

President Trump’s State of the Union Address Emphasizes Reckless Border Security Plan

Only two weeks after his insistence on funding for a damaging and ineffective border wall triggered the longest shutdown of the federal government in history, President Trump used his State of the Union address to reiterate his divisive demands.
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Grizzly Bear in Alaska
Washington, DC

Oil and Gas Lobbyist Nominated as Interior Secretary

“Defenders of Wildlife is deeply concerned that Acting Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt, who helped preside over the Trump administration’s destructive policies on our public lands and wildlife for the past two years, is being nominated for Interior Secretary."
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Border wall comparison Matt Clark/Defenders
Washington, DC

Sen. Udall, Heinrich Introduce Bills to Protect our Borderlands from Wall Construction

Two bills were introduced yesterday in the Senate to prevent wall construction in sensitive borderland areas.
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Bald eagle
Washington, DC

Organizations push back on illegal rulemaking on public information

Today, more than one hundred organizations, led by the Southern Environmental Law Center, submitted comments opposing the Department of the Interior’s proposed revisions to its regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act.
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