Under Siege Congress's Assault on Public Lands Surged During Trump's First Year - Young
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Under Siege
Congress’s Assault on Public Lands
Surged During Trump’s First Year
Young murkowski
Heller Flake
Barrasso amodei
Paulo Lopes • Center for Biological Diversity • February 2018
Table of Contents
Executive Summary 1
Discussion 2
Legislative Attacks in the 115th Congress 3
Top Public Land Enemies in the 115th Congress 5
Conclusion 8
Endnotes 9
Appendix 1 10
Appendix 2 12
Cover photo of Bears Ears National Monument courtesy Bob Wick / BLM
President Donald Trump signing an executive order
Executive Summary
The stakes for America’s public lands have never been higher. Congressional attacks on lands and oceans held
in trust for all Americans reached a fever pitch in 2017 and don’t show any signs of letting up. Public lands
are some of the nation’s most spectacular places, providing respite and recreation for millions, critical wildlife
habitat, clean air and water.
For this report we reviewed all of the bills introduced by the 115th Congress between Jan. 3, 2017 and Dec. 31,
2017 — the first year of the Trump administration. Lawmakers hostile to public lands and beholden to corporate
interests clearly see the Trump administration as a golden opportunity to seize, dismantle, destroy or privatize
America’s public lands and hand control to private industry to mine, drill, log and bulldoze.
Our key findings:
• More than 120 bills were introduced to strip protections from national monuments, parks, wildlife
refuges, national forest and ocean sanctuaries. That’s over a 25 percent increase during the same period
of the 114th Congress.
• Alaska’s congressional delegation, led by Republican Rep. Don Young and Republican Sen. Lisa
Murkowski, introduced more than 25 bills, or 20 percent of all public lands attacks, including bills to
allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and privatize more than 175,000 acres (273 square
miles).
• More than 100 bills would eliminate or weaken environmental laws and regulations on public lands.
• More than 35 bills would take federal lands out of the public’s hands.
• Overall, the most common legislative assault were bills to keep the public from knowing about
environmental and public health threats from fracking, drilling, mining and logging.
This report is a follow-up to the Center for Biological Diversity’s Public Lands Enemies report, published in
March 2017, which covered public lands attacks in the 112th, 113th and 114th congressional sessions.1 Similar
to the lawmakers covered in that report’s findings, the lawmakers leading the latest assault on public lands share
not just ideology, but many of the same corporate donors. Together the top six 2017 Public Lands Enemies
collected more than $3 million from fossil fuel and logging interests, including Chevron, Duke Energy, Exxon
Mobil, Murray Energy and PG&E.
1
Bears Ears National Monument courtesy Bob Wick / BLM
Discussion
America’s public lands span more than 600 million acres and include some of the most beloved places in
America, from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Grand Canyon, from the pristine Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge to the vast Sagebrush Sea in the interior West. Publicly owned ocean waters cover nearly 4.5
million square miles,2 including ancient Pacific coral reefs and vast undersea volcanos. These iconic lands
and waters are all held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of current and future generations of
Americans.
Tens of millions of Americans visit public lands each year along with millions of tourists from around the
world. Public lands provide unparalleled opportunities for recreation and solitude. As John Muir said, “In every
walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”3 Publicly owned forests, grasslands, rivers and oceans
provide numerous benefits, including clean water and air, and habitat for countless species of wildlife.
Sponsors of these anti-public lands bills are out of touch with the vast majority of voters. More than 90 percent
of Americans from both political parties believe that supporting, protecting and maintaining forests, national
parks, national monuments and other public lands and waters is important.4
Criteria for Identifying Public Lands Attacks
This report reviewed all federal legislation introduced from Jan. 3 to Dec. 31, 2017. For legislation to be
categorized as an attack on public lands, it must include at least one of four criteria:
1. No More National Monuments or Wildlife Refuges: Legislative provisions that would strip or reduce
the authority of future presidents to designate national monuments. This category also includes proposals
to limit presidential authority to designate new national wildlife refuges or national marine sanctuaries.
2. Weakening Federal Protections: Legislative provisions that would eliminate or weaken federal
environmental laws and regulations that safeguard public lands and oceans.
3. Land Seizures: Legislative provisions that would authorize handing over or selling America’s public
lands to states and/or private interests for industrialization and development.
4. Private/State Control of Public Lands: Legislative provisions that would give management and
operational authority to private or state interests.
2
Clearcut section of Tongass National Forest by Alan Wu, CC-BY-SA
Legislative Attacks in the 115th Congress
No More National Monuments or Wildlife Refuges: Twelve bills were introduced to undermine presidential
authority to designate national monuments. This is up nine percent compared to the first year of the 114th
Congress. The congressional delegations from Alaska and Utah led the attacks on national monuments, with
each delegation introducing three bills.
Dishonorable Mentions
• S. 33, introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and companion bill H.R. 2284, introduced by
Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), would dramatically restrict the designation of new national monuments
by requiring both congressional and state approval.
• H.R. 3990, introduced by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), would invalidate the Antiquities Act by
limiting new national monuments to 85,000 acres (132 square miles) and requiring county, state
and gubernatorial approval for all but the smallest monuments. It also gives veto power to private
landowners whose land borders proposed monument boundaries and bans any new marine national
monuments.
Weakening Federal Protections: Lawmakers introduced 101 bills to eliminate or weaken environmental
laws and regulations across our public landscapes. This is up 46 percent compared to the first year of the 114th
Congress. One of the most prevalent attacks among these bills is increased logging across the broad public
landscapes, playing on the public’s fear of wildfires, while doing nothing to protect communities.
Dishonorable Mentions
• S. 879, introduced by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), would significantly ramp up damaging logging,
threaten endangered species and restrict citizen access to courts when the government fails to follow
the law to protect national forests and wildlife. In addition, the bill excludes environmental analysis and
public disclosure of harms and drastically limits public input on logging projects up to 15,000 acres (23
square miles).
• H.R. 2936, introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), would eliminate Endangered Species Act
requirements that the U.S. Forest Service ensure logging projects do not harm endangered wildlife and
plants. It would also allow logging projects on up to 30,000 acres (46 square miles) without meaningful
public involvement, scientific evaluation or public disclosure of harms.
3
Canada lynx are threatened by an open pit copper mine proposed by H.R. 3115. Photo by Juliana Luz. CC-BY-NC
Land Seizure: Lawmakers introduced 39 bills to take federal lands out of public hands. This is up 39 percent
compared to the first year of the 114th Congress. The congressional delegation from Alaska led the land seizure
attacks with over a dozen bills, which would amount to seizing over 2.5 million acres of public land.
Dishonorable Mentions
• S. 1481, introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), would give away more than 175,000 acres
(273 square miles) of public lands in Alaska to private corporations. It would hand over or trade more
than 130,000 acres (180 square miles) of the Tongass National Forest — the nation’s largest national
forest — to private timber corporations. Another 50,000 acres (78 square miles) of national wildlife
refuge lands would be opened to privatization.
• H.R. 3115, introduced by Rep. Richard Nolan (D-Minn.), would exchange public land to facilitate an
open-pit copper mine, which would destroy 1,000 acres of wetlands and more than 1,700 acres of critical
wildlife habitat in northern Minnesota’s Superior National Forest.
Private/State Control of Public Lands: Thirteen bills have been introduced that would hand control over of
public lands to states. This is up eight percent compared to the first year of the 114th Congress. Over half of
these attacks pertain to fossil fuel development, such as fracking.
Dishonorable mentions
• S. 335, introduced by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), and companion bill H.R. 3565, introduced by Rep.
Diane Black (R-Tenn.), would put states in charge of overseeing drilling, fracking and coal mining
on public lands. Inhofe’s Federal Land Freedom Act is designed to aggressively increase drilling and
fracking on public lands. In his own words, “One of the best ways to do this is to simply hand power
over to the states. . . .”5 State permitting and leasing of publicly owned fossil fuels would not be subject
to court challenge by citizens for harm to water, wildlife and communities, public disclosure of harms
under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
• S. 334, introduced by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), and companion bill H.R. 928, introduced by Rep.
Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), would put states in charge of overseeing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on
public lands and would similarly exempt fracking from bedrock environmental laws including NEPA
and the ESA. These bills would cut the public out of permitting and regulatory process, and silence the
voice of the American people. Part of the problem is the cozy relationship fossil fuel rich states have
with these fossil fuel companies’, these same companies who oppose protective federal rules.6
4
Top Public Land Enemies in the 115th Congress
The six members of Congress that have introduced the largest numbers of anti-public lands bills, 47 bills or 38
percent of all public lands attacks, also introduced a significant number of bills in previous sessions. The top
public-lands enemies of 2017 want to open public lands and oceans to fossil fuel development and roll back
environmental safeguards across all public lands.
No. 1: Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), Up From No. 7
Young ranks as public lands enemy No. 1, having authored 15 anti-public lands
bills. On the first day of the new Congress he introduced seven anti-public lands
bills, including H.R. 232, which would allow states to acquire up to 2 million acres
of national forests for commercial logging. Young also attacked the designation of
new national marine sanctuaries with H.R. 222 and H.R. 1489. In addition, H.R.
218 reintroduces his decades-long attack on Izembek National Wildlife Refuge,
which would allow an unnecessary destructive road through the refuge, harming
wildlife and habitat.
Campaign Contributions: 2017 - 20187
• Oil & Gas Industry: $38,700
• Energy & Natural Resources Sector: $65,450
• Major Funders8
o Edison Chouest Offshore: $24,300
o Northern Energy Services: $5,400
o Exxon Mobil: $2,500
League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard: 9 percent lifetime score9
No. 2: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) Up From No. 12
Murkowski ranks a close second to Young, having authored 12 anti-public
lands bills in 2017. Within the first week of the 2017 Congress, she introduced
S. 33, which would severely limit the designation of new national monuments
by requiring that any presidential designation also pass both houses of the U.S.
Congress and be approved by the governor of the state where the monument would
be located. Another Murkowski bill, S. 1481 would privatize more than 175,000
acres (273 square miles) of public lands. The bill would allow 130,000 acres (180
square miles) of commercial logging, including clear-cutting old-growth forests.
Murkowski’s bills generally increase exploitation for oil and gas drilling, fracking,
logging, mining and other development.
Campaign Contributions: 2013 - 201810
• Oil & Gas Industry: $759,146
• Energy & Natural Resources Sector: $1,650,194
• Major Funders11
o PG&E Corp: $58,400
o Cheniere Energy: $58,000
o Energy Transfer Equity: $40,700
League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard: 19 percent lifetime score12
5Photo by Russ McSpadden. CC-BY-SA
No. 3: Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) Up From No. 5
Barrasso is part of a four-way tie and ranks third, having authored five anti-public
lands bills. In a gift to the logging industry, he introduced S. 879, which would
weaken forest management practices and undercuts provisions in NEPA and the
ESA, and limit access to the federal courts when the Forest Service is breaking
the law. He introduced S.J.Res. 11, which would have rescinded the Obama
administration’s Methane Waste Prevention Rule to reduce natural gas waste
from oil and gas companies operating on public lands. Rescinding the rule would
result in accelerated climate change and increased asthma and other public health
problems.
Campaign Contributions: 2013 - 201813
• Oil & Gas Industry: $337,900
• Energy & Natural Resources Sector: $703,475
• Major Funders14
o Chevron Corp: $28,400
o Exelon Corp: $24,000
o Murray Energy: $23,550
League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard: 9 percent lifetime score15
No. 3: Sen. Jeff Flake (R- Ariz.) Up From No. 8
Flake shares third place, having authored five anti-public lands bills. To help make
President Trump’s border wall a reality, he introduced S. 2199, which provides
funding to construct new walls on private and public lands in the Rio Grande
Valley in Texas and San Diego, Calif. S. 1222 continues Flake’s assault on public
lands by proposing to sell 8,000 acres (12.5 square miles) in western Arizona to
private developers without full compensation to taxpayers.
Campaign Contributions: 2013 - 201816
• Oil & Gas Industry: $90,800
• Energy & Natural Resources Sector: $329,447
• Major Funders17
o Freeport- McMoRan Copper & Gold: $27,700
o Freeport-McMoRan: $15,500
o Duke Energy: $13,000
League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard: 9 percent lifetime score18
6Photo by pdx_rollingthunder/Flickr
No. 3: Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) Up From No. 15
Heller is part of a four-way tie for third place, having authored five anti-public
lands bills. S. 1752 would exempt logging projects of any size — potentially
hundreds of thousands of acres — from environmental review if they meet certain
criteria, including “removal of dead or dying trees.” With the dead or dying tree
provision, logging could occur without considering protections for wildlife,
water and ecosystems. S. 145 would attack public lands that contain minerals by
completely doing away with the requirement under NEPA to publicly disclose
harms to wildlife, water and land caused by mining operations.
Campaign Contributions: 2013 - 201819
• Oil & Gas Industry: $131,100
• Energy & Natural Resources Sector: $356,638
• Major Funders20
o PG&E Corp: $18,400
o Coeur Mining: $10,000
o Western Energy Alliance: $10,000
League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard: 13 percent lifetime score21
No. 3: Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) Up From No. 11
Amodei shares third place, having authored five anti-public lands bills. H.R. 243,
would make it harder to create new national monuments in Nevada by requiring
congressional approval in addition to a presidential designation. H.R. 520, would
attack public lands that contain minerals by completely doing away with the
requirement under NEPA to publicly disclose harms to wildlife, water and land
caused by mining operations.
Campaign Contributions: 2017 - 201822
• Oil & Gas Industry: $13,500
• Energy & Natural Resources Sector: $30,500
• Major Funders23
o Barrick Gold Corp: $6,000
o Petroleum Marketers Association of America: $6,000
o Marathon Petroleum: $5,000
League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard: 3 percent lifetime score24
7Conclusion
Many of the same members of Congress are continuing their relentless attempts to give away, dismantle, destroy
or privatize America’s public lands, placing extractive interests and private profit over wildlife, clean water, air
and recreation. They continue to receive campaign donations from the very interests that would benefit from
their legislation.
The current political landscape has placed public lands under serious threat, despite widespread public support
to maintain protections for our public lands now and for future generations.25 The Trump administration has
shown itself to be receptive to this kind of legislation. The Senate may be the last line of defense.
8Endnotes
1
Randi Spivak and Ryan Beam, Public Lands Enemies, Center for Biological Diversity (March 2017), https://www.biologicaldiversity.
org/campaigns/public_lands_enemies/pdfs/PublicLandsEnemies.pdf.
2
The United States Is An Ocean Nation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2011) http://www.gc.noaa.gov/docu-
ments/2011/012711_gcil_maritime_eez_map.pdf.
3
John Muir, Steep Trails (1918).
4
Public Opinion on Energy, the Environment, and Climate, Hart Research Association for the Center for American Progress 7 (De-
cember 2016), https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/pdfs/CAP_Public_Lands_Poll.pdf.
5
James M. Inhofe, Inhofe Reintroduces Federal Land Freedom Act and FRESH Act, U.S. Senator for Oklahoma (February 7, 2017)
https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/inhofe-reintroduces-federal-land-freedom-act-and-fresh-act.
6
Brady Dennis and Steven Mufson, Thousands of emails detail EPA head’s close ties to fossil fuel industry, The Washington Post (Feb-
ruary 22, 2017) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/02/22/oklahoma-attorney-generals-office-re-
leases-7500-pages-of-emails-between-scott-pruitt-and-fossil-fuel-industry/.
7
Rep. Don Young - Alaska District 01, Top Industries 2017 – 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/
members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00007999&cycle=2018&recs=0&type=I (last visited February 6, 2018).
8
Rep. Don Young - Alaska District 01, Contributors 2017 – 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/
members-of-congress/contributors?cid=N00007999&cycle=2018&recs=100&type=I (last visited February 8, 2018).
9
Representative Don Young (R), League of Conservation Voters, http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/don-young (last visited February 6,
2018).
10
Sen. Lisa Murkowski - Alaska, Top Industries 2013 – 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/mem-
bers-of-congress/industries?cid=N00026050&cycle=2018&recs=0&type=I (last visited February 6, 2018).
11
Sen. Lisa Murkowski - Alaska, Contributors 2013 - 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/mem-
bers-of-congress/contributors?cid=N00026050&cycle=2018&recs=100&type=I (last visited February 8, 2018).
12
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R), League of Conservation Voters, http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/lisa-murkowski (last visited February 6,
2018).
13
Sen. John A Barrasso - Wyoming, Top Industries 2013 – 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/mem-
bers-of-congress/industries?cid=N00006236&cycle=2018&recs=0&type=I (last visited February 6, 2018).
14
Sen. John A Barrasso - Wyoming, Contributors 2013 - 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/mem-
bers-of-congress/contributors?cid=N00006236&cycle=2018&recs=100&type=I (last visited February 8, 2018).
15
Senator John Barrasso (R), League of Conservation Voters, http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/john-barrasso (last visited February 6, 2018).
16
Sen. Jeff Flake - Arizona, Top Industries 2013 – 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/mem-
bers-of-congress/industries?cid=N00009573&cycle=2018&recs=0&type=I (last visited February 6, 2018).
17
Sen. Jeff Flake - Arizona, Contributors 2013 - 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/mem-
bers-of-congress/contributors?cid=N00009573&cycle=2018&recs=100&type=I (last visited February 8, 2018).
18
Senator Jeff Flake (R), League of Conservation Voters, http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/jeff-flake (last visited February 6, 2018).
19
Sen. Dean Heller - Nevada, Top Industries 2013 – 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/mem-
bers-of-congress/industries?cid=N00027522&cycle=2018&recs=0&type=I (last visited February 6, 2018).
20
Sen. Dean Heller - Nevada, Contributors 2013 - 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/mem-
bers-of-congress/contributors?cid=N00027522&cycle=2018&recs=100&type=I (last visited February 8, 2018).
21
Senator Dean Heller (R), League of Conservation Voters, http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/dean-heller (last visited February 6, 2018).
22
Rep. Mark Amodei - Nevada District 02, Top Industries 2017 – 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.
org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00031177&cycle=2018&recs=0&type=I (last visited February 6, 2018).
23
Rep. Mark Amodei - Nevada District 02, Contributors 2017 - 2018, The Center for Responsive Politics, https://www.opensecrets.org/
members-of-congress/contributors?cid=N00031177&cycle=2018&recs=100&type=I (last visited February 8, 2018).
24
Representative Mark Amodei (R), League of Conservation Voters, http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/mark-e-amodei (last visited February
6, 2018).
25
Public Opinion on Energy, the Environment, and Climate, Hart Research Association for the Center for American Progress 7 (De-
cember 2016), http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/pdfs/CAP_Public_Lands_Poll.pdf.
9Appendix 1: Anti-Public Lands Bills from the U.S. Senate, 115th Congress between Jan. 3, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017
Private /
No More Parks, County / State Weakening
Date Monuments or Control of Federal
Bill # Title of Legislation Introduced Sponsor Description Land Seizure Refuges Public Lands Protections
Restricts president's power to create or expand national monuments in Nevada by requiring express congressional
S. 22 Nevada Land Sovereignty Act 01/04/2017 Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV] approval. •
Restricts the designation of new national monuments by requiring both congressional and state approval before a
S. 33 Improved National Monument Designation Process Act 01/05/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] presidential designation. •
Permits the development of oil and gas drilling on 2,000 acres in Alaska's coastal plain (1002 area) of the Arctic
S. 49 Alaska Oil and Gas Production Act 01/05/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] National Wildlife Refuge. •
Allows for the construction of a road through Alaska's Izembek National Wildlife Refuge that would harm wildlife
S. 101 King Cove Road Land Exchange Act 01/11/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] and habitat in this wetland of international importance. •
S. 131 Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Exchange Act of 2017 01/12/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] Gives away roughly 20,000 acres from the Tongass National Forest to the State of Alaska for logging revenue. • •
Restricts the designation of new national monuments by requiring both congressional and state approval before a
S. 132 National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act of 2017 01/12/2017 Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID] presidential designation. • •
Weakens the environmental review on mineral extraction by placing time limits to increase domestic mineral
S. 145 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act 01/12/2017 Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV] protection. •
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of
title 5, United States Code, of the final rule submitted by the Secretary of the Rescinds the Obama administration’s Stream Protection Rule, which provided greater protections to streams from
S.J.Res. 10 Interior relating to stream protection 01/30/2017 Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] toxic coal mining waste. •
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of
title 5, United States Code, of the final rule of the Bureau of Land Management
relating to "Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Rescinds the Obama administration’s Methane Waste Prevention Rule for oil and gas drilling on public lands, which
S.J.Res. 11 Conservation" 01/30/2017 Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] will increase public-health problems. •
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of
title 5, United States Code, of the final rule submitted by the Director of the Rescinds the Bureau of Land Management's 2.0 Rule, which updated public land planning to facilitate local
S.J.Res. 15 Bureau of Land Management relating to resource management planning 01/30/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] stakeholders engage earlier in the process. •
S. 273 Greater Sage-Grouse Protection and Recovery Act of 2017 02/01/2017 Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] Hands over federal oversight of the sage grouse conservation plans on public lands to the states. • •
Weakens environmental protections for deployment of renewable energy on federal land by supplementing
S. 282 Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act 02/02/2017 Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV] existing environmental impact statements. •
S. 316 Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act 02/06/2017 Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] Hands over federal oversight of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations on public lands to the states. • •
Prevents the federal government from regulating hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on public lands by transferring
S. 334 Fracturing Regulations are Effective in State Hands Act 02/07/2017 Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] oversight authority to the state. • •
S. 335 Federal Land Freedom Act of 2017 02/07/2017 Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] Hands over federal oversight of all domestic energy production on public lands to the states. • •
Gives 150,000 acres of public lands to Nevada in exchange for fewer acres of land for wilderness preservation and
S. 414 Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act 02/16/2017 Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV] conveys public lands to mining companies. • •
S. 467 Mohave County Federal Land Management Act 02/28/2017 Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] Requires the sale of no less than 6,000 acres of public land to Mojave County, Arizona for private use. •
Undermines public lands by allowing the assertion of a right-of-way granted for the construction of highways under
S. 468 Historic Routes Preservation Act 02/28/2017 Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] the 1866 Revised Statute 2477. • •
Transfers public land and weakens protections by not requiring land use planning under the Federal Land Policy and
S. 508 Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act 03/02/2017 Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] Management Act. • •
Weakens environmental protections on public lands, including around national monuments, parks, and schools, for
S. 509 Federal Land Invasive Species Control, Prevention, and Management Act 03/02/2017 Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] invasive species control. •
Weakens the environmental review of broadband deployment right-of-ways by excluding them from the National
S. 604 Highway Rights-of-Way Permitting Efficiency Act of 2017 03/09/2017 Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] Environmental Policy Act. •
Creates a pilot program to allow state and local governments to oversee recreation activities on federal public
S. 614 RPPA Commercial Recreation Concessions Pilot Program Act 03/13/2017 Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] lands. •
More offshore lease sales with the Gulf of Mexico not requiring environmental review under the National
S. 665 Unleashing American Energy Act of 2017 03/15/2017 Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] Environmental Policy Act. •
S. 785 Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act 03/30/2017 Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] Gives away the Tongass National Forest lands to Alaska Native Veterans, which was previously prohibited. • •
Weakens environmental forest management standards and limits access to the federal courts on forest logging
S. 879 National Forest Ecosystem Improvement Act of 2017 04/06/2017 Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] restoration projects. •
Expands oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Ocean and Cook Inlet and puts fragile ecosystems and endangered wildlife
S. 883 OPENS Alaska Act of 2017 04/06/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] at risk. •
Prohibits presidents from imposing long term bans, along the outer continental shelf, on oil and gas offshore drilling
S. 956 Outer Continental Shelf Energy Access Now Act (OCEAN Act) 04/27/2017 Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] or creating a marine national monument. • •
A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue new resource
management plans applicable to the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation
Area and the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and a new amendment to Starts the resource management plans over, to increase development of roads and utilities through the national
S. 1053 the St. George Field Office Resource Management Plan, and for other purposes 05/04/2017 Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] conservation areas. •
Hands over 8,000 acres of public land to private developers without
S. 1222 La Paz County Land Conveyance Act 05/24/2017 Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] full compensation to taxpayers. • •
Tries to put private water use before beneficial public use by preventing water storage release, which would impact
S. 1230 Water Rights Protection Act of 2017 05/25/2017 Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] rivers and endangered fish. •
S. 1267 State Mineral Revenue Protection Act 05/25/2017 Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY] Conveys royalties and interest in public lands to the state under the Mineral Leasing Act. •
Weakens environmental protections on public lands to improve habitat for the greater sage-grouse by logging,
S. 1417 Sage-Grouse and Mule Deer Habitat Conservation and Restoration Act of 2017 06/22/2017 Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] using pesticides, and allowing livestock grazing. •
10Appendix 1: Anti-Public Lands Bills from the U.S. Senate, 115th Congress between Jan. 3, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017
Private /
No More Parks, County / State Weakening
Date Monuments or Control of Federal
Bill # Title of Legislation Introduced Sponsor Description Land Seizure Refuges Public Lands Protections
Excludes geothermal projects on public lands from the environmental review process under the National
S. 1460 Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017 06/28/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). •
14 Alaska land bills in one, with land giveaways in excess of 175,000 acres (273 square miles) for logging and other
S. 1481 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Improvement Act of 2017 (ANCSA) 06/29/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] commercial purposes. •
Land exchange of over 14,000 acres (22 square miles) of public land and Forest Service land given away to private
S. 1484 ANCSA Admiralty Island Land Exchange Finalization Act of 2017 06/29/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] companies. •
Gives away 43,000 acres (67 square miles) of land in Alaska, including land within the National Wildlife Refuge
S. 1485 ANCSA Cook Inlet Region Land Conveyance Finalization Act of 2017 06/29/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] System to private companies. •
S. 1487 ANCSA Kaktovik and Canyon Village Land Conveyance Settlement Act of 2017 06/29/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] Gives away 6,400 acres of land from within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to private companies. •
Gives away 115,000 acres (180 square miles) of Tongass National Forest lands with a preference of land for logging
S. 1491 ANCSA Unrecognized Community Landless Natives Authorization Act of 2017 06/29/2017 Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] to private companies. •
A bill to address the forest health crisis on National Forest System land, and for Allows logging projects up to 10,000 acres without meaningful public involvement or scientific evaluation of
S. 1731 other purposes 08/02/2017 Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] potential harm to the environment. •
Weakens environmental forest protections on public lands to allow logging if an insect or disease infestation
S. 1752 Emergency Fuel Reduction Act of 2017 08/03/2017 Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV] emergency is declared. •
A bill to strengthen border security, increase resources for enforcement of Provides $15 billion in border wall funding and increases Border Patrol agents and U.S. Custom and Border
S. 1757 immigration laws, and for other purposes 08/03/2017 Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] Protection officers along the border. •
Puts 2 million acres of forests at risk by weakening the environmental review process under the National
S. 1991 Wildland Fires Act of 2017 10/19/2017 Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] Environmental Policy Act. •
Undermines habitat for greater sage-grouse by weakening the environmental review process under the National
S. 2068 Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2017 11/02/2017 Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] Environmental Policy Act. •
S. 2102 Acadia National Park Boundary Clarification Act 11/08/2017 Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] Allows for claming/worming in the national park and applies Maine's law, restricts future park expansion. •
A bill to provide for an exchange of Federal land and non-Federal land in the
S. 2140 State of Idaho, and for other purposes. 11/16/2017 Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] Exchanges public land to a private company to create a toxic waste site from phosphate processing. • •
S. 2160 Protect Collaboration for Healthier Forests Act 11/16/2017 Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] Limits judicial review of Forest Service projects on public lands by establishing an arbitration program. •
S. 1 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 11/28/2017 Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY] Lifts the oil and gas drilling ban in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. •
Waives environmental laws for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and grants authority to construct Trump's
S. 2192 SECURE Act of 2017 12/05/2017 Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] border wall. •
S. 2199 Border Security and Deferred Action Recipient Relief Act 12/06/2017 Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] Funds to expand Trump's U.S.-Mexico border wall/fence. •
S. 2206 Protect Public Use of Public Lands Act 12/07/2017 Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] Strips wilderness protection from 450,000 acres of wilderness study areas. •
11Appendix 2: Anti-Public Lands Bills from the U.S. House, 115th Congress between Jan. 3, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017
Private /
No More Parks, County / State Weakening
Date Monuments or Control of Federal
Bill # Title of Legislation Introduced Sponsor Description Land Seizure Refuges Public Lands Protections
Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries
H.R. 200 Management Act 01/03/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] Undermines the Antiquities Act by overriding it if there is a conflict between the laws. •
H.R. 211 Chugach Region Lands Study Act 01/03/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] Gives away at least 500,000 acres of federal land in the State of Alaska. • •
Allows for the construction of a road through Alaska's Izembek National Wildlife Refuge that would harm wildlife
H.R. 218 King Cove Road Land Exchange Act 01/03/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] and habitat in this wetland of international importance. • •
To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prescribe an additional
requirement for the designation of marine sanctuaries off the coast of Alaska, Restricts the designation of new national marine sanctuaries off the coast of Alaska by requiring congressional
H.R. 222 and for other purposes 01/03/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] approval before a presidential designation. •
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to permit certain communities to take up to 23,040 acres from the
H.R. 229 Compensation Act 01/03/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] Tongass National Forest. •
Allows states to acquire up to 2 million acres of National Forest System land for commercial logging and limits
H.R. 232 State National Forest Management Act of 2017 01/03/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] judicial review. • •
Fossil fuel development allowed on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and places limits on the
H.R. 49 American Energy Independence and Job Creation Act 01/03/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] environmental review process. •
H.Res. 5 Adopting rules for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress 01/03/2017 Rep. McCarthy, Kevin [R-CA-23] House of Representative's rule change that gives away public land at a cost of $0 to the American taxpayer. •
Rescinds the president's power to create or expand national monuments in Nevada by requiring express
H.R. 243 Nevada Land Sovereignty Act 01/04/2017 Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] congressional approval. •
Funds the Trump administration’s $497 million budget request to expand the U.S.-Mexico border wall, ignoring
H.R. 244 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 01/04/2017 Rep. Cook, Paul [R-CA-8] threats to the environment and communities. • •
H.R. 513 Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Exchange Act of 2017 01/12/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] Gives away roughly 20,000 acres from the Tongass National Forest to the State of Alaska for logging revenue. • •
Weakens the environmental review on mineral extraction by placing time limits to increase domestic mineral
H.R. 520 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act 01/13/2017 Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] protection. •
H.R. 527 Greater Sage Grouse Protection and Recovery Act of 2017 01/13/2017 Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1] Hands over federal oversight of the sage grouse conservation plans on public lands to the states. • •
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to give
States the authority to repeal Federal rules and regulations when the repeal is Amends the U.S. Constitution to allow states to repeal federal rules and regulations when two-thirds of state
H.J. Res. 32 agreed to by the legislatures of two-thirds of the several States 01/24/2017 Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1] legislatures agree. •
H.R. 621 Disposal of Excess Federal Lands Act of 2017 01/24/2017 Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3] Requires the federal government to sell 3.3 million acres of federal public lands in 10 western states. • •
H.R. 622 Local Enforcement for Local Lands Act 01/24/2017 Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3] Hands over federal oversight of law enforcement by the Forest Service and BLM on federal lands to the states. • •
Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior regarding Rescinds the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf rule on drilling, which includes safety requirements established after
H.J. Res. 34 requirements for exploratory drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf 01/27/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. •
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United
States Code, of the final rule of the Bureau of Land Management relating to
"Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Rescinds the Obama administration’s Methane Waste Prevention Rule for oil and gas drilling on public lands, which
H.J. Res. 36 Conservation" 01/30/2017 Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1] will increase public-health problems. •
Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior known as Rescinds the Obama administration’s Stream Protection Rule, which provided greater protections to streams from
H.J. Res. 38 the Stream Protection Rule 01/30/2017 Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] toxic coal mining waste. •
Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior relating to
Bureau of Land Management regulations that establish the procedures used to
prepare, revise, or amend land use plans pursuant to the Federal Land Policy Rescinds the Bureau of Land Management's 2.0 Rule, which updated public land planning to facilitate local
H.J. Res. 44 and Management Act of 1976 01/30/2017 Rep. Cheney, Liz [R-WY-At Large] stakeholder engagement earlier in the process. •
Disapproving the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
of the Department of the Interior relating to management of non-Federal oil Rescinds the updated regulations on oil and gas practices outside of Alaska, which avoided or minimized impacts on
H.J. Res. 45 and gas rights 01/30/2017 Rep. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND-At Large] refuges. •
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United
States Code, of the final rule of the National Park Service relating to "General Rescinds the National Park Service’s oil and gas regulation, which helped to ensure the fossil fuel industry cleaned
H.J. Res. 46 Provisions and Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights" 01/30/2017 Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4] up and restored the area. •
Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior regarding
H.J. Res. 47 requirements for exploratory drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf 01/30/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] Rescinds certain exploratory fossil fuel drilling safeguards for the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf. •
Weakens environmental protections for deployment of renewable energy on federal land by supplementing
H.R. 825 Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2017 02/02/2017 Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4] existing environmental impact statements. •
Weakens environmental forest protections on public lands to allow logging if an insect or disease infestation
H.R. 865 Emergency Forest Restoration Act 02/03/2017 Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4] emergency is declared. •
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United
States Code, of the final rule of the Department of the Interior relating to "Non-
Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, Rescinds rule that allowed the federal government to better protect against inhumane killings of predatory animals
H.J. Res. 69 on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska" 02/07/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] on national wildlife refuges in Alaska. •
Prevents the federal government from regulating hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on public lands by transferring
H.R. 928 Fracturing Regulations are Effective in State Hands Act 02/07/2017 Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1] oversight authority to the state. • •
Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior regarding
H.J. Res. 70 requirements for exploratory drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf 02/09/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] Rescinds certain exploratory fossil fuel drilling safeguard for the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf. •
Gives away National Forest System land and BLM public lands to private and state landowners whose land share a
H.R. 1106 Small Tracts Conveyance Act 02/16/2017 Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] boundary with the public lands. • •
Gives 150,000 acres of public lands to Nevada in exchange for fewer acres of land for wilderness preservation and
H.R. 1107 Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act 02/16/2017 Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] conveys public lands to mining companies. • •
12Appendix 2: Anti-Public Lands Bills from the U.S. House, 115th Congress between Jan. 3, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017
Private /
No More Parks, County / State Weakening
Date Monuments or Control of Federal
Bill # Title of Legislation Introduced Sponsor Description Land Seizure Refuges Public Lands Protections
To clarify the United States interest in certain submerged lands in the area of Reduces the size of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge by over two-thirds and gives public submerged land and
H.R. 1157 the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes 02/16/2017 Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] waters to the state of Massachusetts. •
Transfers public land and weakens protections by not requiring land use planning under the Federal Land Policy and
H.R. 1306 Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act 03/02/2017 Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] Management Act. • •
Weakens environmental protections on public lands, including around national monuments, parks, and schools, for
H.R. 1330 Federal Land Invasive Species Control, Prevention, and Management Act 03/02/2017 Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] invasive species control. •
To amend the Wilderness Act to ensure that the use of bicycles, wheelchairs,
strollers, and game carts is not prohibited in Wilderness Areas, and for other Allows the use of motorized wheelchairs, non-motorized wheelchairs, non-motorized bicycles, strollers, or game
H.R. 1349 purposes 03/02/2017 Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4] carts within any wilderness area. •
Restricts the designation of new national marine monuments by requiring both congressional and state approval
H.R. 1489 Marine Access and State Transparency (MAST Act) 03/09/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] and compliance with NEPA. • •
To provide that an order by the Secretary of the Interior imposing a
moratorium on Federal coal leasing shall not take effect unless a joint Requires approval from Congress before any Interior Secretary could pause the coal-leasing program on public
H.R. 1778 resolution of approval is enacted, and for other purposes 03/29/2017 Rep. Cheney, Liz [R-WY-At Large] lands. •
H.R. 1867 Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act 04/03/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] Gives away land in the Tongass National Forest to Alaska Native Veterans, which was previously prohibited. • •
Weakens environmental laws for power lines and other rights-of-way on public land by eliminating public input
H.R. 1873 Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act 04/04/2017 Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1] oversight and scientific review of alternatives. •
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United
States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Agriculture relating to
H.J. Res. 97 "Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan Amendment" 04/06/2017 Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] Rescinds protections of old growth forests in Alaska's Tongass National Forest. •
Restricts the designation of new national monuments by requiring compliance with the National Environmental
H.R. 2074 Public Input for National Monuments Act 04/06/2017 Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2] Policy Act (NEPA). • •
Removes over 800 acres from the Deschutes Canyon-Steelhead Falls Wilderness Study Area under the guise of fire
H.R. 2075 Crooked River Ranch Fire Protection Act 04/06/2017 Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2] prevention. • •
Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area Boundary Removes over 2,600 acres within a National Conservation Area for the construction of power lines, which would
H.R. 2104 Modification Act of 2017 04/20/2017 Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2] harm wildlife by dividing the conservation area. •
H.R. 2157 Outer Continental Shelf Energy Access Now Act (OCEAN Act) 04/26/2017 Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7] Prohibits presidents from imposing long term bans along the outer continental shelf on oil and gas offshore drilling. •
Would cap public lands, requiring the federal government to sell off existing property before acquiring any new
H.R. 2167 Acre In, Acre Out Act 04/26/2017 Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9] lands for the public. •
Restricts the designation of new national monuments by requiring both congressional and state approval before a
H.R. 2284 National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act 05/02/2017 Rep. Labrador, Raul R. [R-ID-1] presidential designation. • •
H.R. 2316 Cooperative Management of Mineral Rights Act of 2017 05/03/2017 Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5] Allows for oil and gas drilling in Alleghany National Forest. •
Weakens environmental protections by granting right-of-ways to Washington County, Utah to expand roads and
H.R. 2423 Washington County, Utah, Public Lands Management Implementation Act 05/16/2017 Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2] utilities through wilderness areas. •
To require the Secretary of the Interior to issue new resource management
plans applicable to the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area and the
Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and a new amendment to the St. George Starts the resource management plans over, to increase development of roads and utilities through the national
H.R. 2424 Field Office Resource Management Plan, and for other purposes. 05/16/2017 Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2] conservation areas. •
Fostering Opportunities for Resources and Education Spending through Timber Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R- Weakens the environmental review process on forest active management areas on public lands by excluding them
H.R. 2613 Sales Act of 2017 (FORESTS Act of 2017) 05/23/2017 WA-5] under the National Environmental Policy Act. •
Hands over 8,000 acres of public land to private developers without
H.R. 2630 La Paz County Land Conveyance Act 05/24/2017 Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4] full compensation to taxpayers. • •
H.R. 2661 State Mineral Revenue Protection Act 05/25/2017 Rep. Cheney, Liz [R-WY-At Large] Conveys royalties and interest in public lands to the state under the Mineral Leasing Act. •
Allows logging projects up to 30,000 acres without meaningful public involvement or scientific evaluation of
H.R. 2936 Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017 06/20/2017 Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4] potential harm to the environment. •
Tries to put private water use before beneficial public use by preventing water storage release, which would impact
H.R. 2939 Water Rights Protection Act of 2017 06/20/2017 Rep. Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO-3] rivers and endangered fish. •
Uses the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to facilitate access to existing Federal public land for hunting,
H.R. 2950 Making Public Lands Public Act 06/20/2017 Rep. Pearce, Stevan [R-NM-2] fishing and recreational shooting. •
Exchanges public land for use by a copper mine and would destroy over 1,000 acres of wetlands and critical habitat
H.R. 3115 Superior National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2017 06/29/2017 Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8] in Minnesota’s Superior National Forest. • •
Funds the Trump administration’s $1.6 billion budget request to expand the U.S.-Mexico border wall, ignoring
H.R. 3219 Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018 07/13/2017 Rep. Granger, Kay [R-TX-12] threats to the environment and communities. • •
Undermines public lands by allowing the assertion of a right-of-way granted for the construction of highways under
H.R. 3270 Historic Routes Preservation Act 07/17/2017 Rep. Cook, Paul [R-CA-8] the 1866 Revised Statute 2477. • •
Hands over public reclamation projects to nonfederal owners and weakens environmental review under the
H.R. 3281 Reclamation Title Transfer and Non-Federal Infrastructure Incentivization Act 07/18/2017 Rep. Lamborn, Doug [R-CO-5] National Environmental Policy Act. •
Gives away or exchanges at least 80% over 8 years of federal land identified by BLM and Forest Service with some
H.R. 3333 Hunting, Education, And Recreational Development Act (HEARD Act) 07/20/2017 Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4] revenue for hunting and fishing. • •
Deployment of sensory technology on the US-Mexico border, including radar and cameras and eradicating plants in
H.R. 3479 Secure Miles with All Resources and Technology Act 07/27/2017 Rep. Hurd, Will [R-TX-23] the area. • •
Weakens environmental protections on public lands to improve habitat for the greater sage-grouse by logging,
H.R. 3543 Sage-Grouse and Mule Deer Habitat Conservation and Restoration Act of 2017 07/28/2017 Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2] using pesticides, and allowing livestock grazing. •
H.R. 3548 Border Security for America Act of 2017 07/28/2017 Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] Builds Trump's border wall and increases Border Patrol agents and U.S. Custom and Border Protection officers. •
H.R. 3565 Federal Land Freedom Act 07/28/2017 Rep. Black, Diane [R-TN-6] Hands over federal oversight of fossil fuel development on public lands to the states. • •
13Appendix 2: Anti-Public Lands Bills from the U.S. House, 115th Congress between Jan. 3, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017
Private /
No More Parks, County / State Weakening
Date Monuments or Control of Federal
Bill # Title of Legislation Introduced Sponsor Description Land Seizure Refuges Public Lands Protections
Weakens the Wilderness Act during an emergency to allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to build border
H.R. 3593 Securing Our Borders and Wilderness Act 07/28/2017 Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4] roads and fences. •
H.R. 3905 Minnesota's Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act 10/02/2017 Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6] Allows mining on 5,000 acres of waterways that flow into a wilderness area. •
H.R. 3990 National Monument Creation and Protection Act 10/06/2017 Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1] Invalidates the Antiquities Act by limiting new national monuments to 85,000 acres. • •
Undermines forests at risk of wildfires by weakening the environmental review process under the National
H.R. 4208 Wildland Fires Act of 2017 11/01/2017 Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5] Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). •
H.R. 1 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 11/02/2017 Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8] Lifts the oil and gas drilling ban in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. •
Takes authority from the federal government and grants the authority to states to oversee oil and gas drilling on
H.R. 4239 SECURE American Energy Act 11/03/2017 Rep. Scalise, Steve [R-LA-1] public lands. •
H.R. 4266 Acadia National Park Boundary Clarification Act 11/07/2017 Rep. Poliquin, Bruce [R-ME-2] Allows for claming/worming in the national park and applies Maine's law, restricts future park expansion. •
Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Indian Affairs Water Project Streamlining
H.R. 4419 Act 11/16/2017 Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4] Weakens the environmental review process of water projects. •
To provide for an exchange of Federal land and non-Federal land in the State of
H.R. 4448 Idaho, and for other purposes. 11/16/2017 Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2] Exchanges public land to a private company to create a toxic waste site from phosphate processing. • •
H.R. 4532 Shash Jaa National Monument and Indian Creek National Monument Act 12/04/2017 Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] Reduces Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument by 85 percent or more than 1 million acres. • •
H.R. 4558 Grand Staircase Escalante Enhancement Act 12/06/2017 Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2] Reduces Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by 48 percent or nearly 900,000 acres. • •
14You can also read
