BLM issues policy to reduce wildfire risk around power lines on public lands

Written on 16 December 2019. Posted in Bureau of Land Management

BLM issues policy to reduce wildfire risk around power lines on public lands

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Building on the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce the threat of wildfires through active management, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California State Office today issued a new policy to limit fire risk from power lines crossing BLM-managed public lands.

The policy provides guidance for effective operations and maintenance actions, such as vegetation management and pole replacement, within and adjacent to electric transmission and distribution line rights-of-way, also known as ROWs.

BLM, Wildfire, power

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Written on 13 December 2019. Posted in Energy

Trump Admin. OKs Fracking, Drilling on 1 Million Acres in CA

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – The Trump administration on Thursday took the final step to allow oil and gas drilling on more than 1 million acres of federal public land on California's central coast and San Joaquin Valley, despite a flood of public comment in opposition.

The Bureau of Land Management will now allow new lease sales in 2020 on land that stretches across Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties.

BLM, energy

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Written on 25 October 2019. Posted in Access Issues

Congress, not presidential proclamation, should establish national parks

This summer, the National Park Service (NPS) celebrated its 103rd anniversary. The NPS, the leading agency responsible for maintaining national parks and monuments, remains popular among the general public. Yet, the reservation of public lands is not without controversy, especially when it comes to national monuments.

One key difference between national parks and national monuments is how they are created. National parks can only be established by an act of Congress. Monuments, on the other hand, are established by presidential proclamation.

The power to establish monuments comes from the Antiquities Act of 1906. The original purpose of the Antiquities Act, as its name suggests, was to allow the president to quickly protect antiquities and other historic objects from looters.

NPS, National Park Service

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Written on 25 October 2019. Posted in Access Issues

Electric Bicycle use on Public Lands Increasing

Department of the Interior Pushes to Increase Access and Recreational Opportunities for Electric Bicycle Use on Public Lands

WASHINGTON (Oct 22, 2019) – Today, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced its guidance to implement Secretary’s Order 3376, Increasing Recreational Opportunities Through the Use of Electric Bikes, which will allow the use of low-speed electric bicycles (e-bikes) at national wildlife refuges and other DOI-managed public lands where traditional biking occurs, expanding recreational opportunities and access to millions of Americans. The National Park Service (NPS) has previously issued guidance to allow for e-bikes to be used on most bike paths in the national parks.

Secretary’s Order 3376, signed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt on August 29, directs DOI bureaus to create a clear and consistent e-bike policy for the lands they manage. The policy also supports Secretary’s Order 3366 to increase recreational opportunities on public lands.

Public Lands, e-bikes

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Written on 24 October 2019. Posted in MUIRNet-News Bytes

Five New States Commit to Outdoor Recreation Principles

Signatories to Confluence Accords Reach a Historic 13

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) – the nation’s leading coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations with 29 members serving more than 100,000 businesses – joined outdoor recreation leaders from Maine, Michigan,Nevada, New Mexico and Virginia as they committed to advance the principles contained in the Outdoor Recreation Industry Confluence Accords on behalf of their governors. ORR is a founding sponsor of the National Governors Association (NGA) Outdoor Recreation Learning Network. Today’s signing ceremony brings the total number of states committed to the four pillars of the accords (conservation and stewardship, education and workforce training, economic development, and public health and wellness) to a historic 13. There are also 16 states with Offices of Outdoor Recreation or task forces created or in development.

Recreation

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