The Smokey Wire : National Forest News and Views
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Inquiring minds might wonder why there has been only limited use of TFPA and GNA in this area, compared to other places, and how (or if) this bill would help that (other than providing funding?) ************************** Jon posted this news story in a comment yesterday, and I think it’s innovative enough to deserve its … Read more
Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Strategy to Guide Balanced Management, Conservation of Public Lands Public Lands Rule will help conserve wildlife habitat, restore places impacted by wildfire and drought, expand outdoor recreation, and guide thoughtful development A skeptic might wonder how the Forest Service could possibly “conserve wildlife habitat, restore places impacted by wildfire and drought, expand outdoor recreation, and … Read more
The Westerman bill is a compendium of policy ideas from various sources, some of which have been floating around for a long time. I think this E&E News story did a pretty good job of focusing on some of the main themes of the hearing. I don’t think the 10am idea is going anywhere. I … Read more
FEATURED CASE Okanogan-Wenatchee NF Twisp project Court decision in North Cascades Conservation Council v. U. S. Forest Service (E.D. Washington) On January 17, the district court granted summary judgment to the Forest Service with regard to the Twisp Restoration Project on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The proposed project stated that most of the thinning and … Read more
Once again, I’m grateful for reporting by Sammy Roth of the LA Times. Interesting that for this particular piece, he’s a columnist not a reporter. I hope you can read the whole thing. It’s interesting that Sammy says “the western solar plan sounds scary. But it’s better than climate change.” In my view, there are … Read more
This is an interesting story from Wyofile on the Rock Springs RMP. Turns out that the Governor got together a panel to review the draft. Despite representing disparate interests, the 11 members of a governor-appointed task force reached consensus on more than 100 recommendations for the Bureau of Land Management’s controversial draft plan for managing … Read more
For those of you not following the COP, the US signed a Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy. The Department of Energy posted it here. Commit to supporting the development and construction of nuclear reactors, such as small modular and other advanced reactors for power generation as well as wider industrial applications for decarbonization, such as … Read more
Despite MOG not being on the regulatory agenda as I posted yesterday, within minutes I heard that it is coming out soon. Because it won’t be a regulation but rather a bunch of plan amendments, so that explains it, I guess. I was hoping, based on climate and wildfire emergencies for each forest to do … Read more
Polarization seems a bit like the weather.. everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it. I can think of a variety of Big Ideas to reduce it, but the people who have gained political power via riding the polarization horse have little interest in putting it out to pasture. So I’d propose … Read more
There is much to talk about in the Wildfire Commission Report. Kelly Martin has offered to talk to us about it (she is a member of the Commission) via Zoom, so please let me know if you are interested. Today, though, I had heard that Commission members were making Hill visits to highlight … Read more