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E&E News
3 days ago
- Politics
- E&E News
Interior yanks Biden plan on Alaska energy development
The Trump administration on Monday unraveled an effort begun during Joe Biden's presidency to study and seek public input about whether additional protections are warranted for sensitive landscapes on Alaska's North Slope. The Interior Department rescinded a request for information, published in July 2024, asking for feedback from stakeholders on whether protection-designated areas in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska needed to have their boundaries adjusted, whether new areas should be considered for protection and if there were 'significant resource values' that had until then been missed. The NPR-A allows oil and gas drilling in portions of the reserve but also has 'special areas' that have broad environmental protections for their sensitive habitats. Advertisement Interior also rescinded a report on the public comments received about the NPR-A, which included determinations by the Bureau of Land Management that 'subsistence' be recognized as a 'significant resource value' in the special areas, and noting that proposed expansions of several currently designated special areas 'are suitable for designation and merit further consideration.'
The Hill
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
The Fix Our Forests Act prioritizes industry over nature
America's public forests are under assault. We have already seen the massive timber harvests called for by President Trump's executive order, the elimination of the Roadless Rule, and the gutting of wildlife protection efforts. Those are the broad stokes, but there are also finer maneuvers underway, such as abandoning the traditional practice whereby forest personnel paint-mark the trees selected for cutting, handing those decisions over instead to the timber companies themselves. Or the various subsections that keep popping up in the 'Big Beautiful Bill' — for example, giving timber companies an option to pay for hastened environmental review and defunding endangered species recovery efforts. It also arbitrarily requires the Forest Service to increase harvests by 250 million acres annually for nine years. This is the context within which we must now view the Fix Our Forests Act, a logging-in-the-name-of-fire-prevention bill, stuffed with provisions that significantly override scientific and citizen review. If it passes, those overrides would be handed over to an administration that has made clear its ambition to 'log, baby, log' using whatever tools of governance it can. For the next three and a half years, the Fix Our Forest Act would be the Trump Our Forests Act. Trump is wasting no time opening the forests to extraction, yet his two main vehicles — the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management — are somewhat limited in their authority as federal agencies. Many of Trump's ambitions are therefore vulnerable to legal challenge by the citizenry. This is where the Fix Our Forests Act comes in. By putting the environmental overrides and judicial constraints into statute, Congress imbues these agencies with greater legal authority, significantly raising the legal bar for citizen redress. That so many Democrats appear willing to go along with this is nothing less than astonishing, especially given that just last year Senate Democrats shot the bill down, largely due to those very overrides of citizen control. Why the sudden acquiescence? Let's call it a political fear of fire. When Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), an enthusiastic Fix Our Forests Act supporter, introduced the bill for the May 6 Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, she invoked ' growing threats across the nation,' putting wavering Democrats in the difficult position of looking soft on wildfire. She then linked the Fix Our Forests Act to the horrific January fires in Los Angeles, which were still burning when Fix Our Forests Act proponents rushed a revised version of the bill through the House to capitalize on the tragedy. It was a deceitful move, though. The Fix Our Forests Act, which focuses on logging in the backcountry, would have done nothing for the people of Los Angeles. The fires they suffered were grassland and chaparral fires on non-federal land and spread from building to building in the city. This sort of mismatch between claim and reality appears throughout the Fix Our Forests Act. It claims to be about fire reduction, yet it allows harvest of a forest's most fire-resilient trees — the larger, mature ones. It claims to be science based yet ignores science which draws different conclusions. It claims to protect communities from fire yet focuses mostly on wildlands logging far from human settlement. There seems to be some confusion as well. One of the main arguments against the 'fuels reduction' narrative, is that it's not fuels but climatic conditions — hot, dry, windy — that precipitate fire. Yet Klobuchar made her case for the Fix Our Forest Act by citing 'Rising temperatures, drier summers, longer fire seasons and earlier snow melt…' In other words, climate. In fact, many studies show that industrial scale thinning, by exposing soil to sunlight, exacerbates the very climatic conditions Klobuchar referred to — heat, desiccation and wind. To be sure, real people are in real danger. But as it turns out, there's already a bill to help them. The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act provides designated funding to actual communities to do the things that will truly provide protection, such as hardening homes, improving emergency escape and access, and treating the land immediately around the communities themselves, all while using the process to lower insurance premiums. That bill has been held back in favor of the Fix Our Forest Act, with nary a peep from Democrats. Fear of fire is understandable, but political fear of fire — following the political winds on a bill that strips citizens of their ability to contest logging on millions of acres of maturing forest — isn't. If Democrats then hand such a bill to an administration that shows clear contempt for public process and governance, they will betray their own tradition of environmental stewardship. Democrats have been looking pretty hapless lately. Here's their chance to show some grit, by saying no to the Fix Our Forest Act and championing the Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act, which puts people and forests first, not industry profits.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfire destroys campground, buildings in Colorado national park
MONTROSE, Colo. – The South Rim Fire burning inside Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has destroyed several structures and areas throughout the park, officials announced on Friday. The wildfire, which is 0% contained and has burned over 4,200 acres, has scorched the South Rim Campground, many bathrooms and overlooks, pieces of heavy equipment and buildings, the National Park Service said. Park officials have canceled all reservations for the South Rim Campground and Wilderness Permits, and said the park remains closed with no estimated reopening date. Black Canyon initially closed on July 10, the day lightning strikes sparked wildfires on both the South Rim and North Rim of the canyon. The fires led to the evacuation of park visitors and staff. Officials noted that more than 450 firefighters are battling the wildfire at Black Canyon. In the eight days since the initial closure of the park, the South Rim Fire has spread due to dangerous fire weather conditions. High temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds, combined with dry vegetation in the area serving as fuel, led to the fire spreading. How To Watch Fox Weather As the wildfire is being managed, some NPS staff have been temporarily relocated to the Public Lands Center in Montrose, Colorado, officials said. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the visitor center is open and can provide the Black Canyon passport stamp. The South Rim Fire at Black Canyon burns as another wildfire at another national park canyon burns in another western state. The Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, has been burning since July 4 and currently stands at over 11,700 acres and 0% article source: Wildfire destroys campground, buildings in Colorado national park
National Geographic
17-07-2025
- National Geographic
Here's why stargazers are flocking to the Oregon Outback
Southeast Oregon is a patchwork of high desert, mountains, and volcanic landscape, stitched together by river canyons and long stretches of solitude. When darkness falls on clear nights across this region, visitors can watch a shimmering blanket of stars emerge. In March 2024, The 2.4-million-acre Oregon Outback officially became the largest dark sky sanctuary in the world. DarkSky International, an organization dedicated to preserving dark places to mitigate the harmful effects of pervasive light pollution, has awarded the designation to Lake County, home to nearly 500,000 residents. This special recognition marks the first phase of the proposed Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary, which upon completion, could expand to 11.4 million acres. (A practical guide to stargazing) Community effort for a dark sky sanctuary "From a local government point of view, it's a question of managing how much tourism can we actually accommodate before it becomes cumbersome," says James Williams, a Lake County Commissioner, who ensured that residents' concerns were heard during the dark sky sanctuary application process. He was just one of many imporant people who helped make the Oregon Outback an international dark sky sanctuary. Bob Hackett, director of Travel Southern Oregon, first proposed the idea for a sanctuary after noticing the increasing popularity of dark sky tourism. To Hackett, it was a good opportunity to draw attention to the natural beauty of this remote region in Oregon. However, some locals were afraid that sanctuary status would impose restrictions on private land, particularly on ranching and farming activity. However, conversations eased residents' concerns once there were no foreseeable restrictions on private property. Some changes were necessary for public land. A light management plan would protect the existing darkness. As the plan evolved, Hackett says, 'We just kept checking in with people and making sure everyone was on board.' A light management plan provides straightforward guidance for public places, such as motion-activated lights and positioning light fixtures downward. Different governing bodies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, manage the Oregon Outback; so, the designation as a dark sky sanctuary required extensive collaboration across agencies. It took five years and six light management drafts to get all parties on board and the application approved. (These are the best stargazing sites in North America) Stargazers can witness the awe of a starry summer night and the Milky Way high above the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Photograph By Babak Tafreshi, Nat Geo Image Collection How to reach the Oregon Outback Stargazers looking for city comforts can make Bend their home base, where they'll find plenty of options for food, hotels, and access to outdoor adventures, like rock climbing and hiking. Most visitors fly to Portland and then drive three hours to Bend, but flying into Redmond Municipal Airport is another option. It's 16 miles north of Bend with direct flights to many U.S. cities in the West. Road trippers can make the 40-mile drive from Bend to Fort Rock, a tuff ring or low, wide, bowl-shaped volcanic crater located on an Ice Age lakebed. Fort Rock is technically outside of sanctuary bounds, but it's a stunning location for stargazing. Visitors may want to consider booking a stargazing tour with Wanderlust Tours, which offers tours from Bend to Fort Rock with expert guides, who provide insight into the region's landscape and the night sky. Tourists enjoy dinner and drinks at a picnic area with a view of Fort Rock as the sun dips below the horizon—and then the light show, the Milky Way, reveals itself in the sky. (10 of the best places for stargazing in the UK) Tourists can also stay in Lakeview and Paisley, Ore., two small towns at the edge of the sanctuary, and both have several motels that provide guests easy access to venture out for stargazing. Located outside of Paisley, Summer Lake Hot Springs has cozy, rustic cabins and camping facilities. Guests also have access to on-site outdoor and indoor mineral spring pools. Travelers visiting the Oregon Outback for stargazing can make the city of Bend their home base with options for food, hotels, and other outdoor activities. Photograph By Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, a sanctuary for American pronghorn and other wildlife, has three established campgrounds with vault toilets, which provides a remote camping experience for those seeking it. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are free of charge. Backcountry hiking requires a permit; please note that fires are not allowed. In addition to the aforementioned places, Southeast Oregon has several hiking trails that lead to campgrounds and or scenic overlooks, such as the 750-mileOregon Desert Trail, which stretches across the Oregon Outback. You can hike short portions from Paisley, Lakeview, or Valley Falls to find secluded darkness, but only experienced backcountry hikers should take on this trail, where cellphone service is not available. The eastern portion of Fremont-Winema National Forest features several trails, ranging in skill level from the easy 4.4-mile Lake of the Woods Area Trail to the challenging 4.6-mile Mount McLoughlin Trail. (10 of the dreamiest stargazing trains in the U.S.) In addition to stargazing, travelers can visit the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, a sanctuary for American pronghorn and other wildlife. Photograph By Michael Durham/Minden Pictures How to be a responsible dark sky tourist Travelers visiting the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary should plan ahead. First, tourists visiting the area should establish their comfort level when choosing a place to stay. Do you want to stay in a motel in a small town after a night of stargazing to sleep in a comfortable bed? Do you want to bring everything you need to camp without cell service or running water? Some remote locations lack readily available emergency service. 'Our search and rescue is entirely volunteer,' says Williams. 'If you get stuck on backroads or lost on trails, it might take us a while to come find you.' Know your limits when it comes to how far you venture, the lay of the land (expected terrain), and the weather you might encounter along the way. Map out gas stations and note their operating hours, and as responsible travelers, be mindful to leave natural spaces as you found them. 'It's a good idea to brush up on Leave No Trace principles,' says Courtney Braun, co-owner and guide at Wanderlust Tours. 'A lot of the Outback doesn't have facilities like bathrooms, so you need plans for a toilet system.' While visiting the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in southeast Oregon, visitors can take a dip in a natural hot spring. Photograph By Greg Vaughn/Alamy Bring a headlamp with a red-light option, which preserves night vision and won't disrupt wildlife. Minimize the use of lights at night while prioritizing safety. In addition to respecting the land and the dark, it's important to respect the people who call this place home. 'When you see a fence that says no trespassing—it's probably a good idea not to trespass,' says Williams. Travel Southern Oregon's website also provides information about the Oregon Outback and best practices when visiting. (Big Sky, brighter stars: Why Montana is 2025's ultimate stargazing destination) Britany Robinson is a freelance journalist covering travel and the environment from the shoreline of Connecticut, where she also writes essays and obituaries. Follow her on Instagram.
The Irish Sun
16-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Area 51 at risk as huge fire creeps closer to base with black smoke filling air sparking wild UFO conspiracy theories
A MASSIVE fire has broken out near Area 51 in Nevada, and UFO enthusiasts fear historic evidence could be destroyed. Dramatic images have captured plumes of smoke erupting outside the remote Air Force base north of Las Vegas. 2 An uncontained wildfire is encroaching on Area 51 in Nevada 2 Dramatic surveillance footage has captured plumes of smoke erupting near the base The dangerous Gothic Fire has been burning through Nevada for days, and the Bureau of Land Management said it wasn't contained as of Monday. The blaze was sparked by a lightning strike that lit up trees in Clark County, just 45 minutes north of Las Vegas, on July 4. Now, it's swelled from 9,000 acres to 35,000 and is burning on the Nevada Test and Training Range withdrawn lands. A thick haze has also wafted all the way down to Las Vegas, but no one is in danger, according to officials. Area 51 lies just north of the burning blaze, and surveillance footage has captured the smoke rising dangerously close to the mystery base. According to data released by the Nevada Interagency Fire Center, the wildfire is burning just 15 miles away from the facility. Conspiracy theorists have rattled off baseless speculations about the fire, as they fear the federal government will use it to cover up secrets. "This is a sanitizing event, blowing up the facility," claimed one user on X. Most read in The US Sun The theorist guessed that "sensitive contents" could be hiding inside the facilities that need to be buried in the flames. Others feared that aliens could have attacked to reclaim evidence exposing life outside Earth. "I'm not saying anything other than it was aliens," wrote a user who shared surveillance videos capturing the blaze. On Sunday, officials said that no structures were threatened and that firefighters were confining and containing the blaze instead of suppressing it, NBC affiliate More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at
